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General Topics/Tech TipsDiscussion on break in periods, rider comfort, seats and pad suggestions. Tech tips as they become available will be posted here.
The tune was dialed in. It was strictly due to the high ambient temps. Under 100 F, there were no pinging issues, whatsoever. Even up to almost 110 it wasn't that bad. Once it hit 110 and above, I experienced the problem big time. The way I see it, lowering the oil temps will lower the engine temps, and that should help to mitigate the problem. Will it cure it, altogether? I won't know until this summer.
Cheers!
Wouldn't a correct tune map of ignition timing retard spark at elevated temp? I'm assuming Harley motors don't have in cylinder knock sensors.
While that's true, there's a difference between improper timing, and fuel for that matter, based on ambient temp/engine temp. It's one thing to tune for ideal conditions and another to use the parameters given to tune for not so ideal conditions. You don't want to run the same timing for both
In this case it's likely a poor tune. The EFI has delphi ion sense knock sensors.. Measures ions across the spark plug gap to determine detonation.
Reaper is carbureted. The ignition is a Daytona TwinTec TC-88A, with a custom, dyno tuned, ignition map designed for the majority of my riding conditions, and style. The tune isn't the problem. As I said, this ONLY occurs when the ambient temps are above 100 F.
Regardless, lowering oil/engine temps is always a good thing.
Reaper is carbureted. The ignition is a Daytona TwinTec TC-88A, with a custom, dyno tuned, ignition map designed for the majority of my riding conditions, and style. The tune isn't the problem. As I said, this ONLY occurs when the ambient temps are above 100 F.
Regardless, lowering oil/engine temps is always a good thing.
Cheers!
Well in that case there is not much you can do. to adjust for temps. If it was done on a dyno, good chace it has too much timing than needed.. If it was done without load and only the drum, the simulated bike weight can be quite a bit lighter than real world.
Add. BTW What plugs are you running..
Last edited by Max Headflow; Feb 19, 2023 at 07:48 PM.
Reason: Add.
Well in that case there is not much you can do. to adjust for temps. If it was done on a dyno, good chace it has too much timing than needed.. If it was done without load and only the drum, the simulated bike weight can be quite a bit lighter than real world.
Add. BTW What plugs are you running..
Well, as I said, under 100 F, I don't get pinging under normal cruising conditions. That said, when I first installed the DD6, it took time to get it into my head that, when cruising at 75 mph in 6th, with the engine only revving around 2900 RPM, I do need to drop a gear if I have to do a quick throttle blast to pass, etc... or she rattles like crazy. With the stock 5 speed, the engine was revving around 3200 RPM at 75 mph, so I just rolled on, and didn't need to drop the gear. If I don't need to pass quickly, I CAN roll on the throttle while in 6th, slowly, and she won't ping. If I'm cruising at 80 or above, where the engine is revving at 3000+ RPM in 6th, I can roll on to pass quickly without pinging.
I use NGK DCPR8EIX (Iridium, one heat range colder than stock) plugs, gapped to 0.040"
I'm also a fan of Iridium spark plugs, but in some cases they can cause the engine to run too lean. It would be worth trying a set of stock correct spark plugs for your year of bike and see what happens. Not sure what ignition system you are running but it does sound like you have a bit too much advance. Iridium plugs can make this condition worse.
I see that you don't have the Delphi system, which doesn't work well with Iridium plugs. I found that out on my 08 Softail. I gained better gas mileage when I used them but I had lean conditions, hanging idle when coming to a stop and so on. So in that bike I had to run the stock HD plugs.
I'm also a fan of Iridium spark plugs, but in some cases they can cause the engine to run too lean. It would be worth trying a set of stock correct spark plugs for your year of bike and see what happens. Not sure what ignition system you are running but it does sound like you have a bit too much advance. Iridium plugs can make this condition worse.
I see that you don't have the Delphi system, which doesn't work well with Iridium plugs. I found that out on my 08 Softail. I gained better gas mileage when I used them but I had lean conditions, hanging idle when coming to a stop and so on. So in that bike I had to run the stock HD plugs.
I'm not sure how plugs can affect air/fuel ratio on a carbureted engine. The engine runs great with them. I haven't experienced the symptoms you mentioned above.
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