Primary chatter
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 759
Likes: 34
From: Virginia
Primary chatter
2009 Ultra Classic. Stage 1 with JackPot slip-ons. 28,000 easy miles. When shifting thru the gears, up or down, I get a very distinct chatter from the primary. My wife even mentioned it and when it comes to things mechanical, she doesn't know her T27 Torx from her elbow. Chatter is most noticeable above 2,000 rpm just before pulling in clutch lever, in all gears. Much louder before everything gets warmed up. No chatter when in neutral, cruising at speed or sitting at stop lights. I drained the primary and dumped in exactly 38 oz. HD Formula plus. That quieted things down some, but chatter is still there. Is this a symptom of a loose primary chain or maybe a worn compensator?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
No way to guess at it. You need to remove the primary cover and look around. Could very well be the stock compensator sprocket. Or it could be due to an overly-tight primary chain caused by the stock tensioner ratcheting up to tightly. Or it could be a bearing going bad. Could be any of these or something else, but you cannot diagnose it with the cover on.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 661
Likes: 2
No way to guess at it. You need to remove the primary cover and look around. Could very well be the stock compensator sprocket. Or it could be due to an overly-tight primary chain caused by the stock tensioner ratcheting up to tightly. Or it could be a bearing going bad. Could be any of these or something else, but you cannot diagnose it with the cover on.
Get it checked RFN...
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 759
Likes: 34
From: Virginia
Thanks for the replies.
Novice
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: North Texas
Changed my comp. to a SE, and added a Baker chain adjuster. Made a BIG difference in the noise and shifting. Smoooth.
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 272
Likes: 7
From: Manistee County, MI.
+1 here! I just changed the compensator on my 07 at 42.5k, and it made a huge difference in the overall performance of the primary. I wish I would have done this upgrade a long time ago. It is very possible that what you are hearing is the Compensator collapsing the weak springs on the OEM compensator. Avoid lugging the engine, mine chattered something terrible when just cruising at the rpm you describe.
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 759
Likes: 34
From: Virginia
I had weak springs......
Turned out to be weak compensator spring(s). Installed the SE compensator assembly and voila', no more high rpm chatter. The SE comp. is generally more noisy than the OEM, but at least it doesn't sound like it's going to fly apart like before. Money well spent and thanks to all for the advice.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,543
Likes: 19
From: Ashland Ohio
Make 100% sure you only run Formula Plus from now on. SE Comps have a reliabilty issue due to how they are designed. We have found that even for HiPo builds, we still run Formula+ when a SE comp is involved. ATF, other fluids, etc... even Redline... does NOT have the additive package needed for this comp. Formula+ does, tho.
Please have a lot of enjoyable miles... I am right up the road on 250!
Please have a lot of enjoyable miles... I am right up the road on 250!
Last edited by wurk_truk; Jul 15, 2013 at 06:50 PM.