2009 Road Glide 19K miles....since new this bike has had a compensator rattle....the ONLY time I ever heard it was under light load parking lot or driveway maneuvers when feathering clutch....it would sound like a tap tap tap rattle that lasted about a second or so when I had the right combination of drive train load.....2 weeks ago I installed the latest SE comp (the one with the bonded oil tray. I've put about 150 miles on it and the aforementioned noise is 90% gone but I still hear it occasionally (much less than before) under the same low load conditions....when it does occur it doesn't last as long as before maybe a fraction of a second......just a quick "tap" when feathering the clutch under the right load....but not always, only sometimes....am I asking too much for a silent compensator? does anyone else ever hear this rattle? thanks

 

I'm hearing the SE versions are not lasting and is just a band aid to a problem Harley refuses to (or can't figure out how to) fix. I have a 2011 with the SE comp and it is failing. 18K miles. I have ordered the Baker Comp. Only time will tell if that is a permanent fix or not, but I'll be damned if I am going to pay money for an SE that is proven to keep failing....

 

Sounds about right to me, you can try ours next time around.

http://bakerdrivetrain.com/Compensator-sprocket-kit

 

Baker all the way!

 

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Its likely making the same noise with the new SE comp because it may not be the comp at all making the noise.

Se comp has issues too, BUT when brand new they dont normally cause the noise issue you describe.

I installed a new se comp in my 09 96" 8k miles/8 months ago and it doesn't make noise ,the stock original comp was shot @ 9,700 miles.

My friend just installed a new se comp on his 2010 96" with approx 20k miles a couple months ago and his doesnt make any noise either.

I think what could be happening in your case is the noise may sound as though its coming from the comp or in the general area of the primary when it may in fact be coming from elsewhere on the motor/bike.

Could be chrome heat shield on exhaust pipe that go's under the frame to left / primary side of bike rattling or an exhaust clamp rattling against something when 1st taking off from a stop like you said is happening,who knows.

Bottom line is since you have a new comp and its still making the same type noise at times its less likely its the new comp because its new so maybe you need to look elsewhere for the root cause of the noise IMHO.

Try this,hold front brake on while feathering clutch with bike in 1st gear to see if you can consistantly get it to make the same noise.

If yes have a buddy stand by so you can replicate the noise with front brake on feathering the clutch in 1st gear and have him look/listen to see if he can locate the exact source of the noise .

But dont do that / slipping clutch too long as it will cause clutch to overheat and possibly warps plates dmaging it so dont overdo it.

Now if you find the noise is in fact coming from inside the primary then maybe you made a mistake installing the new se comp , maybe theres an issue with the prim chain & or an issue with the prim chain tensioner or maybe the new SE comp is defective but being new i'd say thats not the issue.

Now if your new Se comp already had 3k-5k-10k or more miles on it then maybe it could be the issue, but not likely new with little miles on it,but with HD's mech issues these days i guess you never !/LOL!!

Could maybe be an issue with the clutch , release bearing for clutch assembly ,IPB,bearing on trans shaft,who knows till the root cause if found.

Please dont forget to post a followup here in hDforums when you find the actual / true root cause of the noise that your bikes making including what it took to get it fixed which everyone here can benefit from.

Scott

 

I bought a new 2014 FLHTK and now have about 35,000 miles. At about 25,000 miles, my compensator was knocking considerably, and I wanted it changed while still under warranty. I had been using Syn3 in all 3 holes since new, and my dealer suggested I go to HD Formula+ for the tranny and primary. I was hugely skeptical, but agreed.

Since then, I have put 10k more miles on, and had the fluids changed at 5k intervals. I know it may sound unrealistic, but I must tell you that Formula+ made a night and day difference on my bike. So, before you try higher priced solutions, you might find some help with Formula+.