I have a 2011 RKC that has about 25,000 miles and now has a high pitched clattering noise most prominent in 5th and 6th gears. It sounds like someone is shaking beebees in a tin can, or hitting the tank with small stones. I have taken it to the dealer and tried to explain it. It happens in various gears but is most reproducible in higher gears especially when accelerating. The dealership is acting like I don't know what I'm talking about, (I'm a woman so I'm getting the whole brush off as an incompetent). They are also dissing the internet where I have found similar complaints from other owners of older bikes. Can anyone help me? How do I explain this, what is it? How do I get them to take me seriously? How do I get the damned BIKE FIXED!!!! I LOVE my bike but I want it running well for about the next 100k miles!

Thanks

 

Detonation.. Hot weather.. cheap gas..
It happens to a lot of us, just back off a little when it does it.
If you have pipes or an air cleaner without a tuner that will make it worse, too. I just paid a pretty penny for a tuner and it lets the bike run richer and no more pinging..

 

Are you sure you're not lugging it?

 

mine did this when it wasn't being stressed at all. 70-80mph it would be pulling fine, but little changes in the headwinds would cause it to ping.

 

Yep! Sounds like pinging to me.

I just got home from a 9,000 mile road trip on my 2011 Ultra Limited (103) and I had some pinging on long uphill strecthes through the California desert primarily in 5th and 6th gears. For the most part I was running 80-85 mph in 6th gear but on some stretches I had to slow and downshift to 70 mph in 5th gear and even 60 mph in 4th gear to eliminate the pinging.

91 octane is the best fuel you can find here in CA. Farther east you can get 92 and 93 octane fuel and I didn't have a single issue with pinging there. But then again, the temperatures weren't as high either.

In my opinion, stock Harley's (2011's) are unrideable in summer climates with the factory tune and the fuels available. Mine is richened to 13.8 AFR and I still have slight pinging in the extreme conditions I encountered. I can't imagine how bad the pinging would have been if it were bone stock!

Good luck. The only real options are to richen the fuel mixture, back-off the timing a little, or find better fuel.

 

Mine is completely stock and we've been in the 100 degree + range since I got it. No pinging from mine. But, I do use 91 octane that has no ethanol in it. Costs me a few cents more per gallon, but worth it in my opinion.

 

More than likely this is detonation, more commonly referred to as "pinging." What grade gas are you using? If the cheap stuff (87 octane), move up to at least a 90, which I think is HD's recommended minimum. If you are using the proper grade you should go to the dealer and make them fix it, as this isn't a condition that should be left unchecked. It can cause serious engine damage if not corrected.

It could also be a heat-shield that rattles at a certain RPM and/or vibration point, or any of several other less-likely suspects. Take it to the dealer when it is in evidence and make them ride it at that time while still hot. If they balk, take it to another dealer or call Harley's support line.

 

Cheapest fix.. Just wait till it cools off outside and it'll be okay again.

 

Lugging happens at slower speeds or when decelerating right? This is mostly during acceleration or speed changes. I thought lugging was a low pitched sound.

I used to drive a shift car and did plenty of lugging.

Also, I use high test gas,(do they even still call it that?) But live in Virginia. Can I even buy gas without ethanol?
Thanks.

 

Hi Erica,

Good to have you on board.

Lugging a motor means putting too much strain on the motor's components by attempting to accelerate in the low rpm range of the motor. Once you get off the line and are accelerating keep the rpms up in the faster range as you shift through the gears.

Too many shift too early or ride around with the bike in too high of a gear while going slow. That lugging of the motor puts too much torque back on the motor while it's in a range that it's straining the motor. Attempting to accelerate from that range increases the torque on the motors components.

You may even notice plugs fouling more often if you don't keep the revs up. Only shift to a higher gear once you've gained speed from the range of gear your in, then shift and bring on the throttle keeping the Revs up.

Harleys run the very best and very smooth at 2000 - 3,500 rpms. When accelerating running the revs up to 4,500 to 5,000 RPMs and then shifting will get you up to speed a lot quicker.

I have a 5 speed and at 50 mph I downshift to 4th when I want to accelerate. That gets the revs in the range of the higher toque output and will give you quick and clean throttle response.

You should never be idling along at 1,500 rpms and attempt to accelerate without down shifting and getting those revs up.

If you've never kept the revs up in this range (2500 / 3000 - 4,500 / 5,000 rpms) you will be surprised that the motor hums nicely and has it's fastest acceleration in that range. Hold on tight because the bike will respond like a team of wild horses.

BTW This may not be causing the clatter you mention. If you have stock mufflers it allows you to hear even the slightest motor tick, and trust me Harley Motors have a lot of "normal" ticks and clatter. It's the grating, grinding and excessively loud noises that may tell you somethings wrong.

Find a good independent harley mechanic in your area and have them judge if it's a problem sound, or a common sound. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference until you tear into the motor / trans / primary and inspect them.