Today I was on my way home, 55mph in 5th, got to a passing zone and hit the left lane with some heavy throttle and got what sounded to me like a pecking noise, somewhat like what you would make to get someone's attention, just quicker, ( like ... PSST ), It was intermittent, didn't feel any loss of power. Didn't sound like an exhaust leak as it didn't happen all the time as in not every time I ride. The road was flat, temps in the low 90's, bike was good and warm. I haven't heard this in any other gear, just 5th. No place around here to run in 6th so I don't know if it does it then. Bike is a '12 Road King, Heavy breather, Fuel Moto head pipe and 4" Jackpot mufflers. Bike is going to the shop on the 30th for 5,000 check-up, and they have been notified of this issue, and will be told about it when I get there too. I know it's almost impossible to figure out without hearing it first hand but, I would appreciate some educated guesses on what to look for.
You guys got anything?

 

Are you sure it wasn't just fork chatter over some road ripples?

 

Could have been your brain trying to hatch out of your Helmut ?

 

engine pinging? at 55, should have dropped to 4th when you went to heavy throttle... my 09 in 5th at 55 is pulling low 2000's rpm... she likes the 3k + rpms under heavy acceleration... just a thought....

 

55mph in fifth gear is 'cruising'....you want to go 'heavy on the throttle', you need to drop down a gear...(I would not bring this up when you go for your 5K check up on your 2010...).

chuck the idiot

 

I just encountered this a couple of weeks ago. You are experiencing the dreaded ping. Lots of threads on this matter and it is very common with the 2012 103s w/stage 1. It was the first time I've ever been exposed to pinging and had no idea wtf it was (is), but stumbled across a thread here that explained exactly what my bike is doing. And what yours is doing now.


You may already know what actions to take to resolve this, so not sure if I'm of any assistance, but here's all I've learned. Your owners manual addresses this under trouble shooting (p234) and states incorrect fuel or incorrect spark plug for the kind of service. I'm assuming you have the original plugs, so you know the latter is not the issue. The service manual also addresses it under troubleshooting, Pre-ignition or Detonation (Knocks or Pings), and provides possible causes. Based on the service manual and the research I did online, I added some octane boost to see if that would resolve the issue. Once I got down to about half a tank I filled up with 92 octane and ran that tank out. The pinging didn't go away completely, but it did quieten a bit and wasn't as often. I just filled up again and added some SeaFoam. Adding the SeaFoam will clean any carbon build up and add extra lubricants. I also checked my plugs to make sure they were ok (a plug with white, yellow, tan, or rusty brown powdery deposit indicates balanced conbustion. If they have a light brown, glassy deposit they are getting overheated caused by an air-fuel mixture that is too lean, a hot running engine, valves not seating, or improper timing and need to be replaced). You may want to check yours as well to make sure they aren't bad.


If none of those things take care of the issue, then you are either going to have to adjust the timing or there's an intake leak. To my understanding the only way to adjust the timing is to add a tuner with that capability, i.e. a Power Vision. A few have posted that their xIEDS have taken out the ping, but others have stated it's still there and the xIEDS didn't fix the problem.

One last thing to do, like Delzore recommended, is keep the RPMs up.

Good luck and let us know if you get it fixed. Curious what your dealer tells you. Mine said there wasn't anything they could do unless I wanted to buy a SEPST and a Dyno.

 

themensh
"(I would not bring this up when you go for your 5K check up on your 2010...)"

My scoot is a 2012. Thanks for the thought.

YammyDrummer
"If none of those things take care of the issue, then you are either going to have to adjust the timing or there's an intake leak. To my understanding the only way to adjust the timing is to add a tuner with that capability, i.e. a Power Vision. A few have posted that their xIEDS have taken out the ping, but others have stated it's still there and the xIEDS didn't fix the problem."

I figured I'd forget something. I am running a Power Vision with a map from the good folks at Fuel Moto. I guess it's time to do some data logging and see what I can mess up with that. Thanks for the plug info, I must be getting old, forgot all about reading my plugs. Thanks for the reminder.

 

I've had to pull out 4 degrees of timing to get my FM 107 to stop pinging. (and I'm running 93 octane, an oil cooler with a lower temp thermostat, Mobil 1 in the crankcase and cooling fans from Wardspartswerks) This hot weather has been a bitch!!

 

Sorry, typo. Wishful thinking...I want to own a2 2010 someday!. Anyhow, 55 in fifth...cruising. Accelerate quickly, drop down a gear.

 

I am pretty sure I know exactly the sound you refer to and I also hear it in fifth gear at lower RPM. Doesn't sound like a ping, more like a hiss which goes away above 2500 RPM and mine is not under heavy throttle but I hear it in that lower RPM range(not lugging it, say above 2100 - 2500,2600 RPM). Engine dos not seem to have any other stress related to it etc. be interested to see how this thread develops. I also have a 103 with Stage 1 with a dyno'ed SE Pro tuner with V&H Monster ovals and header change (power duals).