Se compensator noise

CARABBIT · #1 09-26-2009, 08:40 PM

Hello new to forum. Was reading how great the se comp is .and it is but i ran in to the following. 08 deluxe. Installed se big cam comp. At 3000 miles, the start clunk stopped but i get a clanging noise in 5th gear about 55 60mph an d6th about 60,65 mph while cruising if you pull a hill it gets real load like tambourines or a hard spark knock. This bike runs great 7900miles. Any suggestions

thanks

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rbabos · #2 09-27-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CARABBIT

Hello new to forum. Was reading how great the se comp is .and it is but i ran in to the following. 08 deluxe. Installed se big cam comp. At 3000 miles, the start clunk stopped but i get a clanging noise in 5th gear about 55 60mph an d6th about 60,65 mph while cruising if you pull a hill it gets real load like tambourines or a hard spark knock. This bike runs great 7900miles. Any suggestions

thanks

If I read this right, you now have 3k on the comp?
Way back, I had some questionable areas in this comp that may or may not give trouble. I decided to let time and miles prove or disprove what I saw. I now have 5k on mine and have developped a slight start knock and a secondary click sound on startup.
First of all, don't just tighten it without first checking out what concerned me originally. The gearbox sound or clatter is most likely cause from lack of preload (.060-.090)on the comp, and since mine won't be torn down until the end of Oct, you can be the first to investigate.
Areas to look for are wear on the composite thrust washer and the first thin disc washer being flattend out. Either one of these will cause a none preload condition when the comp is torqued down. If you can push the sprocket in and out without effort this is the case.
The last and biggest concern I had was the small area of spline section on the cam, that rides on the extension shaft and how well it would stand up.
If you find problems with either the first two, I have the solution, but if the splines are going on the cam, the chit will once again hit the fan. Once I pull mine, we can compare notes on the findings. At the present time, I have no clatter which it cured with the initial install, but start sound has changed.
Ron

CARABBIT · #3 09-27-2009, 07:04 PM

HEY RON, THANKS FOR THE INFO. THE COMP HAS ABOUT 4300MI. ON IT. IT STILL OFFERS A GOOD START WHERE IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT'S GOING TO BEET THE CRANK OUT THE END OF THE PRIMARY. i JUST GOT TO RIDE TODAY AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS OF RAIN AND FLOODING. WHEN THIS THING IS COOL THE CLANGING IS LESS NOTICEABLE. THE BIKE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND ABOUT ALL I'VE DONE IS CHANGE OILS AND CLEAN IT. THEY DID THE INSTALL. THIS DEALER IS GREAT NO COMPLAINTS! WERE PLANNING A TRIP TO THE DRAGON TAIL IN A COUPLE WEEKS AND THE APPLE FESTIVAL IN BLUE RIDGE. YOU WILL PROBABLY HAVE YOURS DONE FIRST.I WILL BE CHECKING THIS THOUGH IT WILL ONLY TAKE A LITTLE EFFORT TO DO THE INSPECTION. I AM RUNNING PLUS 4 AND 20/50 HD OIL. I AM A STOCK FREEK.I WANT THE DEALER TO INSPECT BUT I THINK THEY WILL NOT FIND ANYTHING? WILL INSPECT AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT I FIND.HOPEFULLY IT IS A SIMPLE FIX EXCEPT FOR GETTING THE PARTS FROM S.E.. I'M THINKING WARANTY (LOL) HEY MAN THANKS WILL LET YOU KNOW.
KEN

rbabos · #4 09-28-2009, 10:37 AM

Trans clatter can be a prick to eliminate in a softail. Rode mine stock for a year and it drove me nuts. Ready to go metric until I got it tamed. Anything that will give the exact impact/rebound frequency will cause it to come to life. Comp being the most common, but engine tune with one cly hitting harder then the other slightly will start it. Primary chain tension, even though it's auto adjust there is a small window just prior to moving into the next click will give slightly less tension. Finally the drive belt tension not within spec (too tight when hot) will bring it on.
As in your case and many others they are quiet when cold and as it gets heat soaked it starts in 5th around 50-55 and will even move down into forth and third gears depending on how hot it gets. Thankfully I no longer hear it at all. For the time being , check what you can and enjoy your trip. Increase you shift points by 10mph and it will be less noticable. 6th is useless until 70, so 5th needs to be run at higher speeds. For example, I shift out of 4th at 55 in normal going through the gears and in a bit of a hurry I've seen 70 before hitting 5th. It took a while to shed those old lug chug harley driving habits. These engines like to be in the 3-3500 rpm range. Now having said that, I still pop it into 6th at 60 but only on a long hill and light load. Try upping the cruise rpms, and once you see the difference, you'll never lug again. Trust me.

Ron

CARABBIT · #5 09-28-2009, 05:53 PM

Boy i could not agree more with what you've said here! I had my belt making a weird noise took to dealer and they were happy to look at.told me it was misaligned and to tight. They fixed it but it seemed tighter than it was when i got there? Good people. No questions just dive right in and try to help your problem.knowing they want to sell another bike, but they could still be a payne if they wanted to. I'm afraid to do much myself because of warranty. It sure is easy to run low rpm's these bikes have an incredible range of power and torque,and mine is stock!! I still want to inspect though maybe make it a little better.

CARABBIT · #6 09-28-2009, 05:54 PM

Oh yea not good with computers.
Ken

Tnbrit · #7 09-29-2009, 04:16 AM

Ron,are you saying there might still be a problem with the operation/design of the SE comp.
My bikes booked in in 2 weeks for the comp,thought it was the answer to my prayers,but life wasn't meant to be easy.
Graham.

rbabos · #8 09-29-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tnbrit

Ron,are you saying there might still be a problem with the operation/design of the SE comp.
My bikes booked in in 2 weeks for the comp,thought it was the answer to my prayers,but life wasn't meant to be easy.
Graham.

Not likely. Just have a noise I can't explain, but suspect the auto tensioner. As for the SE components like the thrust washer and thin spring, I won't know what shape they are in until the end of Oct. There could be no problem at all. My unit is still working just fine and the driveline is just as silent as the day it went on. Startup is the only time I sometimes hear an odd noise and could end up being no connection to the comp. You will like it once installed.
Ron

fattdog · #9 09-29-2009, 10:32 PM

" I now have 5k on mine and have developped a slight start knock and a secondary click sound on startup."

I have some of the same kind of knock on start up ...everything else is the same. It definatley is not as tight as before. I have checked the torque and it is correct. It isn't near as bad of course as before but, it would be nice if it was like when it was new.

Tnbrit · #10 09-30-2009, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbabos

Not likely. Just have a noise I can't explain, but suspect the auto tensioner. As for the SE components like the thrust washer and thin spring, I won't know what shape they are in until the end of Oct. There could be no problem at all. My unit is still working just fine and the driveline is just as silent as the day it went on. Startup is the only time I sometimes hear an odd noise and could end up being no connection to the comp. You will like it once installed.
Ron

Thanks,Ron.i'm not a mech as you obviously are,but this part obviously takes a pounding,I'll get it fitted & see what happens.
Graham.