Compensator= no choice . Now what
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,032
From: Carlsbad, CA
My new Baker Compensator replaced an SE Compensator. The SE sounded like a hammer hitting the case starting out if didn't give a lot of throttle.
Now, after about 5K miles the Baker bangs and clangs when I start the bike. If I put it in neutral, and rock back and forth a few times, it doesn't seem to do it as much. Other than that it seems more solid than the SE one.
Now, after about 5K miles the Baker bangs and clangs when I start the bike. If I put it in neutral, and rock back and forth a few times, it doesn't seem to do it as much. Other than that it seems more solid than the SE one.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
I have to echo the many miles and no problem with compensators. I have done 17 years and 400K on H-D's from ocean to ocean, Key West to the Arctic Circle, 49 States and most of Canada.
They got me back home every time. Not a single failure of a compensator, cam tensioner, trans main shaft bearing or anything else.
I do my own service. I often wonder if the various performance stages which allows rpm above 6K has something to do with it.
The stock compensation does not have pressure oil feed to it. Maybe it the bike is hot rodded it is not up to the task.
Never on this forum has anyone ever admitted that any bike failure that they had was their fault. Always it is H-D's. When I was young and stupid I blew up motors, transmissions and even a clutch pressure plate. But I knew who did it. I called it entertainment tax. When I blew up a 409 SS on the same day I took delivery GM did warrantee it but told me no more. So I blew up two tranies on my own dime.
They got me back home every time. Not a single failure of a compensator, cam tensioner, trans main shaft bearing or anything else.
I do my own service. I often wonder if the various performance stages which allows rpm above 6K has something to do with it.
The stock compensation does not have pressure oil feed to it. Maybe it the bike is hot rodded it is not up to the task.
Never on this forum has anyone ever admitted that any bike failure that they had was their fault. Always it is H-D's. When I was young and stupid I blew up motors, transmissions and even a clutch pressure plate. But I knew who did it. I called it entertainment tax. When I blew up a 409 SS on the same day I took delivery GM did warrantee it but told me no more. So I blew up two tranies on my own dime.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,032
From: Carlsbad, CA
I have to echo the many miles and no problem with compensators. I have done 17 years and 400K on H-D's from ocean to ocean, Key West to the Arctic Circle, 49 States and most of Canada.
They got me back home every time. Not a single failure of a compensator, cam tensioner, trans main shaft bearing or anything else.
I do my own service. I often wonder if the various performance stages which allows rpm above 6K has something to do with it.
The stock compensation does not have pressure oil feed to it. Maybe it the bike is hot rodded it is not up to the task.
Never on this forum has anyone ever admitted that any bike failure that they had was their fault. Always it is H-D's. When I was young and stupid I blew up motors, transmissions and even a clutch pressure plate. But I knew who did it. I called it entertainment tax. When I blew up a 409 SS on the same day I took delivery GM did warrantee it but told me no more. So I blew up two tranies on my own dime.
They got me back home every time. Not a single failure of a compensator, cam tensioner, trans main shaft bearing or anything else.
I do my own service. I often wonder if the various performance stages which allows rpm above 6K has something to do with it.
The stock compensation does not have pressure oil feed to it. Maybe it the bike is hot rodded it is not up to the task.
Never on this forum has anyone ever admitted that any bike failure that they had was their fault. Always it is H-D's. When I was young and stupid I blew up motors, transmissions and even a clutch pressure plate. But I knew who did it. I called it entertainment tax. When I blew up a 409 SS on the same day I took delivery GM did warrantee it but told me no more. So I blew up two tranies on my own dime.
Last edited by TriGeezer; Apr 3, 2017 at 11:11 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 91
Likes: 10
From: Greeneville, TN
I got 80k on my stock RK compensator then this year at Bike Week it really started to make noise. I got the screaming Eagle kit and had a mechanic in Daytona install it. It purred home. I bought a 13 ultra yesterday with 31k.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23,001
Likes: 11,441
=================
Well if the OEM or even SE HD comps were well designed good quality parts you would not see near as many premature comp failures along mult bike models & mult size TC engine sizes too.
But i also feel following HD's rec for 10mile prim case oil changes ensuring the the compensator & all components in prim case are getting lubed with filthy dirty oil full of clutch and metallic contamination in it for at least 5k miles of the 10k mile rec oil change is not doing all the parts inc the compensator is reducing srv'c life of all parts lubed by dirty oil.
Then add to that many people are using 20w-50 motor oil in HD prim case thats at best a comprimise when used in a pim case vs using for example spectros 85W prim case oil.
Sspectro's 85W prim case for HD's is specifically designed and formulated for HD V-twin prim cases being much better equipped having proper additive pkg & base stock oil to do a better job in an HD prim case vs HD's Syn3 20-50 motor oil designed to work in 3 places (Motor/Prim/Trans) that cant by design perform/best in 3 diff operating conditions then application/motorcycle specific motor,primary & trans oil can in same cond.
