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[lilcoot]

Hey, all, I took my 2012 SESG to Jim at Metal Dragon this week to install a 30t sprocket.  He called me later and told me my compensator is shot and need to go to a stealer to have it replaced under warranty.  I'd hoped that, by using the SE compensator on the newer bikes, this would not be a problem. 

I've got four questions:

1: What, besides overtightening, would cause compensator failure on a low mileage bike?  I've got around 6600 miles on mine, and haven't pushed it too hard (at least as hard as I wanted to!).

2: What are the signs/noises/symptoms that the compensator is failing?  I thought it was hard starting, kick back on starting, and a loud clanking noise when starting?

A couple of weeks before, I started noticing a clicking/rattling that seemed to be getting worse.  It was really hard to locate, and it mostly was there when it was cold, went away after it warmed up.  At first I thought it might be a sticky valve, then it was suggested to me that it could also be rods or pistons.  3: Now I wonder, could this have been the compensator going south?

4: Can anything be done to prevent or lessen compensator failure?

Thanks for your help.

[sadunbar]

Hey, all, I took my 2012 SESG to Jim at Metal Dragon this week to install a 30t sprocket.  He called me later and told me my compensator is shot and need to go to a stealer to have it replaced under warranty.  I'd hoped that, by using the SE compensator on the newer bikes, this would not be a problem.  

I've got four questions:

1: What, besides overtightening, would cause compensator failure on a low mileage bike?  I've got around 6600 miles on mine, and haven't pushed it too hard (at least as hard as I wanted to!).

2: What are the signs/noises/symptoms that the compensator is failing?  I thought it was hard starting, kick back on starting, and a loud clanking noise when starting?

A couple of weeks before, I started noticing a clicking/rattling that seemed to be getting worse.  It was really hard to locate, and it mostly was there when it was cold, went away after it warmed up.  At first I thought it might be a sticky valve, then it was suggested to me that it could also be rods or pistons.  3: Now I wonder, could this have been the compensator going south?

4: Can anything be done to prevent or lessen compensator failure?

Thanks for your help.

It's likely the noises you've been hearing are from your compensator.  Overtightening would do nothing to reduce the compensator life.

As long as the compensator was properly installed on initial assembly, and as long as you are using a quality lubricant, unfortunately there is really nothing more you can do to extend the compensator life...  It's a quality/design issue the MOCO has failed to adequately address...

[grc]

Harley has "tweaked" the design a couple times already, and obviously they need to go back to the drawing board at least one more time.

What was the actual failure?  Was the thrust washer broken (usually happens during installation)?  Or did you just have premature wear of the sliding surfaces?  There are some theories floating around that the design doesn't allow lubricant to get into some important areas.  There are other's that just basically say there is a material and surface finish issue in the Harley design that leads to premature wear.  Why some fail in a few thousand miles and others seem to go tens of thousands is hard to say. 


Jerry

[RidinRuby]

Hey, all, I took my 2012 SESG to Jim at Metal Dragon this week to install a 30t sprocket.  He called me later and told me my compensator is shot and need to go to a stealer to have it replaced under warranty.  I'd hoped that, by using the SE compensator on the newer bikes, this would not be a problem. 

I've got four questions:

1: What, besides overtightening, would cause compensator failure on a low mileage bike?  I've got around 6600 miles on mine, and haven't pushed it too hard (at least as hard as I wanted to!).

2: What are the signs/noises/symptoms that the compensator is failing?  I thought it was hard starting, kick back on starting, and a loud clanking noise when starting?

A couple of weeks before, I started noticing a clicking/rattling that seemed to be getting worse.  It was really hard to locate, and it mostly was there when it was cold, went away after it warmed up.  At first I thought it might be a sticky valve, then it was suggested to me that it could also be rods or pistons.  3: Now I wonder, could this have been the compensator going south?

4: Can anything be done to prevent or lessen compensator failure?

Thanks for your help.

  I betcha Jim could answer those questions

[Eqcons]

Very interesting (but very long!) thread HERE

[lilcoot]

"I betcha Jim could answer those questions"

Yes, Jim did.  He basically said what Jerry said:  It's a manufacturing QC or assembly issue and there's not much that a person can do or not do to prevent compensator failure.  I was just hoping that someone on this forum might have any other experience or knowledge about warning signs and causes of compensator failure.


"What was the actual failure?  Was the thrust washer broken (usually happens during installation)?  Or did you just have premature wear of the sliding surfaces?  There are some theories floating around that the design doesn't allow lubricant to get into some important areas.  There are other's that just basically say there is a material and surface finish issue in the Harley design that leads to premature wear.  Why some fail in a few thousand miles and others seem to go tens of thousands is hard to say."

Jim said there is excessive scoring on the sliding surfaces, and a groove dug into it as well.  I know that the compensator acts as a cushion or buffer for the transmission against the torque of the engine, but am not familiar with how it actually works.  Unless I misunderstood Jim, I'm not sure how a groove was made on the compensator.

Oh, yeah, I use all Redline oils, so the quality of the lubricant shouldn't be an issue.