Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
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Old May 23, 2006 | 09:34 PM
  #1  
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Default Knocking

Anybody know what makes a 1200 spark knock as you are taking off from a dead stop like at a light? It isnt stalling, just knocking a little bit. Am I clutching right? I did put a tank full off 87 in it a week ago and siphoned it out. Put in premium, and filled it up with 94 today. Thoughts?
03 1200 C Ann.
 
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Old May 24, 2006 | 11:12 AM
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Default RE: Knocking

Anybody?
 
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Old May 24, 2006 | 12:52 PM
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Default RE: Knocking

Have you had any work done to the motor or carb? Sometimes if you don't give it enough gas at take off and rpms drop enough, it may knock a little.
 
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Old May 24, 2006 | 01:06 PM
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Default RE: Knocking

My 03 1200 pings a little if I go to take off and don't rev it up a little bit first, but as soon as I get it into the power band above 1500 rpm's it's all gone, but that only happens once in a while. I could adjust the carb a little fatter or retard the timing a little but usually it only happens when I don't start out from a stop the right way, most of the time it doesn't ping at all. If you still have the stock carb, they run a little lean and could use bigger jets and better adjustment which might get rid of most of the pinging.
 
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Old May 24, 2006 | 04:23 PM
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Default RE: Knocking

Is it a knock, or a ping. I noticed years ago, that they make a ping sound if you take off with too few RPMs. Just like JohhK said.
 
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Old May 24, 2006 | 06:35 PM
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Default RE: Knocking

Possibly it is still running on the 97 stuff left in the carb and fuel line. If it didn't do it before, then once the old stuff is used up it should return to normal. Just a thought.
 
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Old May 24, 2006 | 08:53 PM
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Default RE: Knocking

Your 1200 needs more than 87 octane. Thats the problem
 
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Old May 24, 2006 | 09:17 PM
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Default RE: Knocking

Thanks for the replys. Yeah, I dont really rev that high when I take off, so that's possibly it. And I am currently running as much of the leftover 87 out of the tank. Should be all gone soon. Thanks again.
 
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