But even then i'd still rec changing motor oil & filter at 4k miles on avg vs hD's 5k mile rec along with prim case oil @ 4k (do with motor oil change 2 4k or change prim @ 5k miles max) & tans oil @ 10k miles vs HD rec of 20k miles for obvious reasons.
Which is simple,cleaner oil at all times can extend srv'c life of all components lubed by the cleaner oil with less contaminants in it.
Scott
Well if the OEM or even SE HD comps were well designed good quality parts you would not see near as many premature comp failures along mult bike models & mult size TC engine sizes too.
But i also feel following HD's rec for 10mile prim case oil changes ensuring the the compensator & all components in prim case are getting lubed with filthy dirty oil full of clutch and metallic contamination in it for at least 5k miles of the 10k mile rec oil change is not doing all the parts inc the compensator is reducing srv'c life of all parts lubed by dirty oil.
Then add to that many people are using 20w-50 motor oil in HD prim case thats at best a comprimise when used in a pim case vs using for example spectros 85W prim case oil.
Sspectro's 85W prim case for HD's is specifically designed and formulated for HD V-twin prim cases being much better equipped having proper additive pkg & base stock oil to do a better job in an HD prim case vs HD's Syn3 20-50 motor oil designed to work in 3 places (Motor/Prim/Trans) that cant by design perform/best in 3 diff operating conditions then application/motorcycle specific motor,primary & trans oil can in same cond.
But even then i'd still rec changing motor oil & filter at 4k miles on avg vs hD's 5k mile rec along with prim case oil @ 4k (do with motor oil change 2 4k or change prim @ 5k miles max) & tans oil @ 10k miles vs HD rec of 20k miles for obvious reasons.
Which is simple,cleaner oil at all times can extend srv'c life of all components lubed by the cleaner oil with less contaminants in it.
Scott
Put more miles on every one of these bikes than most put on one in all their years of riding.
Bubba working on it big cause
Indy shop short cuts yep
I know better than Harley run that darn primary low it better for it
Use ATF in the primary, better yet any old cheap oil HD don't know ****.
On and on you read it everyday, of course then it is a lot of BS about how they got screwed by HD.
I know a lot of Harley owners, ones that ride theirs. I do not know one that has had a comp fail. Nor a clutch or belt of the next Myth someone wants to come up with.
Yep saved me some money Bubba and I did my bars in 2 hours and a six pack. Next post my TBW don't work brake lights won't work what up with this Harley junk.
I follow the HD change program. I will change early if a ride is coming means it would fall on the road. Change it when they gets park for snow.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 140
From: NY
Lot of Failures are self induced then blamed on other cause. My 07 was not suppose to last 10K. It had 75,000 when traded no issues. Last I saw it it had 85K. My 2011 never had an issue, nor the 2013, the 2016 and neither has my 2017 yet.
Put more miles on every one of these bikes than most put on one in all their years of riding.
Bubba working on it big cause
Indy shop short cuts yep
I know better than Harley run that darn primary low it better for it
Use ATF in the primary, better yet any old cheap oil HD don't know ****.
On and on you read it everyday, of course then it is a lot of BS about how they got screwed by HD.
I know a lot of Harley owners, ones that ride theirs. I do not know one that has had a comp fail. Nor a clutch or belt of the next Myth someone wants to come up with.
Yep saved me some money Bubba and I did my bars in 2 hours and a six pack. Next post my TBW don't work brake lights won't work what up with this Harley junk.
I follow the HD change program. I will change early if a ride is coming means it would fall on the road. Change it when they gets park for snow.
Put more miles on every one of these bikes than most put on one in all their years of riding.
Bubba working on it big cause
Indy shop short cuts yep
I know better than Harley run that darn primary low it better for it
Use ATF in the primary, better yet any old cheap oil HD don't know ****.
On and on you read it everyday, of course then it is a lot of BS about how they got screwed by HD.
I know a lot of Harley owners, ones that ride theirs. I do not know one that has had a comp fail. Nor a clutch or belt of the next Myth someone wants to come up with.
Yep saved me some money Bubba and I did my bars in 2 hours and a six pack. Next post my TBW don't work brake lights won't work what up with this Harley junk.
I follow the HD change program. I will change early if a ride is coming means it would fall on the road. Change it when they gets park for snow.
Thanks for info & your exp with it.
Just curious,i have a few questions on the compensators you got good high miles out of assuming your talking TC motors too.
* Do you consider yourself a conservative rider like for example not often hammering the bike going thru the gears getting up to cruise speed from a stop?
* Are you type rider that doesn't normally lug the motor at low rpm in higher gears?
* Did the high mile compensators see normal mixed type driving witrh plenty of stop/go traffic 2 time or more open road/highway riding cond on long trips putting many miles on cruising steady in high gear with little to no traffic?
* Is the majority of your riding alone or 2up with bike loaded?
