Hope this thread ends up in the right place.

I want to share my experience with the Thundermax with Autotune ECM that I installed on my 2010 softail. Having ridden for 43yrs, I was floored at the new Harleys' heat issues. In my opinion, they should be running about 210-230F oil temp but can run 275F and up! I have had engine check light on twice so far in 6 months. Granted it was "parade traffic" for a couple miles but traffic happens.

In an efffort to change the air/fuel ratio and make things cool down, I removed the OEM ECM and exhaust sensors and replaced all with the $800-$1000 Zipper unit. Upgrade takes 20 minutes or so and the concept is great. With this unit you can control just about all aspects of your computer controlled fuel injection and cylinder timings via a laptop. Also, dyno is not necessary as the unit accepts and corrects for any changes in engine environment including new parts, outside temperature and sea level changes. But all is not well with this unit.

One function of the speedo is disabled by this unit. It;s the "Distance to Empty" function. This is the display on the speedo that tells you about how many miles you can drive before you run outa gas. Once installled,this features disappears. Now for us manly men, this is no big deal...unless you look at the big picture. Thunderheart knew of this bug and released the unit anyway. They never let the customers know in advance nor attempted to contact them in the future. After I enquired, they seem pretty arrogant and have no set release date for a firmware fix in the future. An update has been released for the "throttle-by-wire" models but not for all the others sold and being sold now.

Now I really want to support companies like Zipper but I need their help too. This DTE issue is not a biggie in itself but it needs to be nipped at the bud. Even the Toyota guys did a massive recall and owned up to their boo-boo's. Are our US companies gonna be testng their stuff on us and letting us pay for the reasearch and development? Aren't we better than that? Would I recommend Thundermax and Zipper over the other alternative ECM mods...yes. It has potential. Do I like how they treated us and our hard-earned bucks?...absolutely not.

To the Zipper-heads I say, "work weekends and holidays until the fix is fixed. Two weeks from now outa be enuff time. Don't sell another unit in the meantime. That's the American way."

No doubt I'm about to get a good spankin from some forum members. But after building a ground-up scooter project over the last two years, I'm a bit fed up with this poor performances by people who ought to do us better. So spank me...spank me good.

 

And no kind of review of how the unit has worked otherwise? Heat issues? Mileage? My bike doesn't have the dte feature so it doesn't really affect me. If you're that dissatisfied, take it off and send it back for a refund.

 

Get your Thundermax through me. I can save you big. My bike does not ahve the DTE either. It seems us real men do not need it.

Drew

 

This is one of the reasons I prefer bikes that don't have all of the latest "electronics" on it..........ECM, Throttle by Wire, EFI, etc. But I have to agree with you, if a company is putting out a product that is supposed to "fix" or improve some of the issues with the newer "advanced" stock bikes, then they shouldn't be creating new problems with their fixes.

 

I love my T-Max. Didnt have DTE before, and wouldn't use it anyway. Don't even use my fuel gauge. I fill up at 150 miles, no issues yet.

 

Like the Johnny Cash quote.

I was hoping all saw past the DTE part of my point. This is the first scooter I've had with that feature. I considered it a gadget...a non-necessity. I do the 150 mile thing too. But if I spend $800 on something and it takes away something I had, I am concerned.

Regarding the performance of the TM, there is too data to share but I will do a couple. My air/fuel ratio was at a stock 14.7...that's extremely lean and hot too. As everyone else does, I changed my exhaust and intake for freer flows. The base map I stated with with the TM ECM was a close match to my engine hardware mods but not exact. That's ok, the real magic starts as you out on the miles.

With every stroke of each cylinder, the ECM reads, reacts and corrects. This happens automatically with the Autotune and gets better and better as you ride. You can download and save the results to see it. As the egnine gets optimized, you can also "force" some parameters in like timing. I retarded the timing of my rear cylinder by 2 degrees as this cylinder gets less wind and is hotter. Retarding helps cool it. I also "forced" my air'fuel ratio slightly down. Now I am running at 13.6-13.8 instead of the hot 14.7. But that makes my gas mileage go down to anywhere from 36 to 40 mpg so far. I am still doing some fossili oil changes and breakins at 2600 miles so that may get better.

My engine is running nearly "perfect" given today's conditions and if I head inot some mountains or the weather gets cold, it will adjust and run oerfect then too. No need to do anything.

So please understand that I am impressed with this device and it does a good service. I am just offended that someon is using my bike and my money to finance their company while they neglect to fix small, but significant issues.

 

You're right! If they released it before fixing a known problem and were arrogant when it was pointed out, makes me wonder about if there are other unknown problems with the unit!?

It appears they're accepting something less then 100% accurate in their QA/QC. So is marginally good, good enough for you?????

I too don't like to be part of a companies research and development. There is a lot of that with Harley stuff, both from the Moco and aftermarket as well that does this.

 

I know this was not your point, but how accurate was your DTE anyway? My low fuel light comes on when I have 3 gallons in the tank. My T-Max has been great for me.

 

07 bought new..
First k before stg1 she ran around 245* on the oil temp gauge. Don't ever remember it over 255. once while waiting on train.

From 1k to 10k, with sgt 1 she was usually around 230-235

At 16K did the cams, now runs 220-225

These are averages temps while riding our usual round, we ride almost the same places, through the nearest 5-6 town daily, we do go different ways.

 

Had the TM A/T on my 07 bike, put the on a couple other bikes of friends.
They loved the bike.
TM has had a lot of work to offer the unit for the 08 and above bikes.
With the TBW and the ABS brakes and with the new TBW cruise control HD has really made it tough on them.
Its took them 3 yrs to come out with the unit for the TBW bikes.
And I hear a lot of folks crying about the TBW bikes. I like the TBW.

And if I'm reading it right for 2011 HD has thrown another loop in the bike with what looks like a newer computer and stuff like a car has.
Update will come out in the future on the software and firmware.
But you have a unit that will allow you to do anything you want to yer bike without takin it to the dealer as you know.
The unit was a super unit. Probaly the single best thing I did to the bike.
And stop and realize, the Twin cam fins are thicker releasing more heat, that alone with the EPA restrictions makes it to where if yer a newer rider, its gonna effect you.
I have the DTE on my bike, got over 39,000 on it and never used it.
Just something else for you to play with.
I ride the bike and don't worry about how far I got till empty. I got a gas guage that tells me how far to empty.
I've ridden the desert of Big Bend and all way to Del Rio, Tx. and to other states.
I don't have to have gadgets to play with. When I leave out We ride.
When I can run about 1/2 of a tank of fuel out, I want to stop and streach my legs and fill up again.

Call Pete or Pat at Thundermax and talk to them and see what they can tell you that might help.