Hi all you Harley Riders,

Even though I have ridden for years on British and Jap Bikes, I have only just purchased my first Harley, A 2010 Heritage Softail Classic,  I have already been seeking advice about the pinging when under load in 6th gear at speeds of over 110 kmh up hills.  Fortunately when I heard the horrible pinging noise I reduced the throttle and dropped a gear to get the engine running at a higher rev. This seemed to stop the pinging, Yes I have been informed that will stop the pinging however on researching this matter fuel mixture , eg running lean will also cause this, apparently the new harleys are set to run lean.  I have put on a Screamin Eagle Air Cleaner and a set of Vance and Hinze pipes on it and the dealer also put on a harley davidson screamin eagle Pro Super Tuner. I figured this combination would eliminate any fuel mixture problems.

So my question is is my problem with pinging fixable or do I have to live with the fact that the Harley just doesn,t  like being in sixth gear at 110 kmh on its merry way up hill.  I understand that most feedback I have recieved is just drop it down a gear or two and it will stop the problem, however to me this doesn,t really eliminate the problem , it just goes around it.  In the old days changing the timing increasing the octane of the fuel and making the fuel mixture richer fixed this problem of pinging on my old 1951 650cc Triumph Thunderbird, 

Can anyone answer my questions and is there anything else I need to know about my Harley I should Know.

In closing I have owned alot of motorbikes and would like to say I am very impressing with the way my Harley is put together, the precision in workmanship and finish, I even dont have trouble getting into the tight spots to clean the bike like jap bikes are fmouse for. they squeese alot into small spaces. Harley Davidsons , fantastic machines.

welcome.... will let others comment

welcome to you, enjoy the new ride

you could start another forum on just this topic !!!! having said that there are ways to fix the problem but it cost money and time ...if you use the right software/tuner.you can fix alot of issues but it all takes time/money , scotty can probably help and there are a few others who are good at this stuff ..hope they can help out somehow..

G'day Kevin

welcome to the forum

Welcome

Pinging can be fixed by proper tuning, if you say you've got the Screamin Eagle Pro tuner then you should be able to retard the timing slightly in the rev range that the pinging occurs.  I did this when the Sporty was pinging using the Thudermax tuner.    Read the manual for your tuner, I recall the Thundermax manual had a specific section on Pinging, I wouldn't be surprised if the SE Tuner has the same.  If it doesn't post a question in the Workshop EFI section.

Thankyou all for you advice

look have not had a great deal of mech experience, But i do know this that 6th gear is mostly over 125 k/p/h .im lucky to have a taco so i can see what is happening in 5th and 6th . At 110 in 5th you are sitting on 3000 rpm's and just i might add and it sounds a little that you need to change to 6th but if you do and it drops back to between 2000 rpm's and 2500 rpm's wich is no good . At about 125k's no less in 6th you are sitting on 3000 rpm's and only just . the perfect speed for 6th is 130 plus IMO .

And i find if i sit in 6th under 3000rpm's then you can see your fuel guage chewing it up .hope it makes sence and helps

Welcome and enjoy the ride

Welcome to he forum from downtown Gippsland

Good advice & fun to be found here

ride safe

welcome

Ullo mate.............

Welcome and enjoy

Welcome aboard Champ!!

ps What the fuck r u doing in 6th gear @ 110klm???????

you should be just changing out of 4th lol

Cheers Fatcat68

Yeh hi its me again, Ive had lots of feedback regarding my speed and wot gear im in, so ive taken the advice and now dont get into 6th at 110. I do not have a tacho so if anyone could give me the figures on wot gear and speed is at required revs it would help me greatly,
I have been using the harley owners manual recomendations but it appears their not right. It quotes to change into 6th gear at 85kmh????? I dont want to over rev the bike cause im still running it in, its a bit hard getting it right cause i dont have a tacho. Im used to high revving jap bikes with a tacho but decided it was about time i start riding the bike ive always wanted. I am not used to the feel of the motor yet, it would help with a tacho but i dont have that luxery.

Once i get it right all will be sweet i just need som good info to set me right from those that had to learn it forthemselves,

If i knew what the ratio of gear/speed/rpm it would make it so much easier. I am just trying to do it by the feel of the machine. but this a new ballgame

as a ruff guide kev at 60 around town i stay in 4th if i go up to 70-80 i go into 5 and if on the highway cruisin at 110-140 i go in 6 if i go over 140 i go bak to 5th and hold it flat to 180 ps this is on a grannyglide ..

Welcome Kevin hope you enjoy the forums.

Hi thanks for your good advice, I did a trip to Brisbane and back and 10,000 km all up and was able to get the feel for the gearing and speed, as is turns out i have to agree with you. Thankyou