I'd check the nut that holds the handlebars......

 

Sounds like pinging to me....pinging gets worse as a bike gets miles on it because of carbon build up on the pistons raises the compression...the initial fix is to check for intake leaks and switch to hi test gas, depending on your bike changing the fuel mix either though programing the controller or rejecting may be called for....

 

Yes, Harley has never come up with a fix for that issue.


John

 

Yes of course but I need to educate myself first so they don't pull the wool over my eyes. The expertise on this forum is free

[rant: the stealership opens on weekends. But can you bleve it, the nearby indy only works 9-5 weekdays... effing lazy bugger. That says a lot about how he must gouge customers during them hours so he don't hafta work weekends ehh. ]

Ok, one more item to my checklist; I never knew about that one, thanx.

Since I got back last Sunday afternoon, I let the bike sit in the garage. After reading your post, I started her up and the sounds was still there. Wouldn't pinging go away when the engine is colder?

Before I rode off on Saturday morning, I poured seafoam in the gas tank. Also, I always use Shell 91 gas and when I can't get that, it's Chevron 91. That's in the hope that these quality gas brands don't encourage carbon buildup; I could be wrong.

What do you mean by intake leaks?

 

Your carb has a rubber sealing ring connecting it to the intake manifold. The manifold has two seals where it meets the cylinder heads. Sure your primary chain is all adjusted to spec?


John

 

Sorry I wasn't clear before: I have an 07, so no carburettor. Now that you mention it, no I am not sure about the primary chain after that weekend ride. Thanx.

 

Lewk, you can eliminate pinging, it is intermittent and only under load and completely different from the normal worn out sewing machine noise.

 

Agreed.

I never thought I'd miss that worn out sewing machine noise Now I just want that metal noise to go away so I can have my sewing machine back!

It's also not the tank mount. That was an easy check, even a mechanically challenged guy like me can do. Anyway, now armed with all your suggestions (thanx everybody) I'll have the stealership look at it. Amazingly, they are pretty booked for the next few Saturdays