Heavy Breather requirements
#1
Heavy Breather requirements
I have a 2012 Wide Glide and was thinking about putting on a Heavy Breather. It is currently stock, and I like the stock mufflers. The Harley website says that it requires ECM calibration by dealer. I called the dealer to ask about it (Harley Davidson of Scottsdale), and they said I would need to buy a separate "fuel pack." I've had a SERT on a previous bike, so I have an idea of what they are. They also said I would need higher flow mufflers. I don't want to buy a fuel pack or new mufflers, so my question to you guys is: if I put the Heavy Breather on, and nothing else, can the dealer electronically recalibrate the ECM to accommodate the Heavy Breather? Thanks in advance!
#2
I'm under the impression they can tune it with a program called digital technician. I think you'd be better off and get more noticeable gains if you do the exhaust as well, but if it were me, I would get a tuner (probably cheaper then it'd cost for them to tune it since it sounds like they're trying to upsell you an exhaust/dyno tune) then you could tune it yourself with one of the canned tunes. You wouldn't need any knowledge or skill on tuning either. Just select a tune for the only upgrade being the heavy breather. Plus if you ever want to upgrade your exhaust, you can retune it with the tuner instead of paying them to do it again.
#3
#4
If you are planning on NEVER doing anything else to the motor or exhaust at anytime in the future, you do not need to get a tuner or fuel management device of any type. The bottleneck in the exhaust, aka, the catalytic converter, will keep the exhaust from letting the airflow in the motor run in a too lean of a condition to hurt anything.
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SixDD (02-11-2017)
#5
So you are saying I won't get decel popping or lean condition pinging with the Heavy Breather only? That is what I was hoping for. When Harley says the ECM needs to be "calibrated," does that mean they can reprogram the original ECM, or does it mean I need a FuelPac? The dealer says it needs a FuelPac, and the Harley site is not clear about what they mean by "calibration." Crazy as it is, I don't want any performance gains. I just like the look of the Heavy Breather and the fact that my right knee won't be banging into the existing OEM air filter.
#6
You should be just fine with just the A/C and you shouldn't experience any decel popping. The only time you need to have the ECU re-calibrated is when you add all the components for a "Stage 1" set-up. If you think your knee is banging into the OEM air cleaner too often, you ain't seen nothing yet. Wait until you install the Heavy Breather.
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HillbillyRick (08-12-2023)
#8
Heavy Breather
I have heavy breathers on both of my bikes and have never had a problem with hitting my knee on either bike. I guess if you are very tall that it could be a problem but that has not been my experience. It is, for me, in fact easier to live with than the stock air cleaner or the SE ham can.
Unless you plan to change the head pipes and mufflers, you will be fine without a tuner. Your bikes ECM has the ability to learn while you ride so if you want to install that air cleaner, go for it.
Unless you plan to change the head pipes and mufflers, you will be fine without a tuner. Your bikes ECM has the ability to learn while you ride so if you want to install that air cleaner, go for it.
#9
The factory instructions that came with my '06 SE Heavy breather state recalibration is necessary. You'll probably get more answers than replies as to whether you to recalibrate etc.. IMO, the newer bikes run lean to start with, adding more more air with a heavy breather will only make it more lean. If it were me, I'd recalibrate/install a tuner, etc... if I ran a heavy breather.
If all you're trying to do is get more knee room, I think you'll be worse off with a heavy breather - there generally larger than stock.
If all you're trying to do is get more knee room, I think you'll be worse off with a heavy breather - there generally larger than stock.
#10
The dealership and the manual all say it needs recalibration, however I have been told from some of the best bike mechanics in the area that it is not the case.
They have always told me that if you change the breather or change the exhaust to slip-ons that you do not need recalibration. Only with doing both or with a full exhaust change do you need the recalibration. A "stage 1" (full exhaust and high performance air cleaner) would also need recalibration.
As far as the knees hitting the heavy breather, you must be a basketball player. One of the main reasons I picked the heavy breather was because it was one of the few air cleaners that my knees do not hit (I am 5'11).
They have always told me that if you change the breather or change the exhaust to slip-ons that you do not need recalibration. Only with doing both or with a full exhaust change do you need the recalibration. A "stage 1" (full exhaust and high performance air cleaner) would also need recalibration.
As far as the knees hitting the heavy breather, you must be a basketball player. One of the main reasons I picked the heavy breather was because it was one of the few air cleaners that my knees do not hit (I am 5'11).
Last edited by CobraRacer; 02-11-2017 at 10:58 AM.