2009-FLHR: loud clunk during start up

Joe Schmack

Hi,

my 2009 Road King makes a really loud clunk when starting.
Loudness is comparable to the noise when I shift the 1st gear and oil is cold.
The bike is shattering.

My dealer says its common but I am afraid that anything is wrong.

What do you think ?

Cheers,
JoeSchmack

glider

It's a common noise because of a bad design for the compensator sprocket.

There' is something that will help here...

Compensator Kit - Harley Davidson Community

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LarsFromMars

An easier solution is to try getting rid of the Formula + oil that's in your primary and using something like Drag Specialties primary oil, etc. When I bought my bike the first thing I did was get rid of the Formula +, it's terrible. Causes a lot of tranny noise, hard to find neutral, etc. Also changing over took away that loud clunk by about 50%.

L

Hobbit

the primary oil is only for the clutch and primary chain and is seperate from the tranny, formula+ is a good oil for the primary.
if you have formula+ in the tranny then im not surprised it makes alsorts of noises as it should not be in there you need a good quality SYN (not hd) and the gear box will be quiet

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tteazis

I got the same thing with my '09 SG. I will change to Redline in a week or so. I hope it makes a difference.

Theo.

Vibratinharley

Glider,

I get this same kind of clunking noise when pulling out from a stop. It is even worse when carrying a passenger and even worse when pulling out going up hill. It goes away as soon as bike gets moving. Is this just compensator doing what it's supposed to do?

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glider

It sounds like it but the compensator really shouldn't make any noises once started unless it is defective.

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Jayson459

Agree with Glider on possibly defective compensator .. But don't care if you use Angels from Heaven Marvelous Oil.. On a cold morning starting out .. Are going to get an initial 1st Gear "clunk" with a Harley and most every other make of Bike as well..

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martysnarf

Mine does it too. Good to know!

I plan on changing to Spectro synthetic fluids here soon; I'll let you know if it improves.

Vibratinharley

It's not the first gear clunk I am worried about as every harley I ever owned did that but the low tune clunk clunk clunk noise at very low rpm pulling out on hill or just from dead stop is loud and just plain annoying. It does it cold and hot. None of my other big twins ever made this noise and my ear says its coming from the compensating sprocket assembly. I am gonna take it to the dealer and see if they will fix it as it's under warrany and I hope I don't hear that same old " they all do it answer"....

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1993 sportster Dark Blue
Stock Induction, Python Mufflers,No good deed goes unpunished!