Engine Started To "Ping" After 2 Years?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,773
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From: Ft. Wayne IN
My FLHCS will ping on "cheap" gas. I try to use Top Tier only but can't always get it on road trips. I recently tried some non-Top TIer 91 octane and had a lot of pinging. Bought some octane booster, added a couple of ounces to the tank and the problem went away. Went back to Top Tier 93 octane at next fillup and no pinging. I'm about to leave on a road trip out west and will carry some octane booster with me, just in case.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 722
From: Ontario, Canada
My FLHCS will ping on "cheap" gas. I try to use Top Tier only but can't always get it on road trips. I recently tried some non-Top TIer 91 octane and had a lot of pinging. Bought some octane booster, added a couple of ounces to the tank and the problem went away. Went back to Top Tier 93 octane at next fillup and no pinging. I'm about to leave on a road trip out west and will carry some octane booster with me, just in case.
Interestingly in those situations (when premium wasn't available) in previous years, it never pinged like it is now on premium?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,143
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From: San Diego, CA
I've heard of this before..... not an everyday occurrence, but a possibility... usually it doesn't happen suddenly like with the OP's bike. It's usually a gradual progression. It starts with just a little pinging and gets worse over time... but it does happen...
OP, do you still have the breathers venting into your air cleaner...? Might be interesting to take a peak at the tops of your pistons with a cheap bore scope...
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 722
From: Ontario, Canada
I've heard of this before..... not an everyday occurrence, but a possibility... usually it doesn't happen suddenly like with the OP's bike. It's usually a gradual progression. It starts with just a little pinging and gets worse over time... but it does happen...
OP, do you still have the breathers venting into your air cleaner...? Might be interesting to take a peak at the tops of your pistons with a cheap bore scope...
OP, do you still have the breathers venting into your air cleaner...? Might be interesting to take a peak at the tops of your pistons with a cheap bore scope...
Stock venting of the breather. May have the dealer check it out next time I'm there (still under warranty). Great service manager there and I get along well with him...I do trust him.
HD EFI Guru
Joined: Jan 2008
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Not saying it isn't/couldn't be carbon buildup, but I'd be very surprised with only 13,000 miles on it. And it certainly hasn't been a gradual progression...seemed to start first ride out this spring. Again, no changes and have run nothing but top tier premium fuel so far.
Stock venting of the breather. May have the dealer check it out next time I'm there (still under warranty). Great service manager there and I get along well with him...I do trust him.
Stock venting of the breather. May have the dealer check it out next time I'm there (still under warranty). Great service manager there and I get along well with him...I do trust him.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 722
From: Ontario, Canada
Since it's done it only since sitting an you have run several tanks through it. I would run it down as low as you can on fuel (on to reserve), then fill it with good fuel. Ride to an open area where you have enough room to be able to open the bike up with no issues. Run the bike in 2nd gear and run it at full throttle up to 5500 RPM then shift into 3rd to 5500 and repeat the process again a couple more times. Only do this with a fully warmed up engine where it is safe to do so. This should clear any loose carbon out of the engine. If that doesn't do it let the dealership make a service ticket out and test it, so you have a record of it for your warranty coverage if it gets worse.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: High Point, NC.
So just throwing this out there, but seems like I was told by someone that push rods can loosen up? Maybe they're slapping against the lifters a bit more. My 17 I had some pinging as well and asked my indy to check the pushrods. He said they were fine of course.
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: State of Confusion
