Evening friends. What exactly does pinging sound like? I don't think I have any, 08 Ultra with XiED's. Don't even have any decel pop. I know it's pre-ignition, but how would you best describe what it sounds like? Is it clearly noticable over valve train noise, and under what riding conditions does it most clearly manifest itself? My valve train is about as quiet as it's going to get since I put adjustable PR's in, so I assume if I had it, it would be easy to hear. But what is it that I should be listening for? Thanks in advance for your replys.

 

to me its best described as a can of bolts rattling in the motor and you usually hear it at mid rpms going up hill (under load)..

 

Mrfisker, I think what you're describing is lugging.
Pinging to Me is that high pitch ticking you get when you use low octane fuel.
I'm sure there's other opinions.

 

It sounds like a "rattling" in the motor. Clearly NOT a normal sound.
In reality is an explosion/pre detonation of the air gas mixture before the correct time or sequence. It also is very destructive to the internals over a period of time.

 

This is what it sounds like:

 

Ball bearings rattling in a can ...

And a search does it again, gotta love Google

 

Well I listened to the video and I didn't think that it gave a good illustration of pre-ignition. I was just using the computer speakers though. My best description would be of glass breaking. Sometimes crystal, sometimes something thicker.

 

Metallic rice crispies is the best sound I can think of. When you hear it, back off on the throttle.

 

I retarded my timing when I started getting it, before it got bad.....-1 and -2 took care of it.