Hi one and all

I have just taken delivery of a 2018 CVO Limited 117. I had a stage IV kit installed before delivery.

I traded a 2016 114 with a stage III and I found that the SE8-498 Cams (Stage III) much more ridable than the SE8-515 fitted with the stage IV. It seams that all the power is above 3000rpm where with the SE8-498 the power rolled on from about 1200 rpm

The question is, should I replace the SE8-515 with the SE8-498. I have a Mastertune TTS to tune the bike?

If I do so will it affect the warranty or cause me any grief?

Dave

 

Yes you will not have warranty.

 

 

 

You're describing exactly the difference between Stage III and Stage IV. Stage III is over all the power curve, Stage IV is heavily biased towards high-RPM riding. Stage IV bikes are actually weaker than a STOCK bike in the lowest RPM ranges, they don't really take over until about 4000 RPM or so. But they deliver the most horsepower at the high rev range. Above 5000 RPM, the Stage IV is king. Below that, Stage III would probably be a better overall riding experience.

If I'm not mistaken, Harley does not supply that configuration, so it would be out-of-spec, and therefore Harley wouldn't have an EPA-compliant tune to download into the bike. So if you stick with the Harley tuner, it would not be able to tune it properly and you'd end up with probably a pretty poor-running bike.

If that Mastertune flashes your bike, your warranty is voided. Immediately. That's how Harley looks at it.

Now, if you've already tuned your bike with the MasterTune, then ... your warranty's already gone, so you might as well get whatever cam you want and have your bike professionally tuned. Nothing to lose at that point.

But if you want to maintain your warranty, you have to stick with EPA-legal stuff, and only ever use an EPA-compliant tuner (and right now, the Screamin' Eagle Pro Street Tuner is the only EPA-compliant tuner). And that means you'd have to stick with packages that have a SEPST-compatible EPA-approved configuration. So that means no swapping cams, unless Harley has supplied a tune for the SEPST that will work with it.

 

That's what I'd suggest too. For general rideability and roll-on power the Stage III is probably the better choice. Stage IV doesn't surpass Stage III until about 4500 RPMs, so you really have to ride it hard to get the power benefit out of a Stage IV. It's a monster up above 5000 RPMs, but Stage III kicks its butt below 4000 RPMs in terms of torque and roll-on power. Maybe they can change you over to a Stage III (if that's what you want)?

 

In Death Valley last April I was on my stage III, ran into I guy that had upgraded from III to IV, He was not a happy camper. in fact he said when he got home he was having the dealer that talked him into it to take the bike back to a III. Loss of power where we ride was unbearable. Different strokes for different folks, sure. but that dude was not diggin the IV at all.

 

I have a stage IV in a 2017 Road King
I'm using a stage III 498 cam in it.
Great power & torque 120/126

 

Well done any pics of your bike ?

 

Exactly, any chart I’ve seen for an HD stage IV is not what would make sense for a bagger, each to their own but if you’re one of those must keep the warranty folks I’d stop at an HD III unless you spend most of your time over 4000 rpm. Nothing wrong with that. Just know what you’re getting.