Hi 2001 fatty, pulled the primary to check out whirring noise, If i put a screwdriver beteen the case and the sprocket and lever( not too hard) i get about an eight or so spring/travel outwards. Does this seem normal? also looking down at the compensator it shows a fair gap between the jaws,  i know they slide so that might be normal i have linked a couple of pics thatm ight assist what i am trying to describe. Dont really want to pull it off unless i need to  Cheers

 

 

After a some backfires on start up, I didn't think much of it till I pulled the primary apart, and found that the 1 1/2" Primary nut had come lose! flogged the crank spline and destroyed the rotor spline! I would make sure that the splines are ok first, then ensure that the nut is torqued to the correct HD specs with HD specified locktite on the thread! Don't want to scare you but you need to catch it early or it can be mighty expensive.

I cannot say as to whether the compensator nut is loose or not.
But I can tell you that being able to pry the sprocket sideways does not mean it is.
All you are doing is compressing the spring pack.
As for the gap, it is the tips of the outer drive unit the need to make contact in the valleys of the sprocket, not the other way around.
If they were not in contact, the inner sprocket would have "sideways freeplay", and not need any pressure to move it.
A whirring noise is likely to be.......
Chain too tight.
Crank out of true(much more likely on later models).
Cam bearings or tensioners on other side.
To check the comp nut while you are there would make sense, as it can be an issue (well known, but not so much with your early type).

Thanks for that,  I checked it anyway, it was fine, slacked chain back a bit till it actually was hitting cover occasionly and the whirring was still apparent. Cam shoes are fine. Noise seems loudest at the front just  behind rear guard (standing still) so i figure t is echoing off the tank and guard. almost talked myself into doing the hydrolic cam tensiosner upgrade and new bearings to see if it helps, either that or get used to  the noise

Cheers

 

Hi Bob, I had a shovel that made a whirring noise for a few years off and on, I tried all sorts of things to find it but never did. I bought an 95 evo a few years ago and bugger me if it didn't have the exact same noise (intermittently} I haven't heard it for a while now. It happens most when its cold.
I am starting to think its coming from the charging system. I think it might be a harmonic ring that develops in the magnet saucepan when its charging hard. Could come from a lazy rectifier regulator although mines doing all the right things at the battery.
My two bobs worth.

Thanks Swifty, another thought for me, changing out the bearings first, will check out the stator while in there in case something is scraping as well, bike runs fine, just this noise is driving me nuts, i wish i could forget it but its spoiling the expereince

Hi Rob Im in Rocky too. I just put my primery together yesterday because the alternator died and found that who ever last worked on it left out the spacer from between the sproket and the rotor and it was grinding the chain and rotor away.After reading this I might take my primary cover of to loctite the 1 1/2 nut.

a local, probably seen you around, have to catch up and kick tyres sometime if ya like,  missing spacer might make my sort of sound so i will look for that to, when i first changed out the primary  oil i thought there was a bit of furry filings on the magnetic plug but put it down to  clutch stuff.

Cheers Rob

Rob my number is 0450239348 or 49260602 Im working out of the car park under the Walter Reid building doing bronze casting .My work load is flexible and always keen 4 a ride .
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had the same trouble with mine mate,pretty much what newschool said.

mine had stripped the splines on the stator-rotor thing so it was spinning on the crank.

so the end of the sleeve-bolt had worn a groove nearly right through the rotor,which allowed the compensator to spread apart giving me heaps of backlash in the primary. got it just in time

,that could of been a disaster and luckily the splines on the crank were ok. common thing apparently.

 

 

Guys, sometimes I have a loud crack and grind like marbles in the primary when starting my bike when she's warm. From cold she starts perfect. I am going to check my compensator nut. Is the nut inch and a half? Where do I stick the locking tool (piece of wood)? In the teeth of the sprocket or in the clutch hub sprocket. Checking the nut is easy enough, but I don't want to push it out of alignement. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

I used a piece of broom handle that sits diagonally between the primary and clutch hub,  be aware that the primary and clutch retaining bolts are left and right threaded.  Primary is normal thread.