How to tell if a compensator is bad

[gregfxs]

02 FLSTC started hearing some noise sounds like top end but from what I've read on here could be other things like compensator. Going to pull the cover but want to know what to look for. Adjusted the chain through the inspection hole one notch was to tight the other to loose, rather have loose saves the bearing. 37g cams ported heads carb DTT 95's bike runs good but been feeling a little vibration thought it was an intake leak but no. Now I need to search for the colpret 25000 on the clock use my shovel alot so the mileage is low for an 02. If I pull the clutch in at about 2000 an let it out quick I'll hear a clunk not sure if this is normal. Thanks in advance for anyone posting any replys.

[wolf_59]

My 06 Ultra started making a thunking sound at idle and at steady speeds sounded like top end but thought i would look at the compensator first and found the compensating nut loose enough that I turned it by hand, cleaned it up and applied a dap of red loctite and torqued it to 175 FT. lbs. sounds good now

[FLHRI_2004]

What he said.  Clean the nut and crank threads really good before you apply red Loctite.

[Azgunner]

Good question. I read a post that said the spring should not be loose in the cover. Sure enough mine was so I bought a new one & it was just as loose as the old one. Oh well.

I hear a light tapping or knocking noise that sounds like it is coming front the front of the primary. It's been like that for a lot of miles thru two different engine builds, before & since I switched out the cap/spring assy. with no change in sound or performance. I've also changed out the rotor & stator too, so I'm thinking my noise is normal.

[FSG]

.....  I read a post that said the spring should not be loose in the cover. Sure enough mine was so I bought a new one & it was just as loose as the old one. Oh well.

That is true the springs shouldn't be loose in the cover, but one must realise that the position of the springs in the cover is determined by how much the cover has been crimped at the edge (in 3 places) to hold them in. 
I've a Comp cover in my hand from an '04 with maybe 2000 Kilometres on it, P/N 40384-91, and the outer spring sits approximately .300" in from the end of the cover.  Once this cover is installed the distance will increase as the Spring Pack contacts and is pushed against the Sliding Cam.

Take a measurement of the outer spring in your cover and post.

[Dennis]

My 2010 CVO Ultra makes a chirping sound in the front primary when I get of the throttle at any speed. Is this a symptom of a bad compensator? only 17000 miles on the odometer.

[wnogood]

My 06 SEUC had a light knock at idle that had gradually gotten worse over 15k. I got the compensator out and sure enough, the nut was slightly loose, and the spring pack was loose in the compensator. New compensator and nut (that comes with white loctite already in it, and that stuff is not coming loose) and noise is gone.

[Azgunner]

Checked my old comp. cap/spring height & got .315-.320 around the outside edge.
As you show in your diagram FSG there is a convex taper to the spring of approx. .070 (at least that is what mine measures) towards the center which is where the sliding cam actually locates. The old assy. had 110k miles on it. Unfortunately I neglected to make some comparison measurements on the new cap/spring assy.

[gregfxs]

Spring measures from 300 to 315 all around. So maybe the noises I'm hearing are coming from the lifters? Seems like they all got loud at once, 38-42 oil pressure.

[PkgMan]

"My 2010 CVO Ultra makes a chirping sound in the front primary when I get of the throttle at any speed. Is this a symptom of a bad compensator? only 17000 miles on the odometer."

Very interested in the responses to this.  My buds 2009 Screaming Eadle RG is making this exact noise???

PkgMan

[FSG]

The springs in the 40384-91 Cover Spring Assembly measure, OD" 4.12", ID: 3", Thk: .094" , the uncompressed stack height of the 4 springs is 4.12"  .692"



EDIT:  correct the uncompressed stack height

[Velocity1]

FSG,
Not sure I follow on the uncompressed stack height of "4.12" based on your excellent diagram.  I'd be more interested to know what the total stack thickness of the (4) belville washers in the uncompressed state is.  I'm getting ready to build a custom compensator using 1 addditional belville spring to provide more comp. assembly preload.  My stock OEM loosened up awhile back and more recently my Drag Spec. replacement seems to have let go too as the old noise has returned.  A member on here, (his handle escapes me), told me that he and a mechanic buddy built one of these and had some excellent success. I hope to get into mine towards the end of the riding season here in the NE Mid-atlantic. Seems they removed the factory crimps, installed an extra donor belville and while under pressure in a press, remade the crimps. In his bike he claims it worked like a charm and no more noise. I figure it's worth a shot.
V1

[FSG]

Ha!,    my bad uncompressed stack height is  .692" NOT 4.12" which is the OD. 

