sportster ping(?)
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sportster ping(?)
My 83 xlx has decided to start running a little funny...at high r's under load, it sounds almost like a ping, but it's only the rear cylinder(by the sound)...i thought i had an air leak to the manifold(gasket was torn), and it does run better after i replaced the carb gasket...can a loose exhaust joint cause this issue? when it starts cracking, it does lose power...i tried to tighten the bolt on the clamp, but it's real rusty, and i can still turn the pipe by hand if i grab and pull it...but this just started 2-3 weeks ago. Any ideas?
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 328
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RE: sportster ping(?)
I really don't think that a loose exhaust will cause much problem unless it is really loose and leaking badly. That would be noticable by the soot all over everything. You probably ought to fix it anyway though.
It could be an air leak somewhere in the intake system.
While its idling, squirt some WD40 or some other kind of spray lube that doesn't make too big a mess around the intake areas. If you have an intake leak, you will notice a difference in the idle when you spray that stuff on it.
Sometimes carbon can build up in a cylinder and cause this pinging. Maybe you might try some combustion chamber cleaner.
You are running premium fuel aren't you?
If it is actually pinging, by all means get it corrected. I noticed the rear cylinder on my ironhead pinging on a trip, and I holed a piston about a half hour later.
Good Luck
It could be an air leak somewhere in the intake system.
While its idling, squirt some WD40 or some other kind of spray lube that doesn't make too big a mess around the intake areas. If you have an intake leak, you will notice a difference in the idle when you spray that stuff on it.
Sometimes carbon can build up in a cylinder and cause this pinging. Maybe you might try some combustion chamber cleaner.
You are running premium fuel aren't you?
If it is actually pinging, by all means get it corrected. I noticed the rear cylinder on my ironhead pinging on a trip, and I holed a piston about a half hour later.
Good Luck
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 770
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From: East NM
RE: sportster ping(?)
An exhaust leak can make a noise that sounds like a ping, but I haven't heard of it causing a real ping. I had the rear pipe blow completely off my '76 Ironhead and there was no ping. AN actual ping can be caused by very high compression (usually caused by carbon buildup), lean mixture, low octane gas, or exess ignition advance.
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RE: sportster ping(?)
well, i think the noise is an exhaust noise, or i should say was an exhaust noise. i still have a running issue though...slow to mid accel isnt bad, but wot it kinda goes flat...i did adjust the mixture screw(plug was out), and that helped a little.. ithink maybe i need a bigger jet...not sure what size is in there, i didnt look when i had it apart again, but i think ill look into it. i did spray around the intake and carb, no change..has to be carb related
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