Is tuning needed when adding an air cleaner?
Thread Starter
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5th Gear
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 9
Likes: 4
From: Seattle, WA
Is tuning needed when adding an air cleaner?
I bought a new 2020 FXST (M8 107) in November and I've been working on it little by litte over winter. I'm finally on to the performance upgrades and I recently purchased an Arlen Ness Velocity Air Cleaner. My bike is bone stock right now and I'm wondering if I will need to re-tune it after I add the air cleaner. A little more context: The bike only has 180 miles on it, isn't fully broken in yet, and it hasn't even had it's first oil change (though that's probably obvious).
Should I wait a while before I start adding the performance parts? If I do add the air cleaner now, would I have to re-tune it also? Or should I wait and add an exhaust and air cleaner at the same time? Any advice would be appreciated!
(Also, please be kind if I've posted this in the wrong place, I'm new here.)
Should I wait a while before I start adding the performance parts? If I do add the air cleaner now, would I have to re-tune it also? Or should I wait and add an exhaust and air cleaner at the same time? Any advice would be appreciated!
(Also, please be kind if I've posted this in the wrong place, I'm new here.)
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,843
Likes: 1,174
From: florida
Hello,
as mentioned you wont have to retune if you want to install your air cleaner right now. When you go to add pipes or anything above and beyond, you are going to need to tune it, but be CAREFULL.the only tuning product that you can used and retain your powertrain warranty is the Harley Pro Street Tuner, and it is not the best product on the market. Find some people that you can really have faith in the advise that they give you and dont be afraid to ask questions. The better tuning products are the TTS Master Tune, the DynoJet Powervision and the TechnoResearch Direct Link system. ALL of these will cause warranty problems unless you have a VERY good relationship with the HD dealer that you choose to work with for warranty repairs/service.
Not all products and services are created equal, so always ask questions and try to learn, and if someone doesnt want to spend the time with you to help you understand, move on till you find someone that will and you feel confident and comfortable with them.
Good luck and welcome to the forum.
marco
as mentioned you wont have to retune if you want to install your air cleaner right now. When you go to add pipes or anything above and beyond, you are going to need to tune it, but be CAREFULL.the only tuning product that you can used and retain your powertrain warranty is the Harley Pro Street Tuner, and it is not the best product on the market. Find some people that you can really have faith in the advise that they give you and dont be afraid to ask questions. The better tuning products are the TTS Master Tune, the DynoJet Powervision and the TechnoResearch Direct Link system. ALL of these will cause warranty problems unless you have a VERY good relationship with the HD dealer that you choose to work with for warranty repairs/service.
Not all products and services are created equal, so always ask questions and try to learn, and if someone doesnt want to spend the time with you to help you understand, move on till you find someone that will and you feel confident and comfortable with them.
Good luck and welcome to the forum.
marco
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: Arkansas
You can use a piggyback system such as power commander and still retain the power train warranty as well.
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 125
Likes: 16
From: Mo. Valley Iowa
this will be a bit more deeper into your question and explain the answer a little.
quick answer is "no"
the tuner adjust air and fuel ratios primarily.
for a bike to breathe it has to exhale too. cant take in more air than it can get rid of, typically the exhaust pipes are the choking point on a stock bike as they are heavily restricted. so if you JUST change pipes you *MIGHT* get performance out of a tuner but not much. just changing the air breather means you are still restricted to max air flow through the system. some people get into altering their stock components which will change all of that. pulling exhaust baffles, cutting or gutting out the catalectic converter will remove the stock pipes restrictive natures, removing/bypassing the emissions crap will also increase flow.
once you mod or change things on BOTH intake and exit of air flow is when you will NEED to worry about a tuner.
quick answer is "no"
the tuner adjust air and fuel ratios primarily.
for a bike to breathe it has to exhale too. cant take in more air than it can get rid of, typically the exhaust pipes are the choking point on a stock bike as they are heavily restricted. so if you JUST change pipes you *MIGHT* get performance out of a tuner but not much. just changing the air breather means you are still restricted to max air flow through the system. some people get into altering their stock components which will change all of that. pulling exhaust baffles, cutting or gutting out the catalectic converter will remove the stock pipes restrictive natures, removing/bypassing the emissions crap will also increase flow.
once you mod or change things on BOTH intake and exit of air flow is when you will NEED to worry about a tuner.
Thread Starter
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5th Gear
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 9
Likes: 4
From: Seattle, WA
Thank you all for the wonderful information and warm welcome! I ended up adding the V&H slip ons in combination with the Arlen Ness Monster Sucker. I got the SE Pro Street Tuner, but its a huge pain in the rear to get that bit to work easily. Luckily, I have to take the bike in for my 1000 mile service soon, so worst case scenario, I ask the HD Service people how to make the tuner work haha!
appreciate all the feedback!! 👍🏽
appreciate all the feedback!! 👍🏽
Last edited by Rivergirl114; Jun 16, 2021 at 01:16 AM. Reason: Typos