Hi all,
I read in several threads that pinging could come from cams, timing, fuel quality, detonation, A/F ratio, spark plug type (cold or warm), ignition and maybe more possible causes I would have missed along the way.

So I asked the following question in a recent thread related to pinging and received no reply:
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What are you hearing exactly?
My new helmet catches a 'ticking' sound that I would describe as a fingernail tapping against the outside (of the helmet).
The frequency of the ticking is related to the engine speed, the modulation / intensity corresponds to the load on the engine, the ticking sound stops when the throttle is null (no effort on the engine) and comes back when I use engine braking (going downhill).
I never heard this sound before when I wore my fiberglass helmet or when I rode without a helmet.
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I have the feeling the particular 'ticking' sound I observe with my "modern" helmet has always been present on our bikes but hearing it distinctively calls for a matching helmet material stiffer then fiberglass; it would be purely accoustical in such a case because the helmet does not attenuate this specific frequency.

 

If you are hearing it on deceleration its not pinging as you described in your 1st paragraph.
I recently installed a Power Vision Tuner and the original map had to much spark advance which caused a noticeable ping under heavy load. It was a higher frequency, thin sounding noise, which is considerably different than the typical mechanical noises heard from these bikes.

 

I'm not trying to be funny or a wise guy, but. Are you sure that it isn't the loose end of your chin strap tapping against the shell of your new helmet???

 

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...Bl5PgPxlpw72Sg

 

No, no, it isn't my chin strap
The helmet is a carbon fiber Schuberth J1. At 60 mph I can hear my wife talk to me when she leans forward but I'm not disturbed by the wind noise. This helmet is made from a material that doesn't cut out vocal frequencies which is new to me. I can imagine it could be terrible in some cases though

 

The sound dissapears as I let go the throttle while staying in gear, but using the engine to slow down the bike it comes back but seems not synchronized with the rpm. Do we still have ignition when the engine is used for braking? I once read BMW could turn off the injection on their 540.

 

Sounds to me like you're hearing normal V-twin top-end sounds that are just the nature of the beast, and if you have no other reason to believe yours is ailing, and the fuel you're using is of adequate octane rating, you can just ignore the noises and enjoy your Harley.

But DON'T take everything you see on an internet forum as gospel. There are no consequences when people throw out wrong information, and they do it often. Your best bet to getting useful information is to go to legitimate information sources.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=engine+pinging

 

You won't have any "pinging" or other adverse combustion-related events on deceleration.

 

Usually on decel automotive fuel injected motors stop fuel from injecting into the cylinders, no reason HD's don't either.

If your hearing 'pinging' on decel it's probably valve train noise, very common.



cheers

 

Pinging is pre detenation. In my experience it was caused by too much heat, not enough rpm, on too much throttle. Down shift to lower gear and all is well. Example would be climbing a long steep grade loaded down on a ultra in 6th gear when it's 100 outside. Better fuel does help. Familiarize yourself (google) octane vs. Hectane. Hexane is the part of fuel that cause dettination upon pressure or compression, not spark. Fuel always equals 100%, relatively speaking. Example 89 octane would have 11% hectane, and 92 octane would have 8% hexane. The less hexane, the lesser chance of pre detenation.
Anyway, I think the ticking sound your explaining, a lot of us on hear live with. It's just the sound of the awesome v twin beneath you. Enjoy it.