Ping?
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: NH
It happened to this guy during break in
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
Are you sure it's pinging and not valve train noise coming from the top end? That is very typical and normal for these engines. It is possible to hear valve train tapping at any rpm and sometimes intermittently. Some of these engines sound like a bucket of bolts but it is the nature of the beast.
Is the bike hot or cold when it pings? Is the engine under load or are you hearing tapping while rolling on the throttle while stopped?
Is the bike hot or cold when it pings? Is the engine under load or are you hearing tapping while rolling on the throttle while stopped?
It does it hot or cold, but more pronounced when its hot. I hear it when rolling on, but only when I am under say 2000-2200 rpm.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 305
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From: NH
Good Luck
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 171
From: Simi Valley, CA
Try this... When you hear the noise, back off the throttle slightly. Then give it a little throttle and back off slightly again. If the noise comes and goes with the throttle movements, it probably is pinging. The higher the load under acceleration, the more pronounced the pinging sound will become. When you let off the throttle, the load decreases, and the pinging sound should subside.
To bad you don't live closer... I could help you install the new Jackpots and diagnose your noise at the same time.
Like others have said, running in a lower gear and higher rpm's will help - until you get your bike tuned to eliminate the ping. My bike pinged so bad when it was new I was concerned it would self-destruct in a matter of days or weeks. I've been able to tune 95% of my pinging out, but I still get a little under extreme summertime conditions. A little more tweaking (when I find the time) and I'll have it 100% under control.
I do love my Harley, and I'm not one to bash HD or HD dealerships, but it is sad that you have to "tune" a $25,000.00 bike just to make it run reasonably without pinging.
Last edited by 2black1s; Dec 12, 2011 at 02:05 PM.
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 94
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From: Houston, Texas
It's hard to diagnose "noises" over the internet but what you're describing does sound like pinging. Then again, you say it does it hot or cold and that could indicate the sound your hearing is not pinging. Pinging is typically worse at higher temperatures, but can occur at any temperature.
Try this... When you hear the noise, back off the throttle slightly. Then give it a little throttle and back off slightly again. If the noise comes and goes with the throttle movements, it probably is pinging. The higher the load under acceleration, the more pronounced the pinging sound will become. When you let off the throttle, the load decreases, and the pinging sound should subside.
To bad you don't live closer... I could help you install the new Jackpots and diagnose your noise at the same time.
Like others have said, running in a lower gear and higher rpm's will help - until you get your bike tuned to eliminate the ping. My bike pinged so bad when it was new I was concerned it would self-destruct in a matter of days or weeks. I've been able to tune 95% of my pinging out, but I still get a little under extreme summertime conditions. A little more tweaking (when I find the time) and I'll have it 100% under control.
I do love my Harley, and I'm not one to bash HD or HD dealerships, but it is sad that you have to "tune" a $25,000.00 bike just to make it run reasonably without pinging.
Try this... When you hear the noise, back off the throttle slightly. Then give it a little throttle and back off slightly again. If the noise comes and goes with the throttle movements, it probably is pinging. The higher the load under acceleration, the more pronounced the pinging sound will become. When you let off the throttle, the load decreases, and the pinging sound should subside.
To bad you don't live closer... I could help you install the new Jackpots and diagnose your noise at the same time.
Like others have said, running in a lower gear and higher rpm's will help - until you get your bike tuned to eliminate the ping. My bike pinged so bad when it was new I was concerned it would self-destruct in a matter of days or weeks. I've been able to tune 95% of my pinging out, but I still get a little under extreme summertime conditions. A little more tweaking (when I find the time) and I'll have it 100% under control.
I do love my Harley, and I'm not one to bash HD or HD dealerships, but it is sad that you have to "tune" a $25,000.00 bike just to make it run reasonably without pinging.
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Mine is doing the same thing.
Mine got so bad that the guy riding next to me told me to pull over. He thought I was going to through a rod. Harley has it now. They think it was the fuel injectors. I can hear it most about 65 in 6th gear. This doesn't make sence I've had two before and never had thi problem.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,961
Likes: 263
From: Conroe Texas
If you are going to put cams in go ahead and do it then ride up to Dallas and get it properly tuned by Ed at dynodifference, your bike will feel like a new more powerful bike when he is done with it.
http://www.thedynodifference.com/
http://www.thedynodifference.com/
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 472
Likes: 2
From: Hutchinson, Ks.
We were in Vegas and rented a new 2012 sg. Bone stock with 4k miles and it pinged like crazy, and it never got over 60 degrees out.
I had never heard this noise before this, only had heard people talk about it. And it did it under light throttle from 2k to about 2400. Only got on it from 2500 and up and it didnt do it.
A person shouldnt have to limit their rpm range to 2500 and above just to keep their bike from pinging. This is a bigger problem than rider error, and alot of people are having it it seems like.
Maybe harleys next motor will be a 500 cubic inch air cooled motor with no oil cooler. Theyll fill the pipes with concrete, put an air cleaner on it the size of a sugar cube, set the air fuel ratio to 83-1. This joke is only partly sarcasm.
I love air cooled harley motors but if they want to keep getting bigger theyre gonna have to go a different direction with everything else, air, fuel, etc. They shouldnt leave it to the consumer to drop 1-2k on a bike they just spent 20k on.
I had never heard this noise before this, only had heard people talk about it. And it did it under light throttle from 2k to about 2400. Only got on it from 2500 and up and it didnt do it.
A person shouldnt have to limit their rpm range to 2500 and above just to keep their bike from pinging. This is a bigger problem than rider error, and alot of people are having it it seems like.
Maybe harleys next motor will be a 500 cubic inch air cooled motor with no oil cooler. Theyll fill the pipes with concrete, put an air cleaner on it the size of a sugar cube, set the air fuel ratio to 83-1. This joke is only partly sarcasm.
I love air cooled harley motors but if they want to keep getting bigger theyre gonna have to go a different direction with everything else, air, fuel, etc. They shouldnt leave it to the consumer to drop 1-2k on a bike they just spent 20k on.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 31
From: earth
Couldn't agree more, displacement will only get you so far, then you need to start employing some technology and engineering. The air cooled motor isn't necessarily a problem, but the lack of further developing a better air cooled design is just irresponsible. Show me one automaker that uses the same engine for 20 years but just keep bumping up the displacement. They don't, they redesign and build new motors. It's doable, but it takes money. Just adding more cooling fin surface area would help with overheating and pinging, but that requires retooling, why bother when they are going to sell them anyway. Hell, if I had the resources, facilities, and eqiupment, I could build a better Harley mousetrap. Eventually HD will run out of new suckers, then they will have to do something different, but so long as they are reeling in new customers with the same ole, they would be foolish to put any more money into their product and take less profit. The good news is the Twin Cam has pretty much run its course, it won't be long before we see a new powerplant.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,007
Likes: 353
From: Ohio
Sometimes I think people expect an engine to sound like a well oiled sewing machine. Maybe some high end sports car engines do. But Harley's almost never do. There's just too much going on all at the same time for that to happen. I've had a number of them and every one had some odd noise issues. But none were a sign of a problem. They were just the result of metal moving metal and a lot of things shaking around. If in doubt, take it to a tech and get an opinion. 99 times out of a 100 the noise is just noise and nothing to worry about.