Harley Davidson Forums

Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Compression Release - Is this normal?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 04:20 PM
Share
  #1  
criyi's Avatar
criyi
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 254
Likes: 18
From: Chicago, Illinois
Default Compression Release - Is this normal?
I have a 2010 Street Glide with the 96 cu inch motor. Every time I ride, stop for a few minutes and restart (example:getting gas), The starter cranks for a rotation and stops to a loud halt. I'm assuming this is due to no compression release. Is it accurate to say it doesn't have a compression release and if so is this normal behavior? Is there any easy fix?
 
Reply
0
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 04:25 PM
Share
  #2  
clintox's Avatar
clintox
Advanced
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 81
Likes: 22
From: Orange, CA
Default
Are you always in neutral when you start the bike? If not, shifting to neutral before starting should fix the issue.
 
Reply
0
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 05:26 PM
Share
  #3  
K Melancon's Avatar
K Melancon
Road Warrior
10 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 132
From: Deep South, Louisiana
Default
The 96 did not come with compression release and started with 103 from factory. Unless it was added afterwards
 
Last edited by K Melancon; Jun 21, 2018 at 05:28 PM.
Reply
0
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 05:33 PM
Share
  #4  
Keithhu's Avatar
Keithhu
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,149
Likes: 6,174
From: SE Michigan
Default
Sounds like a bad compensator to me.
 
Reply
1
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 05:34 PM
Share
  #5  
big- mike's Avatar
big- mike
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 221
From: farmington michigan
Default
Check your battery and or the connections but no the 96 did not have acr's your bike may be wired for them but that would require head work to add them
 
Reply
0
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 05:36 PM
Share
  #6  
Notgrownup's Avatar
Notgrownup
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,754
Likes: 9,280
From: Snow Hill, NC
Default
You could get 1 manual compression release on the rear cylinder, it helps . I had 1 on my 96 inch and it would make a huge difference on hot start.
 
Reply
0
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 05:42 PM
Share
  #7  
big- mike's Avatar
big- mike
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 221
From: farmington michigan
Default
I went with the s&s ez-start cams when I did my 103 upgrade
 
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Jun 21, 2018 | 06:20 PM
Share
  #8  
criyi's Avatar
criyi
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 254
Likes: 18
From: Chicago, Illinois
Default
Originally Posted by clintox
Are you always in neutral when you start the bike? If not, shifting to neutral before starting should fix the issue.
Usually not, I'll try it.
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 06:25 PM
Share
  #9  
criyi's Avatar
criyi
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 254
Likes: 18
From: Chicago, Illinois
Default
Originally Posted by Keithhu
Sounds like a bad compensator to me.
Thanks for your suggestion. I just watched a bad compensator video and it doesn't seem to be that. On hot startup it will turn the motor over once, clunk and stop turning. I have to let off the starter and try again for it to start.
 
Reply
0
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 06:26 PM
Share
  #10  
criyi's Avatar
criyi
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 254
Likes: 18
From: Chicago, Illinois
Default
Originally Posted by big- mike
Check your battery and or the connections but no the 96 did not have acr's your bike may be wired for them but that would require head work to add them
I will check but it starts no problem every time, it's just that hot startup where it wants to do this.
 
Reply
0



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:56 PM.

story-0
10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

Slideshow: Not every motorcycle can be a design icon, and these machines prove that bold styling doesn't always age gracefully.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:58:41


VIEW MORE
story-1
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-3
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-5
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-9
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE