Hello, all.

I bought my current bike ('15 RG) in Aug, 2015. Well, I've seen/ read so many had experienced problems with compensators..

I started to hear some rattling kinda noise out of my brand new bike. (My 2010 SG never had the issue for the first 50,000miles) And I was like, Oh, crap! Now I got a bike with bad compensator.... The only thing was that I couldn't hear/ feel the rattle noise only when stopped at light when engine was hot. I even took it to a dealer and the service writer told me, it sounds ok, but if it gets any worse, we'll take a look at it. (yeah right....)

I just hit 10,000 miles last week and I changed the engine and primary oil.
The dealer did the 1000 miles maintenance, so this was actually the first time the primary oil was changed by ME.

When I started the engine after the oil change, the primary noise was completely GONE! I could "feel" the difference, even.

I didn't measure the amount of oil drainged out of the primary, but I have a feeling that it was LOW on oil. I am hoping it didn't damage (bad enough) anything. But for now, it's not making any abnormal noise any more and I'm so glad that I changed it myself....

So for those who may be experiencing some primary noise and dealer tells you not to worry about it, maybe you can check the oil level yourself.

I'm posting this, so it "might" help other fellow riders with the same issue I had.

Happy riding!

 

What did the magnet on the edrain plug look like? Soot or chunks?

 

The type (brand) of oil you put in the primary has been blamed for noise. The dealers push expensive junk. Harley Formula+ works good for me.

 

I did see just a tiny bit of metal shavings on the magnet and I know it's not a good sign....

But for now, I'll just keep riding, making sure it has correct amount of oil in it.
It's been almost 1000miles after the oil change and I haven't heard the metal noise AT ALL ever since. Just hoping for the best.

So do you think the noise was caused by lack of oil?

 

Maybe I'll switch to Formula+ in my primary next.

 

My 2011 makes noise with 30k.
Gonna replace the comp soon or at least look at it.

I have checked the chain play before and it was tight.

 

My buddy had noise coming from his primary also. The 2014 and 2016 shop manuals specify only Formula + for the primary. Since he has a CVO, the tech said he gets Syn3 in the primary. Not sure if it makes a difference but of the available Harley fluids I'm sticking with what the manual says.

 

A tiny amount of metal shavings is not unusual. Stuff wears, and the magnet on the plug is doing its job.

 

what oil did you install ?

 

A tech reads a book, passes a test and is paid to sell stuff. The smart mechanics are here on this forum. I don't know many here happy with Syn3 in the primary, so they switch it to Formula+.