Primary oil observation
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Woodinville, WA
Primary oil observation
I know - here we go again.
So I've done 5 stock compensator swap outs now from 07 thru 10 bikes and the ONLY one with no, none, nadda signs of wear on the stock compensator was running Harley Syn3. I guess I'll just leave it at that - but it's interesting . . .
So I've done 5 stock compensator swap outs now from 07 thru 10 bikes and the ONLY one with no, none, nadda signs of wear on the stock compensator was running Harley Syn3. I guess I'll just leave it at that - but it's interesting . . .
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Woodinville, WA
Well, there's no doubt some truth to that - but mine was the worst of the bunch and the lowest mileage - and I know how I was riding so for a sample size of one (ie statistically insignificant) mileage and riding style had nothing to do with it.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 131
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From: so. Wisconsin
Where are they showing wear? I just swapped mine out at 25,400 miles and didn't see any signs of wear.... using formula + since new.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Woodinville, WA
On the cam slider and shaft extender. On the cam and sprocket. Syn3 is Harley's fully synthetic oil. I assume the 3 relates to good for all 3 fills.
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Outstanding HDF Member
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From: Woodinville, WA
Syn 3 is fully synthetic. The worst damage was my bike with under 6k miles. It had Formula +. It also had a bad leaking the inner primary that was fixed early in life under warranty (leaked upon delivery). So of course the service dept had to remove and reinstall the compensator. The second worst damage was on an ex-police bike. It too had a serious leak and had also had the compensator removed and reinstalled (easy to tell given the amount of Loctite on the bolt). I don't know what it had been running oil wise.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 131
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From: so. Wisconsin
Dave, did ya get any pics of the worn parts, I'd be interested in seeing the wear. I talked to a guy at the MoCo.customer service in Milwaukee and was told that formula + was the best choice for the primary (I mentioned going to Syn 3). As mentioned, I just swap comps and 25,400 miles with formula+ and no wear in the primary at all.
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Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,341
Likes: 9
From: Woodinville, WA
Dave, did ya get any pics of the worn parts, I'd be interested in seeing the wear. I talked to a guy at the MoCo.customer service in Milwaukee and was told that formula + was the best choice for the primary (I mentioned going to Syn 3). As mentioned, I just swap comps and 25,400 miles with formula+ and no wear in the primary at all.
here - easier for me to find than for you:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...mpensator.html
Last edited by davessworks; Apr 3, 2011 at 10:00 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 131
Likes: 4
From: so. Wisconsin
I found them. That didn't look good. The stock comp set up is a joke for sure. Not sure about the lubrication problems with the SE comp set up that I've been hearing bit and pieces on. Time will tell. I may pull my outer primary off after a few thousand miles and have a look.