Hey Everyone,
I have a 2010 Ultra Limited with 8k miles on it, so that means I am 2k away from my next service. I just got off a 1,000 mile road trip this weekend and it seems that my primary chain has a lot of "slack" in it. Each time I take off and shift through the gears, I have to ease into the throttle, otherwise I will feel the lag between engine throttle and applied power. Is my assumption correct? Will I hurt it to drive it this way?

If so, given that I am not a wrench, is tightening the chain tension fairly easy? If so, can someone give me some pointers and give me any specs I might need. I don't currently have a service manual for the bike yet, however I do have one for my old 2005 Road King Classic.

Thanks,
Matthew

 

Your chain is adjusted with an automatic tensioner, you don't adjust it. I believe you're feeling slop from your compensating sprocket inside the primary. Do a search, you'll find more than you can read on this subject.

 

My compensator was just replaced with the SE version about 1,500 miles ago. Your comment is interesting, as I remember my mechanic measuring and tightening the chain on my 05 during each service, however this may have changed on my 10 model. Should I take my bike back to the dealer for "slack" that I am feeling?

Matthew

 

You could also be feeling the cush drive in the rear wheel, it has some slack to it too.

 

Are you still rinning a stock compensator? If so and you have done any performance work on your bike . . . well you know what's coming next. Also consider upgrading your clutch spring.

 

If you have slack in your primary, you will feel a lurch if you ease off of the throttle and then apply power.

I agree with cooper.... it could be the isolator that you are just not used to. It makes your newer bike have a luxury feeling drive train, instead of a Ford.


Link to the part

http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US

 

I have the upgraded S/E compensator as of about 1,500 miles ago.

 

Yes, if I ease off the throttle and then apply throttle again, it will lurch and you can hear the slack in the primary. The dealer tells me that the primary chain has a tensioner and does not need manual adjustments. So, not real sure what the issue is, but I know for sure there is a lot of slack between power being applied and feeling the pull. Perhaps my primary chain does have slack in it, who knows. I will probably take it back to the dealer that installed the SE compensator.

Any additional thoughts?

 

"hear slack in primary" . . .
well if it really is your chain then the tensioner may be broken. If not then the compensator may be broken. Either way, and I did like the rear wheel isolator idea for a bit there, it isn't the isolator.

 

I just read the part about the compensator upgrade.... the tech probably dorked up your chain adjuster when he had the primary apart.