2012 FLHX...Reading this forum, it would seem that a prematurely failing compensator is inevitable. Is this the general consensus or is it a case of only those with this failure post so the seemingly high failure rate is overblown (not to those who have the problem of course). I'd really love to know the failure rate in the 09'-13' bikes and the average miles at which this happens as well as if there is any way to decrease the chances. Obviously this won't be information that HD will be making public.

 

Keep in mind that for every bike you read about with this issue, there are thousands of them running around that didn't have the issue.

Approx. 35,000 miles on my '11 Street Glide and I have had any issues at all.

 

The comp on my '11 was replaced at 20K.

 

I have experienced SE compensator failure on my 08 SG. So I know what it sounds like. I'm pretty sure it failed because I ran ATF for 5 or 10 thousand miles.

My 13 Limited has 35K miles on it and no noise from the primary.

 

...yeah, I'm trying to think positive too on this issue. Does seem like though when I walk through the local Harley service area, there seems to be 1-3 bikes having a new compensator installed or a main shaft trans bearing being replaced but that's another thread.

...another thing I've been wondering is why mainly the '07 and up bikes? What is so different about the '06 and earlier compensators that seem to be that much better? Why has there been more than a few revisions or redesigns to this one part? Did the earlier compensators have a good design only that the newer bikes have gotten that much heavier the original design can't take it?

...is it the lubricant or different ones that people are trying that are making them fail?

 

Mine was replaced under warranty at about 23,000 miles.

 

Replaced under warranty with SE part around 9000 miles.....

 

It seems to have stated after the Mo Co went to press fit cranks, could that have something to do with it?

 

Press fit cranks began with the Twin Cam engine from '99, the compensator failures began with the '07 model year. For whatever reason, H-D completely changed the compensator design at the same time they went to the 6-speed transmission.

 

I have an 09 RK with 32K on it. I started to get the "hot engine" clunk as the motor engages a couple of times and that's about it. My problem is that my rear shift stem would have fallen off if it wasn't for the primary blocking its escape. It still shifts okay but it is only a matter of time with the play it has for it to strip out and leave me shiftless. In order to fix this stupid $22 shift stem, I have to pay $350 to have the entire primary pulled off. I asked the dealer to be prepared to replace the comp since it has started (barely) to make the starter clunk. I could just pay the $375 to fix the shifter stem, but for the price of any part I need, I will get the entire primary inspected at the same time. No sense paying the $350 labor bill all over again in 6 months when the comp dies for real.