* Do you normally change prim case oil @ HD's rec 10k miles or maybe earlier then 10k miles?
* What prim case oil (std 85w prim case oil/ATF/20w-50 motor oil) did you run the majority of the time in the high mile compensators?
Thanks....Scott
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 140
From: NY
I have to echo the many miles and no problem with compensators. I have done 17 years and 400K on H-D's from ocean to ocean, Key West to the Arctic Circle, 49 States and most of Canada.
They got me back home every time. Not a single failure of a compensator, cam tensioner, trans main shaft bearing or anything else.
I do my own service. I often wonder if the various performance stages which allows rpm above 6K has something to do with it.
The stock compensation does not have pressure oil feed to it. Maybe it the bike is hot rodded it is not up to the task.
Never on this forum has anyone ever admitted that any bike failure that they had was their fault. Always it is H-D's. When I was young and stupid I blew up motors, transmissions and even a clutch pressure plate. But I knew who did it. I called it entertainment tax. When I blew up a 409 SS on the same day I took delivery GM did warrantee it but told me no more. So I blew up two tranies on my own dime.
They got me back home every time. Not a single failure of a compensator, cam tensioner, trans main shaft bearing or anything else.
I do my own service. I often wonder if the various performance stages which allows rpm above 6K has something to do with it.
The stock compensation does not have pressure oil feed to it. Maybe it the bike is hot rodded it is not up to the task.
Never on this forum has anyone ever admitted that any bike failure that they had was their fault. Always it is H-D's. When I was young and stupid I blew up motors, transmissions and even a clutch pressure plate. But I knew who did it. I called it entertainment tax. When I blew up a 409 SS on the same day I took delivery GM did warrantee it but told me no more. So I blew up two tranies on my own dime.
" Maybe it the bike is hot rodded it is not up to the task "
Well not really,i have seen plenty of guys posting here in hdforums over the past few yrs having stock low perf 96" TC motors that had oem comps fail @ 10k-15k-20k miles so it not more associated with modded bikes having more hp & trq.
The bone stock 09 with tc-96" i bought with 9,700 original miles on it had a shot compensator on it which i replaced with HD's SE comp and so far its ok with 16k miles on that comp.
The stock oem comp on my bike with only 9,700 miles on it was banging when firing up also chattered like heck when talking off from a stop too.
When i removed the failed comp it had actually sheered itself into mult jagged pieces falling apart in my hands as i removed it.
But the newer SE comp with 16k miles on it is now doing the common clunk/knock sound as the crank is slowing down to a stop right after you shut the motor down/ign sw off.
So if & or when this SE comp fails i am really thinking of going to solid sprocket next time around.
BTW,i am a conservative rider that doesnt lug the bike/motor and have changed the prim oil @ 5k miles max since installing it using proper prim case oil specifically designed & formulated for HD's
Also,when i removed outer prim case to replace the bad comp the oem prim chain adjuster wasnt too tight or too loose,it was just right from what i could see.
The rubbing block on the auto prim chain adjuster with 9,700 miles on it had little to no noticeable wear marks on it so i reused it with new SE comp & shelved the new auto prim chain adjuster i had on hand to use at a later date if needed.
Scott
Last edited by wscott; Apr 4, 2017 at 02:46 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 300
Likes: 180
From: Sacramento, CA
I have a 2012 Road Glide Ultra. I bought it with 22 miles on it and the first thing I did to it was pump it up with intake, exhaust, SEPST, and a big bore 110 kit.
I lost the stator at 48K miles. While they were in the primary, the tech saw that the compensator was getting worn and should be replaced while they were in that deep. Hey, it was warranty work, so I said sure.
11K miles later (59K), the Cam tensioner went out and sent metal throughout the motor. Harley replaced the motor with a 110 long block.
Now I'm 5k miles farther down the road (64K) with what I presume is the same compensator from the 48K repair, and I am having no issues.
I ride hard, but not abusively. I get all the maintenance done when it's due.
I'm not saying that HD makes a bad product or that Baker is better. I just know that I have not had any major issues with the compensator, even though I do jack rabbit start and have been known to exceed the posted limit on occasion. I don't do burnouts or wheelies. I got those out of my system when I was young.
I lost the stator at 48K miles. While they were in the primary, the tech saw that the compensator was getting worn and should be replaced while they were in that deep. Hey, it was warranty work, so I said sure.
11K miles later (59K), the Cam tensioner went out and sent metal throughout the motor. Harley replaced the motor with a 110 long block.
Now I'm 5k miles farther down the road (64K) with what I presume is the same compensator from the 48K repair, and I am having no issues.
I ride hard, but not abusively. I get all the maintenance done when it's due.
I'm not saying that HD makes a bad product or that Baker is better. I just know that I have not had any major issues with the compensator, even though I do jack rabbit start and have been known to exceed the posted limit on occasion. I don't do burnouts or wheelies. I got those out of my system when I was young.