Yes I remember someone posting he'd fitted an extra spring, not such a bad idea as the belville springs will lose some tension over time.  Note: adding an extra spring will reduce the amount of rotation of the comp before they are fully compressed.

[Velocity1]

FSG,
Do you or any others in this thread happen to have a "donor" spent comp. assy. or perhaps an extra belville washer laying around from say a 2000 - 2006 that they would part with?  I'd be happy to pay shipping to 21001.  This way, I keep my bike running while I'm building my new/improved compensator.  I have the one I'm upgrading on the press ready to go.  All I need is the extra belville.  Of course I'd share lessons learned and ultimate results! 
Thanks guys!
V1

[joe_lyons]

Measure the height of the spring pack and if is less than .650'' then it is bad.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk 2

[FSG]

V1, sorry no spares here.  Today I'll try to source a spring via my local nuts & bolt shop, or at least attempt to find out where I can get one in Oz.

[Velocity1]

V1, sorry no spares here.  Today I'll try to source a spring via my local nuts & bolt shop, or at least attempt to find out where I can get one in Oz.

Roger that Sir Garfield. I appreciate your help!
Thanks, V1

[PoorUB]

My 2010 CVO Ultra makes a chirping sound in the front primary when I get of the throttle at any speed. Is this a symptom of a bad compensator? only 17000 miles on the odometer.

Check the belt tension. Any time I have heard of this the belt was loose.

[lilchief]

Along these same lines, when a compensator is changed out, can the cap with the springs & belleville washers just be changed out or is it wise to replace the entire assembly? (sprocket, etc)

Lil' Chief

[Velocity1]

Along these same lines, when a compensator is changed out, can the cap with the springs & belleville washers just be changed out or is it wise to replace the entire assembly? (sprocket, etc)

Lil' Chief

The "spring cap" that contains the belville washers can be changed out without replacing any of the other parts that make up the assembly.  Your judgement based on how much wear on the slider cams, motor shaft extension and drive gear teeth is evident for example, should dictate whether  or not you replace the entire assembly.

[FSG]

I spent 4 hours this morning attempting to find out where I can get a spring in Oz.  No luck finding any on the shelf but a few spring manufactures will make them for me, a $100 setup fee plus $x per spring.  I'll pass for now.   

[FSG]

Well I got a little further yesterday afternoon, I stumbled upon a nuts & bolts shop that also had springs and a counter guy a good 10 years my senior that knew his business.  When he measured the ID of the Beville Spring I'd put on the counter he said "Son your not going to find one of them in Australia" followed by the ID is Imperial, 3", Australia is Metric and whatever we have will be 5mm too small or 5mm too large.  Pulling out a catalog he showed me the spring range and it skips from 72mm straight to 80mm.  Nothing near 3" which is 76.xmm.

V1 if you find them in the US I'd be interested in a couple.

[rbabos]

Well I got a little further yesterday afternoon, I stumbled upon a nuts & bolts shop that also had springs and a counter guy a good 10 years my senior that knew his business.  When he measured the ID of the Beville Spring I'd put on the counter he said "Son your not going to find one of them in Australia" followed by the ID is Imperial, 3", Australia is Metric and whatever we have will be 5mm too small or 5mm too large.  Pulling out a catalog he showed me the spring range and it skips from 72mm straight to 80mm.  Nothing near 3" which is 76.xmm.

V1 if you find them in the US I'd be interested in a couple.

Back when I was monkeying with that stock comp three or more years ago I exhausted all possibilities of finding this spring disc. Dimensionally it's HD specific, to keep the parts $ cash flow intact.
Ron

[rob71458]

FSG or V1, I have a used stock 07 comp. sitting in a drawer. I could remove a spring or two and send them to you.     

[FSG]

Rob, thanks for the offer.  Isn't the '07 comp spring pack part of the Rotor ?  I don't know what size the springs are in that comp, perhaps you could do a quick measure of a spring.  I have a spare comp spring pack here so I'm OK, but I;m sure V1 will also appreciate your offer.

rgd's