5 Questions to ask your tuner

Doc 1 · #1 04-06-2008, 12:50 PM

Gentleman here are five questions you can ask your tuner to see what his skill level is without being conspicuous. These are 5 simple questions that a good experienced tuner can and will be able to spit out the answers correctly and without a great deal of thought and the whole time your asking themthe questions it will seem like a general conversation of you getting a little knowledge of the tuningprocedures from him.If your tuner can't answer all, or any, of these questions it's time for you to search out another shop.

1) How long will my bike be on the Dyno to tune the SERT?
(answer) 4 to 5 hours

2)How many Dyno runs will you have to make to finish a tune?
(answer) 50 to 70 on a average

3) What are people talking about when they say you have to SYNCHRONIZE the VE tables?
(answer) By Synchronizing the VE Table to the Fuel Table your telling the ECM the new air flow through the motor fromthe mods you made.

4) I heard something about a Step Test, can you tell me what that is?
(answer) The Step Test is a program in the winPEP 7 software (Dyno Software) that allows us to sample the AFR longer for a better reading at 2%, 5%, 7%, 10%, and 15% Throttle Position. This is where the bike lives so we want a good AFR sample to make our edits.

5) Do you change the AFR Table to one value as you tune?
(answer) Yes, 13.2. This makes it easier to synchronize the VE Table.

If your tuner can answer these simple questions chances are (99%) you will get a good tune. I hope this will give you all a better idea who your trusting your $20,000.00 investment with.

Just trying to help!
Doc

PS. If they don't answer all of the questions correctly, PLEASE give them my phone number for training -it's in my signature.

LdyMjo · #2 04-06-2008, 12:57 PM

I'm printing this list to take with me--thanks Doc

!

VTwinJaxFL · #3 04-06-2008, 01:21 PM

Thanks Doc!! This is great info to have, I assume these same questions or most of them would apply to a powercommander?

Doc 1 · #4 04-06-2008, 02:36 PM

No, VTwinJaxFL, the PCIII isquite a bit different in it's procedures, although to do one correctly you will be onthe Dyno 3 to 4 hours.
I have done the Step Test with PCIII in the past and it works fine but as you know there are no VE Tables in the PCIII so there is no reason the insert one AFR value in the fuel table to Sync. the VE Tables.

Wolfie40 · #5 04-06-2008, 02:50 PM

Thanks Doc!
I'mprinting this out and taking it with me..

screamn_eagle · #6 04-06-2008, 03:44 PM

thanks doc..i will be calling on monday to talk to the tuner at my dealership...you're the best dude

airfuel · #7 04-06-2008, 06:32 PM

Good LORD!

4-5 hours of your bike on the dyno doing 50-70 pulls?? No wonder dealers just slam canned maps in.
A Power Commander tuning center using Tuning Link can tune both cylinders in about an hour with just a fraction of the pulls! And do a better job than manually tuning a map.

whittlebeast · #8 04-06-2008, 07:58 PM

Question 6... Do I get the map if I bring a thumb drive to put it on? If the answer is no, find someone else to tune it. What if he goes out of business and the fuel changes in your area two years later, you are hosed.

Question 7...CanI get the data log from the final pull on the thumb drive? If the answer is no, he has no faith in his ability. Any standard format is fine.

Doc 1 · #9 04-06-2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: airfuel

Good LORD!

4A Power Commander tuning center using Tuning Link can tune both cylinders in about an hour with just a fraction of the pulls! And do a better job than manually tuning a map.

Now that is a bold statement....! I've beenusing the Tuning Link Program for years and it will dial in the PCIII very quickly but your not done tuning by a long shot, there is Timing and best AFRtuning to do. If youthink you can get a better tune from a Tuning Link Program vs a SERTyou sadly mistaken. Power Commander is a fine tool but it won'tdo what a SERT can do in the hands of someone who knows how to use it correctly and completely.

Bertk · #10 04-06-2008, 09:19 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: whittlebeast

Question 6... Do I get the map if I bring a thumb drive to put it on? If the answer is no, find someone else to tune it. What if he goes out of business and the fuel changes in your area two years later, you are hosed.

Question 7...CanI get the data log from the final pull on the thumb drive? If the answer is no, he has no faith in his ability. Any standard format is fine.

You read my mind, whittlebeast.These same two questionscame to me as I was reading Doc's five excellent questions.

Way to go Doc, educating the tuner and customer alike. [sm=smiley32.gif]