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Mild pinging under load @ low rpm. Cause?

  • Thread starter Thread starter GelandeStrasse
  • Start date Start date
G

GelandeStrasse

Guest
Hey folks :)
My GK is running like a champ except for some mild pinging when the throttle is opened at low rpm when under load like up hill, two up + luggage. Simply put - if I lug the motor. No problem if the rpms are higher or I choose a lower gear. Apart from this little issue it goes like the clappers if I open the taps, no pinging or hesitation just snarling hard addictive acceleration to the red line. Which is nice. :D

Where should I start my diagnosis then? I'm guessing a fresh carb sync will help but is that the root cause?


Please, I'm looking for knowledge on the general causes of pinging rather than the usual snaps about synching carbs, valve clearances etc which I'm very much aware of ;)

Thanks in advance :)
 
Carb sync won't do anything for pinging.

Pinging is when the mixture is lighting before the spark sets it off.

Causes of pinging are: improper ignition timing, low-rpm running at heavy load, improper octane rating, improper fuel mixture.

If you have done all the basic maintenance, you will have proper fuel mixture and ignition timing. These bikes are made to run on low-octane fuel, but your running conditions might dictate a bump up to the next grade, on occasion.

In the meantime, the easiest solution is ...


DOWNSHIFT.
icon_thumbsup.gif


.
 
My 1150 has always pinged slightly when the engine is lugged. It also needs premium fuel, or it becomes unhappy. I've often wondered if the pods, and their location behind a hot engine ( hot intake charge ) contributes to this.
 
Exessive carbon in the head can cause pinging too.

Riding like an old lady does these bikes no good. Wind it out.
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys.
So, I need to stop riding like granny and try treating it to some high octane fuel. I think I can manage that! :D

GSR is the pups nuts :clap:
 
You can water clean the cylinders too.

Get the engine good and heated up with a fan in front of it. Slide the airbox back and run up the RPMs and squirt water into each carb intake. Keep the throttle up as the water will try to stall that cylinder. Keep it running and give each cylinder 4 or 5 good squirts with a spray bottle.

The concept is the same as if you put water in a hot skillet do deglaze it..except you are now deglazing the piston and valves.

Now that the cylinders and valves are carbon free, redo the vacuum sync and recheck the timing.
 
chuck hahn said:
You can water clean the cylinders too.

Get the engine good and heated up with a fan in front of it. Slide the airbox back and run up the RPMs and squirt water into each carb intake. Keep the throttle up as the water will try to stall that cylinder. Keep it running and give each cylinder 4 or 5 good squirts with a spray bottle.

The concept is the same as if you put water in a hot skillet do deglaze it..except you are now deglazing the piston and valves.

Now that the cylinders and valves are carbon free, redo the vacuum sync and recheck the timing.
Click to expand...
Learn new stuff all time! Never heard of this method to de - carbon. Somewhat easier than disassembling the top end!
 
mine does the same thing(3-5k rpm, 85F+) Tried 89 octane, no change. I was advised to just change out the intake boots. Have them on order from Z1.
 
I suspect many will benefit from the actual cure. When changing the boots, I'm voing the give the water spray a shot too.
 
GelandStrasse,

Have you ever replaced a blown head gasket on a car? If youll notice the cylinder ( or cylinders ) that water has leaked into are as spotless as the day they were made..this is from the water and coolant deglazing the cylinders. Lots of blackish carbon crap will come out of the pipes, so I advise doing it outside.
 
GelandeStrasse said:
Thanks for the suggestions guys.
So, I need to stop riding like granny and try treating it to some high octane fuel. I think I can manage that! :D

GSR is the pups nuts :clap:
Click to expand...
Try some higher RPM before you waste your money on needless octane.

By the way, what RPM were you running when you noticed the pinging?

.
 
Steve said:
Try some higher RPM before you waste your money on needless octane.

By the way, what RPM were you running when you noticed the pinging?

.
Click to expand...
Silly low, like 1500 - 2000. I think it's just my riding style, gained from my time riding a large capacity twin that didn't bog down even pulling from below idle rpm.
Still, now I have the perfect excuse to accelerate hard a lot :D
 
There's nothing wrong with your bike

Never ride it at less than 3k rpm
 
Bingo. My 245ci 6cyl Chrysler Valiant can chug along with those rpms, but these bikes are happiest north of 3 or 4k.

- boingk
 
LarryJ said:
it occurs in the 3-5k range, under load.
Click to expand...

It gets worse when the engine gets hotter? This problem all but disappeared for me after a top end rebuild. Of all the things I did, cleaning the carbon out is the only thing that I can figure would have impacted this.

The water cleaning can also be done by dripping water into the vacuum adapter port (normally used for carb balancing) while riding. Don't use enough water to kill the cylinder, you need the combustion to turn the water to steam. I did this once, and though I could see through the spark plug hole that the piston was clean, I think I should have kept going for quite a lot longer. When I took the top end off (for other reasons), the head was still carboned up, and the carbon on the valve faces was still thick and hard enough that it just about had to be chiseled off.
 
tried a tank of 91 octane today, in more moderate weather (80F). Still pinging in the 3-5k range. am awaiting the new carb boots & o rings. Will do the water spray just prior to pulling the carbs. Sounds like Medussa is pretty carboned up! We'll see.
 
GelandeStrasse said:
Silly low, like 1500 - 2000.
Click to expand...
Sorry, that's not "silly" low, that is "STUPID" low. :eek:

Especially two-up and up hill.

Just because there are five gears does not mean you have to be in the top one all the time. In town (especially two-up), third gear would be appropriate. Over 40 mph or so, hit fourth, over 50 or 55, go ahead and hit fifth.

If you are on a two-lane road and need to pass someone quickly, don't be afraid to downshift TWICE and then hit the throttle.
You will then experience why you gave up your V-twin. :D




Anyone else noticed that we are now handling THREE problems per thread? :-k

Started with GelandeStrasse, then dorkburger and LarryJ tried to get help, too.
icon_banghead.gif


.
 
Dogma said:
The water cleaning can also be done by dripping water into the vacuum adapter port (normally used for carb balancing) while riding. Don't use enough water to kill the cylinder, you need the combustion to turn the water to steam.
Click to expand...

What he said... I use a two liter bottle and an aquarium air valve, turn it so it just trickles into the vacuum synch port. I do it going down the highway, one cylinder at a time. Get it good and hot, open the valve a little, and do a whole two liter bottle into each cylinder, it should make a difference. Might take a few times to get it good and clean.
 
Steve said:
Sorry, that's not "silly" low, that is "STUPID" low. :eek:

Especially two-up and up hill.

Just because there are five gears does not mean you have to be in the top one all the time. In town (especially two-up), third gear would be appropriate. Over 40 mph or so, hit fourth, over 50 or 55, go ahead and hit fifth.

If you are on a two-lane road and need to pass someone quickly, don't be afraid to downshift TWICE and then hit the throttle.
You will then experience why you gave up your V-twin. :D




Anyone else noticed that we are now handling THREE problems per thread? :-k

Started with GelandeStrasse, then dorkburger and LarryJ tried to get help, too.
icon_banghead.gif


.
Click to expand...
In the name of science I like to push my vehicles to their limits. It's like an OCD, In this case I wouldn't change down unless I had to or wanted to, "how low will it go? Ok so it pings below 2000 loaded two up, that's good to know, I wonder if they all do that, the old twin didn't. Best I change down sooner". I'm actually mightily impressed with how low it can go!
Steve said:
Sorry, that's not "silly" low, that is "STUPID" low. :eek:
Click to expand...
Stoopid! That's me :D
Flat twin not V ;)
 
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