I was out on a poker run last week & that familiar knock in the primary returned on my 92 softail. The last time this happened last year I retourqed
the nut to spec. but I didn't use locktite. this time I checked & the nut wasn't even handtite. Should I just Locktite It or is there something else
that might be wrong. Could the compensator itself be bad ?

Thanks !

 

You have just found the reason you should use red lock tight on the compensator nut.

Just torque it but make sure you use some red lock tight.

 

Make sure threads are dry and clean on shaft and nut before applying loctite, also.
2-3 drops of red is all you should need.

 

Even the manual says to use red locktite (I think). been there done that once and that was enough for me.

 

Thanks for the replies.The manual didn't say anything about using Locktite that I remember, but this is good enough for me. A lot better than a $160 compensator.

 

This is essential. This nut must come off to replace the rotor at some point in the future, hopefully many many miles down the road. Do not over loctite it because you think it ain't enough.

 

I have personally seen a BDL open drive front pull COME OFF while going down the road. Luckily we were on a small town square road going about 25 MPH. The culprit.....No loctite. Guy bought the bike partly done with the drivetrain already mounted up. ASSUMED the drivetrain was good. When we looked at the threads they were clean with no sign of loctite. We redid everything (pulley and belt were still okay) and it never budged after that.

 

What torque specs are you using?

 

175#, iirc

 

Was thinking it was 165, but 175 sure as hell won't hurt anything either way.