Well,

Tore into the primary. Compensator and starter are fried. Installed new Baker and aftermarket starter, Works like a champ. F HD. Figure you spend 20-30 grand on a bike and they use crap components. n The starter was aftermarket and 1/2 the cost of HD and TWICE the starter. A lot heavier duty. Clutch and bearings a lot beefier. Thanks for all of the responses...

 

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" Figure you spend 20-30 grand on a bike and they use crap components. "

It's unfortunate but HD has had a lot of recalls and or mechanical issues that should have been recalled like compensators,cam bearings,cam chain tensioners,IPB's,trans bearings,wheel bearing just to name a few.

I really like my HD but the fact is i have to realize i will have to deal with more then normal amount of mech issues/breakdowns if i want to keep riding HD's because thats the reality of HD's quality,reliability & design these days .

I read in wall street journal HD's rep has really been tarnished in the past few yrs due to all the quality,design,mechanical issues too many of their bikes are experiencing now & old for many reasons which see here in HDForums on a daily basis,it doesnt matter.

I bought an 09 flhtcu 11/2015 from original owner with only 9,700 miles on it in only one 6 month riding season here in NY state (8k miles) the compensator has gone bad,front wheel bearings went bad,EFI connector plug on throttle body had to be replaced too.

My bike died 2x out on the road due to that issue with 1 of those times almost killing me when i was in heavy traffic at 60-65mph with cars/trucks on both sides of me & in front & behind too when the bike all the sudden quit's with motor going back to idle speed only with no responce from throttle input all causing the bike to unexpectedly / quickly slow down even though i pulled the clutch in so motor idling wouldnt act like a brake causing mayham on the road with people scattering with tires howeling /screeching trying to avoid hitting each other while at the same time trying to avoid running me over while i was trying to get off the road out of the way with no power at all with motor only idling with no throttle response at all due to a known fretting issue on TB connector pins )

HD should have recalled that frigging safety issue , but i had to pay for it,no surprise there!/LOL!!!

And on top of all the issues my HD has had thus far in a short time now that dang IPB has started making noise though the noise from it is still at a low lvl its still showing its on its way out sometime in the near future eventually requiring replacement too.

I had an HD tech verify my thought it was the IPB making noise which he agreed was the case when i had him listen to it.

BTW,the comp was the 1st thing that went bad so after that experience and reading all the issues HD;s are having these days here in HDForums i bought an ESP that has the std $50 copay deal no matter what repair cost is.

Good luck with your HD.

Scott

 

while I agree the compensator causes the kickback we all talk about, it also causes the clutch spring to go out. However, how many here have had the opportunity to swap out a starter before swapping out the compensator? I had that occasion when the clutch spring part was not available for a week, a borrowed starter was loaned and it never once had a problem starting, no kick back. Then my starter was put back in and first start a kickback and weaker cranking speed. But, it continues to start the bike. That reminds me to get a new starter on the shelf.

 

KAJUNBREW What brand starter did you use

 

Yep,

Compensator was fried. Installed one piece (forgot name) and new after market starter. Something HD should have done to begin with. Bike starts instantly now. Sold it and bought a Goldwing Blackout. Incredible road bike. I miss my Hog and am looking at the RG Special. Maybe this summer. Thanks guys for your input.

 

My experience has been different. I was getting the same kickback thing but never suspected the compensator or starter. It turned out that the Interstate replacement battery I put in the bike three years ago (AGM) had weakened. I bit the bullet and put a Harley branded battery in and it spun the motor with no kickback at all. I got to checking and the Interstate battery was just 500 cca compared to Harley's 660 cca. Quite a difference.

I did replace the compensator recently at 88,000 miles. A piece of the outer cup broke off and was rattling around the primary case making a heck of noise. The new one is better getting off the standing start, but otherwise the same as the original.

 

Do '06 Ultras have this compensator problem as well?Thanks

 

Started in 07, I went through 3 HD starters under warranty I think the a SE comp. still running ok now,

 

It's your compensator. The SE one is better than the older ones however, the Baker Comp. is the best. Good Luck!