Ok, I have an 2000 fatboy tc 88 all stock has sc ignition module bike has 16000 miles on it. My only complaint is that it has always started with a thud or clunk on startup and this is starting to drive me nuts. I have owned this bike for 3 yrs. is this a bad or loose compensator? I've heard that the tc 88 comps aren't known for probelms, it's not knocking or anything. Should I worry?

 

What you describe could be the compensator, could also be the starter. Either one failing could leave you stranded.

Does it do the same clunk going from deceleration to a hard acceleration? If so, that points to the compensator...also if it clunks sometimes when you shut it off points to the compensator.

 

No it only clunks on start up. Esp when hot. If cold and I choke it it usually doesn't do the clunk on start up.

 

Could this be the engine kicking back?

 

my 2008 deluxe (mine for 2 seasons) seemed to clunk into first gear from neutral. The clunk seemed to be increasing, so I started by adjusting the clutch according to the shop manual. The 'clunk' has disappeared and the shifting on startup and after a stop has smoothed right out. I'm no mechanic... but you never know.

 

Thanks for the replies, I'm going to try diff. Start up methods like "thumbing the starter" and rolling the engine in gear first to see how it goes. Right now I'm thinking it's more kickback than a bad compensator.

 

Ok! Here's my fix! After some research I found that the culprit was my intake manifold gaskets! Although my bike had no symptoms of them being bad I decided to spray carb cleaner on them, when I did that my bikes motor stumbled and died immediately. So after replacing the manifold gaskets I now have a bike that runs better and no longer kickback. I rode most of the evening with multiple stops and no kickbacks!!!