My 1998 Ultra has started to ping since the beginning of the summer. When the bike is in fith gear and spinning around 2,000 RPM....roll the throttle back and it pings. If I have to pass anyone...I must shift to fourth to get any power and avoiding pinging.

This bike use to never ping even when being lugged.

I checked the plugs and they seem to have more white than usual.
I've tried 93 octane with no change.
I've run Seafoam through the intake...smoked alot. It didn't take care of the pinging.
The bike does not smoke...however it does burn just a little oil.

I was thinking carbon-buildup....however, the bike gets alot of highway time.

Any ideas what to do next.....

 

Sound like a ignition timing issue to me ?

 

Something caused it to lean out or timing is advancing, if the Voes diaphram has a hole in it or not switching you can have this issue or the famous intake seal leaking. I'm kinda leaning towards the voes if you have one.

 

You said it pings when you roll back on the throttle. Not when you are on it???? If so you may have another problem like a cracked piston, etc.!!
John

 

Gulp! I think I'd check the other things first!!!

 

My bike developed the exact same thing this summer. In my case it was a bad VOES (vacuum operated electric switch). The rubber diaphragm inside doesn't last forever, and if there is a hole in the diaphragm, not only won't the switch work, but you will have a vacuum leak at that point.

That's the first thing I'd check.