103" pinging noise
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,776
Likes: 2,607
From: san antonio
I just talked to my Indy mechanic and he told me the Screaming eagle tuner is now obsolete and a paperweight. I have my PV3 that was on the street glide I traded in, I will call Fuel moto tomorrow for a new license and see if they can send me a new tune. I believe its a tuning issue now and a new tune may help this issue. Either way I need a new license for the PV3 regardless so we will see how that goes.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,158
Likes: 11,249
From: San Diego, CA
I just talked to my Indy mechanic and he told me the Screaming eagle tuner is now obsolete and a paperweight. I have my PV3 that was on the street glide I traded in, I will call Fuel moto tomorrow for a new license and see if they can send me a new tune. I believe its a tuning issue now and a new tune may help this issue. Either way I need a new license for the PV3 regardless so we will see how that goes.
Unless you can tell FM more information than a Thunderheader and S&S intake, I will be surprised if they send you a tune and if they do, it could be off my a mile. Find a local tuner that works with the PV, buy the license from him and let him tune. In my neck of the woods, a PV license runs $150-$200 and tune between $300-$400 depending on dyno time.
FWIW....
Unless something has recently changed (last 5 years or so), if you buy a PV license for your bike, make sure you keep the license info. Or if a tuner buys a license for your bike, makes sure he gives you the tune license info. Regardless of who sells you the license, you can then use that license on any PV tuner to tune your bike.
The additional license you purchase follows the ECM, not the tuner....
Several years ago, I had a PV tuner die on me. It had 4 bikes on it. Luckily I saved the tune license info. When I got a new tuner, I was able to use it on 3 of the bikes. The only one it wouldn't work on, was the bike that was originally married to the PV tuner (it had no license). I then bought a license for that bike, and now I can have all 4 bikes tuned by any PV tuner.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 439
Likes: 435
From: Iowa
If you can get your hands on some higher octane fuel give it a try. It would be good peace of mind knowing that what your hearing is indeed detonation. As mentioned earlier, the fuel that is being sold now days is not what it used to be. The way they rate octane has a fair bit of leniency in it +/- a couple octane points. The tune on your bike may have been sufficient 5 years ago but with modern day fuels it could be on the edge. Stay away from those octane boosters sold in auto stores, that stuff is snake oil and does not work. If you have a race shop around or a station that sells race fuel, try and get your hands on a couple gallons. Put a gallon of that in and top off with premium so you know your near mid 90's octane and see if your issue goes away. If it does you know for sure it's your tune and not something internal mechanical. No point wasting your money on a dyno tune if its not needed.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,776
Likes: 2,607
From: san antonio
Stage I is very different from not knowing what you have. FM might get close if the knew what cams have been installed but knowing the exhaust and intake is not enough information to built a tune but by all means, give it a shot. The smart move is to purchase a license from a local tuner and get the bike tuned. Even if you try higher octane fuel and the ping goes away, that's just another indicator that the motor needs to be tuned.
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 20
Likes: 2
From: Massachusetts
After a lot of consideration I was able to reach out to the previous owner who believes the bike has stage 2. He was told that anyway when he purchased the bike. I am just going to send the bike to a dyno and have them dial this bike in. It's basically my only choice not knowing any of the internals of the motor.
After a lot of consideration I was able to reach out to the previous owner who believes the bike has stage 2. He was told that anyway when he purchased the bike. I am just going to send the bike to a dyno and have them dial this bike in. It's basically my only choice not knowing any of the internals of the motor.
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 20
Likes: 2
From: Massachusetts
Negative, He stated he had never noticed the pinging and had the bike dyno tuned in 2017 when he purchased a HD tuner from a dealer. I talked to Fuel moto and my Indy shop who stated that things can change and lean out the bike after a few years. I am guessing carbon build up etc. I have a appointment to drop the bike off at a Dyno in my state but he is booked out for the entire month. I can drop the bike and leave it and he will get to mine earlier if he has any cancellations. Apparently this guy is one of the best in the business in my area. It's not cheap either.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 437
Likes: 107
From: Indiana
I have a 2012 RGU and have the same exact thing. Only does it when it gets hot, after about 20 minutes of riding or so and only when I get on the throttle fairly hard. When I throttle smooth no "ping" at all. Its done it since I've owned the bike, going on 6 years now. I do regular oil changes myself and have never seen any metal or shavings or anything that causes concerns and its still runs and rides as smooth as the day I got it. Only have about 16k miles on and had around 8K when I bought it. It had a Powder commander V already installed when I got it but have since added a stage 1 air breather, & true dual headers. I've thought about taking it in for a tune to see if that eliminates the ping but hate to pay HD all that money to possibly not correct the issue. I haven't noticed anything else performance wise except maybe a little popping from the tail pipes when getting off the throttle and down shifting when coming to a stop. I run Premium with not Ethanol at all times.
Also, The "ping" I hear is only on the left side of the bike.
OP let me know if the tune takes it away.
Also, The "ping" I hear is only on the left side of the bike.
OP let me know if the tune takes it away.
Last edited by Sethc1020; May 2, 2024 at 10:35 AM.