Metallic rattle under hard acceleration
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Joined: Feb 2022
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From: OR
Metallic rattle under hard acceleration
2011 street glide with 48k miles. Just got it last year and don't know what work has already been done in the motor such as chain tensioner or compensator replacement etc.
Engine sounds good and quiet at all times unless I really crank it hard, then I hear a bit of metallic rattle. If I ease off throttle a little it goes away so it's not happening on deceleration or at idle, and it's not happening if I crank it modestly.
It does have a stage 1 intake and mufflers, and the dealership I had some work done at stated that it had a stock tune and recommended I get a stage 1 map flashed. Not because of the noise, they just said that in general. At that time I didn't even ask them about the noise, I was kind of just thinking it was normal but now I'm not so sure. I would not have thought it was spark plug pinging but trying to research the issue some info said it could be. I do put 91 gas in so it would just be the tune if that was the case.
Or is it normal for the engine to be a bit noisy under hard acceleration? Thank you
Engine sounds good and quiet at all times unless I really crank it hard, then I hear a bit of metallic rattle. If I ease off throttle a little it goes away so it's not happening on deceleration or at idle, and it's not happening if I crank it modestly.
It does have a stage 1 intake and mufflers, and the dealership I had some work done at stated that it had a stock tune and recommended I get a stage 1 map flashed. Not because of the noise, they just said that in general. At that time I didn't even ask them about the noise, I was kind of just thinking it was normal but now I'm not so sure. I would not have thought it was spark plug pinging but trying to research the issue some info said it could be. I do put 91 gas in so it would just be the tune if that was the case.
Or is it normal for the engine to be a bit noisy under hard acceleration? Thank you
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 439
Likes: 435
From: Iowa
My 2012 started doing that too last year, I'm at 30K. I suspected lesser quality fuel. I added a gallon of 110 octane and it quieted down a lot. Still want to get it in for it's 30k service just for peace of mind there isn't something internal getting sloppy. The rattle is not normal
Last edited by Jetblack3; May 26, 2026 at 10:47 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,588
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From: Honah Lee
You have roller chains on the cams, so it's not the tension shoes.
Compensator if the drive fingers are rough would be heard at idle.
WOT, there probably locked, so doubt it's that.
Probably spark knock. Won't hurt it for rare occasions. You probably still have winter mix fuel like most cooler states.
Going to need a tuner if you want to beat on it hard a lot.
Drive it to enjoy the ride, keep it from doing that and I would not worry about it.
If you want to go, down shift first to keep rpm up as you WOT.
Can't just nail the throttle in too tall a gear with a long stroke two cylinder.
Now you can go gentle and go faster in reasonable tall gear ratios.
Compensator if the drive fingers are rough would be heard at idle.
WOT, there probably locked, so doubt it's that.
Probably spark knock. Won't hurt it for rare occasions. You probably still have winter mix fuel like most cooler states.
Going to need a tuner if you want to beat on it hard a lot.
Drive it to enjoy the ride, keep it from doing that and I would not worry about it.
If you want to go, down shift first to keep rpm up as you WOT.
Can't just nail the throttle in too tall a gear with a long stroke two cylinder.
Now you can go gentle and go faster in reasonable tall gear ratios.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; May 27, 2026 at 05:51 AM.
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,568
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From: Long Island, New York
Sounds like your motor is pinging. Could be bad gas, low octane gas, high elevation or just a real bad tune making your bike run lean. Not good for your motor, a proper dyno tune from a competent tuner should get you fixed up, good luck.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,157
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From: San Diego, CA
2011 street glide with 48k miles. Just got it last year and don't know what work has already been done in the motor such as chain tensioner or compensator replacement etc.
Engine sounds good and quiet at all times unless I really crank it hard, then I hear a bit of metallic rattle. If I ease off throttle a little it goes away so it's not happening on deceleration or at idle, and it's not happening if I crank it modestly.
It does have a stage 1 intake and mufflers, and the dealership I had some work done at stated that it had a stock tune and recommended I get a stage 1 map flashed. Not because of the noise, they just said that in general. At that time I didn't even ask them about the noise, I was kind of just thinking it was normal but now I'm not so sure. I would not have thought it was spark plug pinging but trying to research the issue some info said it could be. I do put 91 gas in so it would just be the tune if that was the case.
Or is it normal for the engine to be a bit noisy under hard acceleration? Thank you
Engine sounds good and quiet at all times unless I really crank it hard, then I hear a bit of metallic rattle. If I ease off throttle a little it goes away so it's not happening on deceleration or at idle, and it's not happening if I crank it modestly.
It does have a stage 1 intake and mufflers, and the dealership I had some work done at stated that it had a stock tune and recommended I get a stage 1 map flashed. Not because of the noise, they just said that in general. At that time I didn't even ask them about the noise, I was kind of just thinking it was normal but now I'm not so sure. I would not have thought it was spark plug pinging but trying to research the issue some info said it could be. I do put 91 gas in so it would just be the tune if that was the case.
Or is it normal for the engine to be a bit noisy under hard acceleration? Thank you
Or.... you need to learn when to downshift..
Last edited by hattitude; May 27, 2026 at 10:04 AM.
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Joined: Feb 2022
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From: OR
You could be right. But this is just happening when I'm accelerating up to cruising speed from a stop so I'm already in 1st and it does it in each gear if I put too much juice on it. I could wait longer before shifting, I'm shifting at about 3000 or 3200 and I'm cruising anywhere from 2200 to 3000 depending if I'm going uphill, downhill or mostly flat.
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Joined: Apr 2016
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From: Masshole
Do you not have 93 octane around you, that's what you should run? You should definitely get a tune. They already run lean, now with air/exhaust you're that much leaner.
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Joined: Feb 2022
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From: OR
There might be at some places but most only have 91. I am gonna get the tune as soon as I can the dealer wanted about $460 for it and I just didn't have that right now. I'll have to come up with it and get it done though. I lived in Oregon when I bought the bike in Portland and now live in Utah near salt lake so it's probably even more lean now up here.
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Joined: Oct 2012
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From: St.Louis Mo.
Tuner or get yourself a set of VIED'S . They should richin it up some. Cheap and easy.
Are your breathers still going into the throttle body ? If so , route them to the outside and decarbon the engine.
Are your breathers still going into the throttle body ? If so , route them to the outside and decarbon the engine.
Last edited by hardheaded; May 27, 2026 at 01:07 PM.