New engine new problems
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 760
Likes: 273
From: Olympia, WA
My M8 likes high octane. I have run regular gas in places where there is no high octane and she ran fine no ping. But as soon as 91 or 92 is available I put it in. I have gotten a batch of bad gas (water) that will cause ping and other issues. Happened on my Sportster years ago, she is a carb bike.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 413
Likes: 104
From: Detroit
I did experience some pinging with my 17 Road Glide put 6000 miles on her and traded it back for a Electra Glide ultra Classic. No problems with the Ultra Classic it's actually much quieter and tranny is so much smoother. Plus i was losing tranny fluid to the primary on the Road Glide sor far not the case with my Ultra Classic.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 90
Likes: 21
From: Maine
From some of the responses it appears to me that some are unaware that HD owners manual recommends 91 octane.
It is a high compression engine after all. Also even if it runs fine with lower octane and does not ping, its because the system is retarding the timing to compensate for low octane, so its not performing as well as it could even thou its not pinging. I've never run anything but 91 or higher in any of the HD's I've owned.
Thing is with the new HD's is all the sensors and CPU will adjust to handle it the lower octane as best it can.
With older bikes if your bike did not like the gas, it was obvious.
Run 91 or 93 always. Don't use high ethanol blends or octane boost with methanol. Both will eat up seals and gaskets in your fuel system.
It is a high compression engine after all. Also even if it runs fine with lower octane and does not ping, its because the system is retarding the timing to compensate for low octane, so its not performing as well as it could even thou its not pinging. I've never run anything but 91 or higher in any of the HD's I've owned.
Thing is with the new HD's is all the sensors and CPU will adjust to handle it the lower octane as best it can.
With older bikes if your bike did not like the gas, it was obvious.
Run 91 or 93 always. Don't use high ethanol blends or octane boost with methanol. Both will eat up seals and gaskets in your fuel system.
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Essex
Noises under acceleration
Proud owner of a M8 and love it, been riding H-D's for over 40 years and have owned many different types of Harleys from Sprints to now M8. It is a great MC and the motor co finally listened to what the riding public had to say! However as with any "new" product issues do happen, I have had it back to the dealer 4 times for oil leak located in the front portion of the bike. Oil port feeding the cooler, clamps , a hose was replaced, this isnt 1966 they aren't suppose to leak this day in time. I ride roughly 12,000 miles a year and so far ( the bike only has 1400 miles on it ) I like it the ride is the best EVER IT HAS GREAT POWER AND HANDLING I live in North Carolina so there are some fantastic places to ride to. I have also heard a "ping" under acceleration back to the dealer, i was told they couldn't hear it, sounds like a spark knock to me but I was told it COULD NOT spark knock due to knock sensors ect associated with the fuel management systems? ?? Who knows I ride it new bike new problems glad it is on record with Harley-davidson just in case it is detonation, has anyone else heard a pinging under acceleration from around 2500 RPM?
Last edited by Puddle63; Oct 12, 2019 at 03:14 AM. Reason: Missed a item
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,578
Likes: 8,406
From: Inland NW
hi yes my 69 plate Breakout m8 sarted making a sowing machine noise under acceleration from new ! Till after 480 mile I go start her and clouds of smoke and a smell of oil. Its now at Harley where they tell me oil leaking down valve guides in to engine so having new heads valves and rings fitted,Tooling not changed enuf when made was the answer I got ! This was three weeks ago and iv still not got my bike back, waiting for a gasket kit !!! Great and will it still rattle ? Who knows (not impressed
You have selected a very old M8 thread to quote for some reason, and that guy has not been here since Jan of '18.
Good luck
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