Detonation
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 218
Likes: 1
From: New York
My 2012 FLHTK with the 103 also had some detonation / pinging from time to time if the circumstances were just right. I retuned the ecm with a Dyno Jet Power Vision using their "Improved Stock" tune and I haven't had the problem since, though I did it close to the end of the riding season here in NY so I didn't put a whole lot of miles on yet.
From my and a couple of friends experiences, plus a whole lot of reading on this forum, it seems the late model 103s are set very close to the limit of ridability to meet EPA demands. If your bike was detonating the ECM would have retarded the timing to try to get rid of it, and by doing so, it would have lowered the power output. The more the detonation, the more the ecm would try to correct it, and the worse the bike would feel.
I'd recommend some kind of tuner. The Power Vision is very easy to use and very adaptable for any mods I do as long as I own it and the bike. There's plenty of others out there, so do your research.
Over the winter, I'm doing the open air cleaner and freer flowing exhaust headpipe. I plan on re-tuning again to compensate for the improved breathing mods... I'll post how it runs after all the nasty white crap melts from the roads
Best of luck!
From my and a couple of friends experiences, plus a whole lot of reading on this forum, it seems the late model 103s are set very close to the limit of ridability to meet EPA demands. If your bike was detonating the ECM would have retarded the timing to try to get rid of it, and by doing so, it would have lowered the power output. The more the detonation, the more the ecm would try to correct it, and the worse the bike would feel.
I'd recommend some kind of tuner. The Power Vision is very easy to use and very adaptable for any mods I do as long as I own it and the bike. There's plenty of others out there, so do your research.
Over the winter, I'm doing the open air cleaner and freer flowing exhaust headpipe. I plan on re-tuning again to compensate for the improved breathing mods... I'll post how it runs after all the nasty white crap melts from the roads
Best of luck!
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 545
Likes: 5
From: California
Which is my point. My '11 RKC should run well anywhere in the USA. Just because we hit 4000 foot elevation is no reason for the bike to ping and lose power. A new car would not lose power or ping. As you can tell, I am frustrated.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 545
Likes: 5
From: California
My 2012 FLHTK with the 103 also had some detonation / pinging from time to time if the circumstances were just right. I retuned the ecm with a Dyno Jet Power Vision using their "Improved Stock" tune and I haven't had the problem since, though I did it close to the end of the riding season here in NY so I didn't put a whole lot of miles on yet.
From my and a couple of friends experiences, plus a whole lot of reading on this forum, it seems the late model 103s are set very close to the limit of ridability to meet EPA demands. If your bike was detonating the ECM would have retarded the timing to try to get rid of it, and by doing so, it would have lowered the power output. The more the detonation, the more the ecm would try to correct it, and the worse the bike would feel.
I'd recommend some kind of tuner. The Power Vision is very easy to use and very adaptable for any mods I do as long as I own it and the bike. There's plenty of others out there, so do your research.
Over the winter, I'm doing the open air cleaner and freer flowing exhaust headpipe. I plan on re-tuning again to compensate for the improved breathing mods... I'll post how it runs after all the nasty white crap melts from the roads
Best of luck!
From my and a couple of friends experiences, plus a whole lot of reading on this forum, it seems the late model 103s are set very close to the limit of ridability to meet EPA demands. If your bike was detonating the ECM would have retarded the timing to try to get rid of it, and by doing so, it would have lowered the power output. The more the detonation, the more the ecm would try to correct it, and the worse the bike would feel.
I'd recommend some kind of tuner. The Power Vision is very easy to use and very adaptable for any mods I do as long as I own it and the bike. There's plenty of others out there, so do your research.
Over the winter, I'm doing the open air cleaner and freer flowing exhaust headpipe. I plan on re-tuning again to compensate for the improved breathing mods... I'll post how it runs after all the nasty white crap melts from the roads
Best of luck!
I am just frustrated because a car would not act up like this. I expect that I could drive my Ford Excursion to the top of Pike's Peak without an issue.
And, there are Harleys all over the world that, I assume, run well at all kinds of elevations.
And, it should work well in stock configuration.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 4
From: Annemasse (border of Geneva-Switzerland) facing Mt-Blanc.
Do you push your engine sometimes?
You could also have poor compression due to sticky piston rings. I frequently take mine to 5,500 rpm under 1/2 throttle to avoid this.
You could also have poor compression due to sticky piston rings. I frequently take mine to 5,500 rpm under 1/2 throttle to avoid this.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 5,092
Likes: 2
From: Wenatchee, WA
Totally concur that a stock EFI should not do this. The engine's barometric sensor is constantly sampling air pressure to maintain proper fuel/air ratio regardless of altitude. Walk, don't run back to the dealer - stay stock until this problem is resolved.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 601
Likes: 5
From: Pinellas County, Florida
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 173
From: Watertown, CT
I question the quality of high octane gas if it has ethanol in it. How many vehicles besides us bikers use premium anymore? How long does the gas sit in the tank at the station? AND , we all know that ethanol has a low shelf life, saying that I would try something like 105+ as an additive to see if it helps. Just thinking !!
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 197
Likes: 1
From: Sahuarita, Arizona
Good information.
I am just frustrated because a car would not act up like this. I expect that I could drive my Ford Excursion to the top of Pike's Peak without an issue.
And, there are Harleys all over the world that, I assume, run well at all kinds of elevations.
And, it should work well in stock configuration.
I am just frustrated because a car would not act up like this. I expect that I could drive my Ford Excursion to the top of Pike's Peak without an issue.
And, there are Harleys all over the world that, I assume, run well at all kinds of elevations.
And, it should work well in stock configuration.