Hello all, I currently have 66,000 kms on my 08 FLHT and I'm curious to know if anyone has had a problem with their primary chain adjusters. I've read the horror stories on the net about people complaining that their adjusters and chains are cactus early on in the piece. Anyone got a comment on this here. 

I've had my bike since new and I know that it hasn't had a flogging, also the guys at sy's HD , where I bought the bike new from, assure me that all is good. 

I might just be paranoid about it, but I don 't want the Big Bang associated with it going wrong.

it's a pity that my bike doesn't have the inspection plate on the primary cover that earlier models have.

any comments appreciated, thanks.

I have 78K on my 07 Softail, and the primary chain is fine. I did change out the adjuster to a Hayden M7 which has made that side of the motor a lot quieter, also the chain is stretched...

Mate I have a 2009 FLHT , done 80,000 km . I've had primary opened to check inside, and everything was good. If you belive what you read, the stock compensator can become a problem . Wearing parts can break down prematurely before they should, unfortunately that's part of any mechanical device, not just Harleys !!!!
With regard to being paranoid , think about this, with all the problems / failures you read about on forums, etc , primary chain adjusters, cam tensioners , compensators, motor mounts, etc, etc, etc, they could be well, say in the 100s . Now how many late model Harleys, (say 2000 -- 2014) , are there out there ??? I don't think we would be far off the mark and say , 400,000 -- 500,000. I know not everyone that owns a Harley is on a forum, but its seems to be the place where problems / failures are vented . Not to mention people that have a go at wrenching on their bike on things that may be more complicated than they thought , and fuck things up !!!!!
Yes for sure there are components that could , and should be better designed. If you spend some time learning about your bike, (forums are great), and maintaining it properly you will have a great experience. But please don't get to paranoid about this or that , or you wont leave the garage , just ride on icon of the road , that's been around over 110 years !!!!!

Yup, you're probably right. I was going to spend the cunning kit cash on replacing it out.

i think I will put it toward that 103 kit that I've wanted for a while. I think I'll buy the black cylinders instead of the silver. Thanks.

The early Compensator's were a concern on the earlier 96ci TC's, more pronounced on the heavier baggers. Harley have recognised this as a problem but naturally have not owned up to anything of course.

This is not to say ALL Harley's have had issue's but there certainly is a lot of threads on different Forums discussing problematic Compensator's.

I stand to be corrected but I think my time line on Compensator upgrades is correct, the 2008 models had the stock #40296-06 compensator and the 09 had a small upgrade of diaphragm spring tension some 7%, #40296-06A.

Both of these Compensator's have drawn much criticism and the solution was to install the SE #40274-08 which was a much better improvement especially on start up, but this unit still has some lubrication issues that could only be rectified with engineering improvements.

Harley have since (2013) released another highly modified compensator #42200064 with the basics of the #40274-08 retained and it would appear from the noticeable absence of communication traffic on the other Forums, that this newer unit is working.

I have replaced the compensator on both my sled's 09 FXST and 09 FLHT, with the SE #40274-08 and consider this as practical improvement just for the omission of initial start up "clunk" and the smoother downshift/upshift.

I initially replaced the Softail's compensator after a routine maintenance stripdown for visual inspection and was alarmed to see the amount of wear and chipped cam tips on the Cam Slider (#40333-06A), which could not be seen from the front with Primary cover off.

Hi Paul, I have to agree with you that the compensator is one component that has caused problems. The bang and clunk at start up is something that nobody wants to hear or happen on their bike. Not to mention the strain this can have on the battery and the starter clutch of the starter , which can lead to the grinding sound at start up. Harley has had a couple of goes at re designing the compensator, with the last update , (42200064), as you mentioned, solving most of the problems. The plastic oil deflector that you have to glue on, (for better oil circulation), had people concerned, but there doesn't seem to be any cases of this failing . Just seems strange to some to have a plastic gluded on component in the primary area .
As I mentioned above, to the OP, don't get paranoid , just know your bike and spend your money wisely checking, and or replacing parts that are prone to premature failure before maybe spending money on that large engine mod you may have been thinking of, especially if your bike has done , say between 50,000 -- 100,000 kms. Just my opinion !!! Cheers.

Thanks for the replies guys, appreciated.