What ECM Mods Do You Think?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 153
From: Utah
What ECM Mods Do You Think?
I'm putting a set of Screamin' Eagle double barrell 16 gauge exhaust and a Screamin' Eagle stage 1 air cleaner kit on my '06 Nightrain.
I don't plan on putting a big bore kit on this bike unless I rebuild the engine due to old age. I may, instead, opt for a new bike and order it from the factor with the big bore kit.
Note that the Nightrain, as I understand it, does not have O2 sensors. which means that the computer is DUMB as to making fuel mixture adjustments. (BTW, I have read that many don't like this stuff, but to me, it's the greatest thing since sliced bread... if you have O2 sensors and you travel a lot, you get real time tuning... for mountains, valleys, winter, summer, etc.).
I have the opinion that a SERT is overkill for me at this stage. I also have the opinion that the SERF isn't much better than an HD download for this application >unless< you are having mixture problems or throttle response problems and you can then adjust the fuel mixture in the lower ranges to make up for the fact that the computer is slower than you are "at the line". My dealer has agreed to credit the cost of the reprogramming against a SERF or SERT if the results aren't what they are advertised to be.
Since this is all SE stuff, I would hope that the HD download will do the job. I have read here that many people don't like them. I'm >guessing< that this is because they weren't for SE/Harley products, rather than a bad design, but I didn't take a survey.
Anyone have a comment before I dive in?
TIA
C#
I don't plan on putting a big bore kit on this bike unless I rebuild the engine due to old age. I may, instead, opt for a new bike and order it from the factor with the big bore kit.
Note that the Nightrain, as I understand it, does not have O2 sensors. which means that the computer is DUMB as to making fuel mixture adjustments. (BTW, I have read that many don't like this stuff, but to me, it's the greatest thing since sliced bread... if you have O2 sensors and you travel a lot, you get real time tuning... for mountains, valleys, winter, summer, etc.).
I have the opinion that a SERT is overkill for me at this stage. I also have the opinion that the SERF isn't much better than an HD download for this application >unless< you are having mixture problems or throttle response problems and you can then adjust the fuel mixture in the lower ranges to make up for the fact that the computer is slower than you are "at the line". My dealer has agreed to credit the cost of the reprogramming against a SERF or SERT if the results aren't what they are advertised to be.
Since this is all SE stuff, I would hope that the HD download will do the job. I have read here that many people don't like them. I'm >guessing< that this is because they weren't for SE/Harley products, rather than a bad design, but I didn't take a survey.
Anyone have a comment before I dive in?
TIA
C#
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 16
RE: What ECM Mods Do You Think?
I have an 06 Dyna WITH the so called smart ECM...lol
waiting on the race tuner on backorder.
If you havent bought the pipes yet,take a look at these:Super trapp crack pipes
The Softtail setup wouldnt fit my height so I went with the Wide Glide.I was seriously tempted to go that route anyways.A friend has the Night Train with these pipes.These things absolutely rock.Best pipe combo around........The black and chrome really set off the image of the bike
waiting on the race tuner on backorder.
If you havent bought the pipes yet,take a look at these:Super trapp crack pipes
The Softtail setup wouldnt fit my height so I went with the Wide Glide.I was seriously tempted to go that route anyways.A friend has the Night Train with these pipes.These things absolutely rock.Best pipe combo around........The black and chrome really set off the image of the bike
RE: What ECM Mods Do You Think?
There is nothing wrong at all with the setup you are looking at. I however don't think you will be happy with the ECM download from HD. The bike is already running lean and the download is EPA regulated. Fire off a pm to Shovelhead Bob and see what he has to say about it. He is really knowledgeable on the downloads and SERT. I would not want to give you any wrong info.
Good Luck,
Good Luck,
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 153
From: Utah
RE: What ECM Mods Do You Think?
Well, I don't think the smart ECM can handle a drastic air flow change and then also allow for air temp, altitude, etc. but the idea sure works on my Corvette and I hope it's as good on my Harley. I guess I was just responding to much of the same criticism I heard from my old hot rod buddies when the "new" engines came out with "puters". They couldn't work on them in their back yard and they didn't like 'em. Now they have their own scanners, etc. and LT-1's, LS6's, and LS7's are going in every make of hot rod that there is. At $3 per gallon, 25 mpg with 300+ hp looks pretty darned good. 5 years ago a lot of stuff was getting blamed on the ECM/PCM in these cars and it usually turned out that it was the same problem people have with desktop computers... dummy operator gets stupid results.
C#
(Somebody need to make up a "my two cents" emoticon) <grin>[sm=icon_blah.gif]
C#
(Somebody need to make up a "my two cents" emoticon) <grin>[sm=icon_blah.gif]
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,034
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From:
RE: What ECM Mods Do You Think?
This is my opinion... take it or leave it..
I've got an '06 Dyna Wide Glide. I bought the SE slip ons and had the dealer download installed. Bike ran pretty good. Then I added the stage I air cleaner. Bike ran lean and didn't sound "right". It was also underpowered in comparison to other Harleys I'd ridden. I ordered a SERT and began tuning it. I would estimate that I picked up a good 25% increase in power and acceleration. Bike runs cooler too. It idles smoother and sounds great. Do yourself a favor, skip the download and get the SERT. The HD download is very generic. It's lean, due to EPA regs, and it's detuned to accomodate hundreds of possible scenarios. Leaness can cause detonation (pinging) and to compensate, HD retards the timing. They also retard the timing to cover scenarios like low octane fuel, 450lb rider/passenger combos, etc..
If you have a decent understanding of how to tune an engine, you can use the data mode recording and do a pretty good job of creating your own map. A dyno tuner can probably squeeze out a few more ponies, but you can have some very nice results on your own.
I've got an '06 Dyna Wide Glide. I bought the SE slip ons and had the dealer download installed. Bike ran pretty good. Then I added the stage I air cleaner. Bike ran lean and didn't sound "right". It was also underpowered in comparison to other Harleys I'd ridden. I ordered a SERT and began tuning it. I would estimate that I picked up a good 25% increase in power and acceleration. Bike runs cooler too. It idles smoother and sounds great. Do yourself a favor, skip the download and get the SERT. The HD download is very generic. It's lean, due to EPA regs, and it's detuned to accomodate hundreds of possible scenarios. Leaness can cause detonation (pinging) and to compensate, HD retards the timing. They also retard the timing to cover scenarios like low octane fuel, 450lb rider/passenger combos, etc..
If you have a decent understanding of how to tune an engine, you can use the data mode recording and do a pretty good job of creating your own map. A dyno tuner can probably squeeze out a few more ponies, but you can have some very nice results on your own.
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