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snuffer, I was at exactly the same point with my 07 FXD about a year ago. This is my first Harley and I am no expert on this, but now mine does not ping. The MoCo ships all their products tuned very lean. The tune files on the SEST (SERT in my case) are tuned very lean also. My SE tune file off the SERT disk for my pipes and AC was still too lean, pinged exactly as you described. When the dealer dyno’d your bike, he probably measured the AFR and simply confirmed it is to factory spec which is way too lean. To stop the pinging you have to enrich the AFR, assuming no major mechanical problems as many have advised in this thread. Your dealer may not help you with this if they stick to the MoCo party line on lean AFR. Search the forum for enrich AFR, there are many outstanding threads on the topic. You might consider finding an indy that will tune to lower the AFR specifically for pinging, or swap to an aftermarket ECM. Do some research and take matters in your own hands. There is no reason for your Harley to ping.
During the Dyno-tune, the dealer set the AFR at WOT to 13/1. I now stock is 14.7/1 but I'm not sure if that is at WOT or not.
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Saw this thread and thought I'd link to another... this has been discussed a few times on the dyna forum.
Several of us have this same thing and it's funny that for most, it started in the 5000 - 7000 mile range.
Guys have changed compensators, oil, etc... Still happens.
Yep. My first tune was nominally 12.5 to 13 AFR WOT. Still too lean, 25-50% throttle roll-on mid-range RPM was horrible sounding. After a few months of that I got sick of it. Got lucky and found a tech that used advanced mode SERT, he gave a tune file in the ballpark from a dyno run, after a couple rides I made small tweaks to tune out the few remaining spots that pinged. The tech would do the same for shop rate, but it is not hard to make a few tweaks yourself. No pinging at any throttle on pump gas and no timing retard.
Yeah it's normal! Like it's normal for bikes to rust after 2 months, and for brake fluid to leak, etc etc.
What b**ls**t about not riding with your throttle fully open! New thing they'll tell you it wouldn't have happened if you hadnt ridden the bike at all.
One thing's for sure, this is not the way to do business in an economic crisis. Customers actually start caring about quality at these times, as we don't have the budgets to change everything on the bike anymore.
Ky Windage, I read your linked thread and agree that it is pretty much identical to this one. While it is really hard to imagine how a noise sounds over the internet, the symtoms do point towards that crappy 07 and up compensator.
If there were a way to make a wager on this, I would bet that is the issue here and on that other thread. Replacing it with the heavier SE version is not that pricey of a deal, if you can do the work yourself. Youl'll likely get more life out of your crank too.
EDIT: Some notice it more than others, but more often than not you do get a smoother ride with the beefed up compensator.
Little bit of a pain to install but a very good functional addition for any 07 and up bike.
The factory spring pack is indeed too weak unless you ride like an old grandma.
