I have a 2009 Ultra Classic with 64k miles. I bought it about a month ago. Can I replace the primary tensioner to a Baker brand as a preventive measure to help whatever is going on in the power train?
17 Rking m8...Took my comp off to replace with a low mileage comp assembly. I found a extra flat washer attached on the old comp ramp but the newer one doesn't have this flat washer. I checked parts diagram and manual but it doesn't show extra flat washer on ramp either. What's happening.??? Anyone?
I have a 2010 RK with a 96" twin cam. Other than some slip on tips everything is stock. The bike isn't ridden hard, how likely am I to have compensator issues? I've heard it's more prevalent and 103' and larger motors. Also, from your video it sounds like there was some upgrading around 2010, but it didn't sound like it was a universal change as you mentioned some 2011's having the older compensator. Is there a way to determine which compensator I have without tearing it all apart? Thank you.
I went in to a store in the mountains of Colorado this last weekend. I found a bell that I liked. It was 15 bucks. The owner at the counter asked me if this bell was for my bike and I said yes, and that I'd give it to a friend and he could gift it back, keeping with tradition. He wrapped it up and said "here, take it, NO charge". I was a little surprised and said "really", and he said "yeah, you don't want to mess with these kind of things". The next day, I lost air in my front tire going 75 down the interstate right after a large SUV almost ran me off the road. I was able to ride the Road King up and off the rap, across a bridge and in to a motel parking lot. It was quite the struggle, but I did it. So..........
So true. I am on my 3rd comp in my 103 (In 13 years) and went right down Doc's line there. One other thing: the comp "Kick Back" puts hell on the starter (Think about it), so the Dealer recommended a new starter on the last (Literally, I hope) comp upgrade, and after dissecting the old starter, it was really needed. Something to think about, folks...
anytime you need to replace internal parts on a harley...DON'T waste you $$$ on HD replacement parts....screamin eagle parts are overpriced trash. go with the performance aftermarket parts....man o war compensator, zippers cams and cam chest, S&S cam plate, heads, etc...HD parts are not engineered to last based on user performance
SInce I own a 01 RK, a 10 Dyna and a 15 Ultra, that answered all of my compensator questions. My 15 Ultra I purchased recently with 7900 miles on the clock. Owner said he had just had it serviced, so I lived with the Harley noises for a few hundred miles. Did a three hole change, putting gear oil in the transmission and primary lube in the primary. Noises went away within 20 miles! When I changed the gear and primary, I would bet those plugs hadn't been removed since the break in serv ice! Trans oil looked good and smelled like 10 yr old third member lubricant!. Primary oil was obviously OLD and Soiled... I'm a 1,000 mile oil and filter changer and 2,000 mile max primary oil changer.
I've never been able to hear any of those bells. My poor old ears. I never heard of them till ten or twelve years ago. I settle for a Cross behind the front mud flap.
I have an 06 dyna, and yes the alternator sheared the screws. The bike was in for warranty work at Chesapeake harley, the entire primary was apart, and they DID NOT replace the problem alternator when they could have, and this problem was known in 2015. I replaced the entire charging system myself. I like the bikes, but some of the dealers suck.
Good advice. I hafta do this right now. Bought my bike from a guy in charleston S C a few weeks ago and I’m betting this bike came from or at least visited low country HD
With the comp. and clutch on the bike, and the auto adjusting primary chain tension shoe removed, should you be able to rotate a SE Comp slightly, or should it be no movement at all?
I have a 2005 Dyna Wide. Made it a 95" that has 100 HP. With14K miles. About 8 years ago I had a clicking/ rattling compensator. I found a factory bulletin that says to go 1/8 more turn after recommended torque is reached. Harley bulletin # M-1170 I never heard another clicking or rattling noise since. Look it up and give it a try.
Not super superstitious but I’ve had 5 Harley’s . Only time I ever went down was I got hit by a drunk driver on a bike where I didn’t have a bell someone gave me
I agree Doug. Terrible engineering from this to outrageous tolerances can bearings,etc. Almost seems they are built to fail. My 2009 Superglide just started jumping on hot start. Hope I can install the correct compensator myself!
I just developed the 'dreaded' stator grommet leak on my Stage 2, 2001 FXDWG! Damn! Any ideas/ tips to fix, without replacing the stator? (which is fine)
Never buy a bell for yourself. Have one given to you as a gift. I have 3 of them. I like to think they have saved my life many times. We ride and we ride hard. Thank you bells
Doc , Not sure why you skipped over the pre 2006 model twin cam compensators. They did not have the integrated spring pack. I have a 120 HP 124 TQ 2001 fatboy. Everyone in the industry I talked to (Baker included) told me that the stock compensator would definitely hold but anything after the revision in 06 would need replaced. So it sounds to me like it wasn't a problem until they changed it in 2006. I am fairly rough on it and it has held for 22k on the original motor and 7k on the 107 build. Knock on wood. Now the M8 comp ramps were changed as well and are breaking. When you find something that works well, stick with it. Or improve it and test it to make sure you improved it. But don't go backwards. Please. Thanks for the videos Doc. Little O
This is one of the best short videos to explain the bell. It's a cute story thinking you can hear a tiny bell over the sound of the bike. Haha none of you heard the bells. Just admit that and keep the rest of the story please.
Doc, I know that this post is old. I have a 2012 FLHTK that 2 days ago I did maintenance on. I cleaned everything and applied a good coat of antiseize. Checked the spring and sprayed silicon spray to it. Found a easy way to remove and install the spring from The Law Abiding Biker channel. The kickstand feels 100% better. I carry a replacement spring in my tool bag. I'm anal about the little things. Love your tips...
I've got a 2015 dyna that came with that "best" squaking chicken style compensator... failed at 26,000 miles. I went with the "comp delete" solid 34 tooth sprocket and went ahead and threw in a billet basket. Things bulletproof now. Compensators in all thier forms sucked period. Can't convince me otherwise.
Bells actually go back to the days of covered wagons going across the prairies in early America. you would start off with a number of bells (different stories have different numbers) and if you needed help on the way you would give a bell to the one who helped you. A wagon for sale would be worth less with less or no bells. Some historians believe it goes back further but there is no real documentation.
