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New SE compensator is installed and finished. Starts and sounds like it should again.
Just need some non-snowy weather to try it out.
Thanks for the help.
can you please list the part numbers that you purchased to make this happen? Thank you
Kris
I did the same, added one spring to the pack, my 03 with a 103 kit and screaming eagle heads banged a lot on startup.
I had to wait when fueling up until the "heat soak went away" or it would really act up.
After two packs were replaced, and busted starter ,I took a spring out of one and added it to another.
Been five years now , no failures
I have a 2003 Screamin Eagle RK that has the 103" stroker and it's very similar, 30% of my start I get this terrible clunking almost like a bunch of loose metal parts spinning in the primary, especially when starting it with the bike hot (stop to refuel or something). Why does it happen more easily when hot? And do you know the part number of the spring pack that I need to add (to perform the same fix you did)? Thanks!
I have a 2003 Screamin Eagle RK that has the 103" stroker and it's very similar, 30% of my start I get this terrible clunking almost like a bunch of loose metal parts spinning in the primary, especially when starting it with the bike hot (stop to refuel or something). Why does it happen more easily when hot? And do you know the part number of the spring pack that I need to add (to perform the same fix you did)? Thanks!
My guess is that your starter clutch is on the way to failure. It is a Sprague clutch which is made with fat roller bearings inside a barrel and the driven part has ramps that force the roller bearings against the side of the barrel locking the clutch. When the roller bearings get worn, they will rapidly chatter making the grinding noise you are hearing. The noise is very difficult to distinguish from the starter gear slipping on the ring gear on the clutch basket. To be certain of which problem you have, pulling the primary cover and inspecting the clutch ring gear is about the only option. However, if the noise only happens on hot starts, the slipping starter clutch is the odds on cause. I was able to replace my own starter clutch but I have an 08 Road King. I have never tried to pull the starter on an 03 and have no idea how difficult that might be and have no knowledge about your mechanical maintenance experience. The part itself is typically a bit over $100.
My guess is that your starter clutch is on the way to failure. It is a Sprague clutch which is made with fat roller bearings inside a barrel and the driven part has ramps that force the roller bearings against the side of the barrel locking the clutch. When the roller bearings get worn, they will rapidly chatter making the grinding noise you are hearing. The noise is very difficult to distinguish from the starter gear slipping on the ring gear on the clutch basket. To be certain of which problem you have, pulling the primary cover and inspecting the clutch ring gear is about the only option. However, if the noise only happens on hot starts, the slipping starter clutch is the odds on cause. I was able to replace my own starter clutch but I have an 08 Road King. I have never tried to pull the starter on an 03 and have no idea how difficult that might be and have no knowledge about your mechanical maintenance experience. The part itself is typically a bit over $100.
Thanks for the detailed information, now you mention it this makes more sense: whenever I hear the noise the bike also does NOT start while the noise is there, I usually will shut off the bike and try again and then it starts, without abnormal noise. I'll look into the starter, thanks!
Pulled the primary apart this week to see what's going on in there. Had gawdawful clunks/bangs going on during startups, and a lot of driveline slack (accel/decel slack) and I figured it was the infamous compensator causing it. Upon inspection of the unit, I really don't see much wear here. Not like some of the pics of other ones on this forum, and elsewhere. Seems like there's no excess wear.
Is it just the Belleville springs that have lost their mojo? Logic tells me it needs more spring pressure.
The magnet on the oil drain plug had a little wad of metal dust, not too unusual.
This 09 RKC has about 14K miles on it.
Here are some pics.
Can anyone shed some light on what I need to do?
Sure don't see that everything needs to be replaced but what do I know?
I changed my brothers compensator on his 09 electra glide, it also looked great condition. I replaced with screamin eagle update kit...quiet as new again. The belleville spring just gets weak and causes the noise when starting.
One reason those parts look so good is because the spring that makes the whole thing work is too weak to do the job resulting in what looks like low wear. It provides inadequate force on the cam allowing the mechanism to slam into the travel limit. That shock load leads to early starter clutch failure. Replacing one without replacing the other will result in a TEMPORARY fix. Replacing only the starter clutch will not fix the weak compensator slamming into the travel limit repeatedly. Replacing only the compensator allows the already weakened starter clutch to fail a short time later.
