2010 FLHTCU, I have owned three months, 13,000 miles on it. Shifts loud and very clunky. I know this is, to some extent the nature of the beast. When I shift into first the bike jumps just a little bit, nothing extreme, dont need to be on the brake it's not going anywhere. I read this may be a sign the compensator needs changed. So for those who have been there does it sound like I need to change the compensator? And, if so are there options other than the SE compensator out there?

Finally, I am fairly handy with tools, motors etc but have done very little work on bikes. Most of my experience has been with older cars and trucks, the kind you could actually do almost anything to without computers and specialized tools. Is something someone with my background can handle?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

Doesn't sound like your compensator is acting up, its the design of the clutch plates your hearing. Search compensator issues and you will soon know what to listen for. The more you learn about how these clutch plates work the better you will feel. The oil you use etc also makes a small diff.

 

Maybe your clutch needs an adjustment.