I just noticed that my bike seems to be making an "extra" noise at certain rpm. Sounds like "pinging". Never noticed it before.
It does not happen when the RPM is low, or when it is high, but only when cruising under very little load.

I've seached a bit, and the concensus sems to be that pinging will happen when the engine is lugging.
I certainly do not notice this noise under a slight lug situation. It probably happens at 2000-2500 rpm - just a guess.
Is this pinging, or just an extra noise mixed in with an already noisy motor?

Can I adjust the PCIII timing to change this - or should I just see if it persists with the next fuel fill? Maybe got some bad gas.
Am I doing any damage if it is pinging?

Thanks!

05 Superglide FXDI
PCIII (map for rinehart with fuel added at 0% throttle)
Bub Rinehart 2-2 flush

 

You could try dropping a gear, and it would put you in the 2500 3000 rpm range and see if it is still pinging. My 88 would ping inthe lowerrange but when i went to minimum 2500 it went away. That is if it is pinging and not motor noise or other situation.

 

If it is more of a "chirp " it is your exhaust , some pipes just sound that way , did you recently change your exhaust ?

 

Usually, not always, you do not get pinging at a steady throttle under no increase in load, such as a steady speed. What you describe is more likely a lifter or valve train ticking that is just very noticeable at a certain rpm. As another suggested, try running the engine at the rpm at which you notice the ticking, and if it is there in all gears, under no load, it is most likely the valve train getting a bit noisy.