Compensator or Battery Problem?
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 801
From: Colorado
Clang, Clang went the Trolley, or how to tell when your comp spring pack has gone weak. Worse problem, Harley does not sell just the spring packs, since it's what went weak to start with, but makes you buy the entire comp instead.
As for battery-starter, 4 year is really pushing a AGM battery, so start off with load testing it, since will bank that it's a dying.
As for starter, with the battery out, pull the start as well. The positive terminal on the starter solenoid is a snap to pull and clean those terminal and wires since it on the top, but the bottom terminal from the solenoid to starter motor cable is a no go until it's removed instead (read corrosion will be twice as bad that is was on the top terminal. Also with starter off, good to pull it apart to clean/re-grease it, including checking the solenoid ring and contact pads to see if jut a little sanding it need to clean them up, or if they should be replaced as well.
Also, take the time to clean up the grounding cable and nut for the left hand starter bolt where the battery ground cable terminate to. Most of the time, the inside of the cable where it mates to the engine case is black, and it just as small portion of id of the split washer to inner nut head that is carrying the ground load. Hence clean the cable end, clean the split ring washer, and on the bolt, chuck it up in a drill to clean the flat of the bolt, and square the head to shaft so the spring ring washer make full contact to the base of the head as well (cleaning up the starter where the cable will be mating to it, is a given as well).
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 1,320
From: Good roads, cold beer
does this bang occur only when the bike is hot? or does it also occur when the bike is cold like after sitting overnight?
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
only bangs when the motor is hot.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
If its the battery causing the problem, why does it only bang when the motor is hot?
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 856
Likes: 373
From: Duke City, NM
Starters pull more amps when hot (meaning engine is hot). Batteries put out less when cold (meaning winter). Both can cause issues. If your battery is already 4 years old I would start there. It only has a bit left in its life anyway and will need to be replaced soon.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
Starters pull more amps when hot (meaning engine is hot). Batteries put out less when cold (meaning winter). Both can cause issues. If your battery is already 4 years old I would start there. It only has a bit left in its life anyway and will need to be replaced soon.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,640
Likes: 6,446
From: Honah Lee
Been round and round on this. If the compensator was so weak it would bang on start up, it would bang ever shift.
It's the battery.
Dozens and dozens of threads on here. Over 50% mostly from do it yourselfers have agreed it's the battery. Of course you have the tin men selling their compensators and starter sprag clutches and of course those that have fallen for their cool aid.
If you understand how a one way sprag clutch works, you would know it's not that. It drives one way. When motor starts, it out runs starter motor and the drive rollers ride up a ramp and no longer drives.
It's the battery.
Dozens and dozens of threads on here. Over 50% mostly from do it yourselfers have agreed it's the battery. Of course you have the tin men selling their compensators and starter sprag clutches and of course those that have fallen for their cool aid.
If you understand how a one way sprag clutch works, you would know it's not that. It drives one way. When motor starts, it out runs starter motor and the drive rollers ride up a ramp and no longer drives.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jun 29, 2020 at 06:42 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
Been round and round on this. If the compensator was so weak it would bang on start up, it would bang ever shift.
It's the battery.
Dozens and dozens of threads on here. Over 50% mostly from do it yourselfers have agreed it's the battery. Of course you have the tin men selling their compensators and starter sprag clutches and of course those that have fallen for their cool aid.
If you understand how a one way sprag clutch works, you would know it's not that. It drives one way. When motor starts, it out runs starter motor and the drive rollers ride up a ramp and no longer drives.
It's the battery.
Dozens and dozens of threads on here. Over 50% mostly from do it yourselfers have agreed it's the battery. Of course you have the tin men selling their compensators and starter sprag clutches and of course those that have fallen for their cool aid.
If you understand how a one way sprag clutch works, you would know it's not that. It drives one way. When motor starts, it out runs starter motor and the drive rollers ride up a ramp and no longer drives.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,640
Likes: 6,446
From: Honah Lee
Be sure to get back and keep all informed. Remember, on these long stroke two cylinders, it's sorta normal to get an occasional bang especially in a short rest from a really hot motor like pulling off interstate for a fill up.
If the motor stops with a valve open and that last unburnt fuel charge in the intake cooks off into vapor, when you hit starter, if it fires like a diesel, no telling which way but it's may kick but it's like starting a old aircraft motor with a shot charge.
If it does it all the time with a good battery, I would think it's a leaky injector or if you have a non stock tuner modifications.
If the motor stops with a valve open and that last unburnt fuel charge in the intake cooks off into vapor, when you hit starter, if it fires like a diesel, no telling which way but it's may kick but it's like starting a old aircraft motor with a shot charge.
If it does it all the time with a good battery, I would think it's a leaky injector or if you have a non stock tuner modifications.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jun 30, 2020 at 06:13 AM.