Harley Davidson Forums

Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

no spring compensator

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 1, 2011 | 06:50 AM
Share
  #1  
customsoftail200's Avatar
customsoftail200
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 3
From: Simpsonville, SC
Default no spring compensator
I know this compensator thing has been beat to death but since I think I need one soon I've been looking into them. BDL makes a solid compensator sprocket, with no spring. I had something like that on my chopper with the belt drive and it seemed fine. I'm wondering how it would be with the added weight of the bagger. Has anyone tried it?
 
Reply
0
Old Dec 1, 2011 | 07:02 AM
Share
  #2  
EasternSP's Avatar
EasternSP
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Marine Corps
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,860
Likes: 32,759
From: King George, VA
Default
Riders didn't have a sprung compensator for decades and most of them lived without it.
 
Reply
0
Old Dec 1, 2011 | 07:28 AM
Share
  #3  
timvan's Avatar
timvan
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 1
From: Acworth, Ga
Default
Belt drives dont have compensators either.. You may be on to something
 
Reply
0
Old Dec 1, 2011 | 07:35 AM
Share
  #4  
Rickr01's Avatar
Rickr01
Supporter
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,419
Likes: 89
From: Vermont
Default
Originally Posted by timvan
Belt drives dont have compensators either.. You may be on to something
However, belts also stretch and give to absorb shock?
 
Reply
0
Old Dec 1, 2011 | 07:39 AM
Share
  #5  
timvan's Avatar
timvan
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 1
From: Acworth, Ga
Default
Originally Posted by Rickr01
However, belts also stretch and give to absorb shock?
They may absorb vibration...
shock, not so sure as if they stretched that much they would likely skip teeth
 
Reply
0
Old Dec 1, 2011 | 07:43 AM
Share
  #6  
ocezam's Avatar
ocezam
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 98
From: Colorado Springs
Default
Originally Posted by customsoftail200
I know this compensator thing has been beat to death but since I think I need one soon I've been looking into them. BDL makes a solid compensator sprocket, with no spring. I had something like that on my chopper with the belt drive and it seemed fine. I'm wondering how it would be with the added weight of the bagger. Has anyone tried it?
That's the way I'll go when the time comes. Why give more money to the MoCo for more half baked engineering?

I doubt you'll notice a difference




...
 
Reply
0
Old Dec 1, 2011 | 08:43 AM
Share
  #7  
EasternSP's Avatar
EasternSP
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Marine Corps
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,860
Likes: 32,759
From: King George, VA
Default
Originally Posted by timvan
They may absorb vibration...
Trouser legs too.
 
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Dec 1, 2011 | 08:47 AM
Share
  #8  
stupid_rope's Avatar
stupid_rope
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,196
Likes: 14
From: Satans Asshole
Default
Originally Posted by EasternSP
Trouser legs too.
lol true
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Dec 1, 2011 | 09:57 AM
Share
  #9  
dstrat1's Avatar
dstrat1
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
Default
i ran my shovel for years with belt primary, and no compensator...no problems, couldn't tell the diference...that being said the SE comp works fine....
 
Reply
0
Old Dec 1, 2011 | 11:13 AM
Share
  #10  
customsoftail200's Avatar
customsoftail200
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 3
From: Simpsonville, SC
Default
The BDL is much cheaper than the SE and less to go wrong in the future. I think I'm gonna give it a shot..
 
Reply
0



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:30 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE