I have an 08 Road King with the 96 ci engine and no ACRs. I have replaced batteries about every 18 months since it was new for the same developing starter stall on the first compression stroke. I am on my third compensator. The factory comp was inadequate from day one, I got about 70,000 miles on the first SE comp and now have the latest and greatest from Harley. I also have the 500 cca Yuasa battery, now about 18 months old. The latest comp was installed last spring and seemed great, initially. After a 1700 mile trip I noticed it had become noisy, mostly when starting off from a stop. This is common in the latest compensators so I saved to old springs and used one for a shim to increase spring preload. I had been having occasional starter hesitation, especially on hot starts as my battery approached the 18 month point. After the shim addition, there is no more noise AND the starts have been crisp with no hesitation. I only shimmed it about 3 weeks ago, the weather has turned so very little riding and starting has been done since, so experience is very limited. Now for the THEORY, remember you get what you pay for and this is free.

Prior to hitting the start button, the engine has no internal pressure and is relatively easy to turn initially. As the engine rotates, compression builds and it gets increasingly hard to rotate the crank shaft.. With a FIRM compensator, MOST of the starter energy is transferred into the crank shaft BEFORE compression begins to build giving the flywheel and rotor some inertia to help the starter through the first compression stroke. With a SOFT compensator, most of the starter energy is absorbed by the compensator but even so, the crankshaft begins to turn SLOWLY but develops little inertia as compression builds. As compression builds, the compensator finally runs out of movement BUT there is still little inertia already on the flywheel and rotor and the starter now has "NO HELP" in pushing through the rest of the compression stroke and slows or stops until some compression dissipates. Based on this THEORY, my recommendation would be to install some spring shims to increase spring preload. The only ones I know about are part number 10300021. They are not very thick and at least 2 or 3 might be needed, they sell for around $5 each and may need to be ordered, I doubt they are kept in stock. Again, due to the late season when I installed mine, the experience after install is very limited, AND again, for this advice, you get what you pay for.

As others have indicated, a new battery will most likely be the "quick" fix, but the problem will return and make you want to again replace the battery when it really hasn't reached the end of its service life yet.

 

I consider batteries expensive. 2-3 years old is not old, I get around 7. But up in the midwest. The heat does kill batteries. Did your other bikes only get that long? I am kinda guessing first Harley. First bike? Are you just fixating on things that were always there? Every spring I do that.

I'd get jump pack, unless its normal for you go through batteries this quick.

Since you removed it, it should be tight. That may be the biggest problem.

If it does it cold, I would put a battery charger on it at starter up, on 10 amp. And see if it makes a difference.

Are you letting fuel pump pressurize before starting?

If it load tested ok, I would not buy another battery. Though I don't load test to know how accurate they are. I just kinda wonder if you are worrying. But I am not goign to be the one stranded.

 

I must live a charmed life. 60k on my 07. Same comp. 3rd primary bearing though. On my 2nd battery. Just this fall replaced starter clutch, I think took care of hot start issues. See next year for sure.

 

You just jinxed yourself! Now you will be replacing it all very soon!! LOLOL

 

I assume you don't have the loud metallic bang or "crack" when you press the start button or the loud rattle "box of rocks" noise from the primary when the engine is running. A very few have reported their factory comps on the early 96s provided good service, very many have have reported problems. The only explanation I can come up with is that the manufacturing tolerances all "stacked" in the right direction for your comp. The rest of us got the "average" comps and needed to replace them at some time. I had the loud bang on start right from the beginning. It being my first Harley, I didn't know what it was until I did some reading. I believe that loud bang also took out my starter clutch. I installed a new starter clutch and the "Mark 1" SE comp at bout 15,000 miles. All smooth and quiet. At about 85,000 miles the primary was quite noisy again. On disassembly, I found the inner primary bearing damaged and in the compensator, the crank shaft extension piece had the cam drive splines worn about half way through. Can't even guess how much longer I would have had before that piece would have stripped and I would have had no drive at all. The story on the new, latest version comp is above. I am a "mature" adult so I haven't beaten up the machine, I prefer to maximize fuel economy, tire and brake mileage so any wear on the compensator is from "normal" use, not jack rabbit starts or burn outs. I hope your compenastor good luck continues.

 

It could be your Compensating sprocket. If it is you will usually hear a clank. Bike under warranty? Have them fix it right away or it will eventually break costing about 2500 in repair