Well, not to start a worn out topic but for those who don't want to spend the $600 to upgrade to SE from the old style 2007/2008 compensator and can't wait any longer on Dark Horse to come out with theirs, I tired an option that cured my clatter BANG!!!.

Ordered the Drag Specialties compensator (1120-0304) for $129, direct swap from the old one, no need to change stator. Figure if it'll buy me some time, hell I got 40K out of the old one before it started giving me issues. Maybe Dark Horse will come thru before then, or I'll just buy another DS comp when the time comes.

Anyway, just wanted to pass this info along in case anyone else out here NEEDS a comp but isn't up for the SE chunk of change, and it seems the SE doesn't last that much longer anyway....

Sure nice to stop for gas, hit the button and she fires right up without all the attention drawing commotion.

 

Is this a direct replacement for the stock compensator. It would be on a 08 Street Glide

 

On my 107, I gave up on the SE comps and went back to stock. I could get about 25k on a stock one. EZ to swap out, etc.

 

The reason I ask is the fitment list for that compensator from Drag Specialties only shows soft tails. Will this work for Touring bikes.

 

Yes, it is direct replacement. I install on my 2007 StreetGlide, it is the replacment for HD P/N 40296-06A, I'm sure the DS listing doesn't include the touring bikes is due to HD discontinuing the p/n for them and it now crosses over the the SE version (which is still crap)... Since putting the DS Comp on my bike fires up with no Clatter BANG when HOT restart...

Like I said, if it goes 20K - 50K I can replace easy enough and for $130 shipped... Got mine thru Dennis Kirk and had it in my hand in 3 days..

 

Can't argue with success, but this leaves me wondering what caused the problem with the original comp? Until right now, I always believed it was the weak spring but that is not replaced with the new "old" comp. So what really causes the bang on start? Obviously the cam doesn't have enough force to prevent the sprocket from rotating to the limit but why doesn't that happen with the new comp still using the old spring? Obviously I don't understand everything I know about this. I'm happy this worked out for you but I just can't understand why it worked.

 

A good amount of the failures come from the springs, the Cam slider, or the shaft extension failing. I haven't seen too many where the comp sprocket itself was the issue. Mostly the Cam Slider beat to death really.

$129 is just for the comp sprocket itself right? So you would probably need all those other parts as well to totally rebuild it. I wonder if D.S. has parts available for those...

lp

 

For $129 you get the assembly - Sprocket, slider and shaft extension. Complete assembly less springs. I had significant wear where the slider rotates against the sprocket and some wear where the shaft extension enters the sprocket.

I measured stackup height between the two and there was .025" difference between the sprocket/slider combined thickness, so I had that much wear. I believe this accounted for my clatter/bang. Doesn't seem like much but for me it made the difference.

 

Awesome! Thanks for clarifying that. For 129 that is a bargain.
I'd buy 3 of these before spending a dime on those "SE" versions that don't appear to last.

lp

 

Thanks for clarifying.