dealer "reflash" vs tuner/programmer..?
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Novice
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 16
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From: south jersey
dealer "reflash" vs tuner/programmer..?
trying to figure out whats te best way to go...the dealer is telling me the "flash" is better than a programmer because it is "remapping" the oem box..instead of piggybacking and trying to override/fool the box which they say sometimes causes alot of problems....
i have an 08 deluxe..and just want to put pipes and the se stage 1 kit on....its never going to be a drag bike just for crusing do i really need a $4-900 tuner?..if i dont get one am i going to have problems?
i see on here everyone is dynoing and custom mapping etc etc...im not looking to tweak every 1/4 hp out of it ...just dont want to have mechanical problems...thanks for any guidance
i have an 08 deluxe..and just want to put pipes and the se stage 1 kit on....its never going to be a drag bike just for crusing do i really need a $4-900 tuner?..if i dont get one am i going to have problems?
i see on here everyone is dynoing and custom mapping etc etc...im not looking to tweak every 1/4 hp out of it ...just dont want to have mechanical problems...thanks for any guidance
Scratch the reflash. My softail had a reflash and I got it used. It had terrible popping on decel and and blueing of the pipes. Got a power commander and tuned it myself and got rid of the blueing and popping issues. Just so you know got a used pc on ebay for about $100.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
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From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Its a one shot download that may be ok or maynot make U happy.. If U never do anthing else in the future, its the cheapest was to go. If U ever change pipes, cams, A/C, U'll have to redo and pay again...
Not all F/M' systems are piggyback. Just spend some time doing a search in here, there are hundreds of threads on all kinds of them.
Not all F/M' systems are piggyback. Just spend some time doing a search in here, there are hundreds of threads on all kinds of them.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 252
Likes: 4
From: Illinois
Screw the flash. If you get different pipes or baffles you would have to get a new flash. Too much work and money. Get the Vance & Hines Fuelpak like I did for my Deluxe. I only have pipes and a high flow intake but you can program it to use many exhausts and intakes. If anything is ever changed, even the baffles, you can reprogram it yourself in under a minute. I bought mine used on ebay for $120 and it's awesome.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,085
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From: Minnesota
You will need to richen up the mixture which the flash will do but more than often than not you will have alot of decel popping because the mixture is still to lean. The flash is a universal dowload and not really a cure for any a/c and exhaust combination.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 983
Likes: 4
From: Fredericksburg, Va
woosh- you probably have more experience in the popping department than me but common sense would say that if their is popping wouldn't that be caused by unburnt fuel? Therefore, if their is popping than wouldn't it be caused by the fuel/air ratio being rich? please explain.
BTW, i would go with the flashing from the dealer. I do not like the performance of the fuelpak and considering the PC5 w/auto tuner.
BTW, i would go with the flashing from the dealer. I do not like the performance of the fuelpak and considering the PC5 w/auto tuner.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: The Lone Star State
It's up to you, if you were going with Screamin Eagle Slip on mufflers and A/C I'd say get the download. If you are going with a full exhaust system from an aftermarket dealer like Vance and Hines, I say get a fuel managment system. I bought the download, and my bike popped too much for comfort. Popping can be caused by either being too rich or too lean. Neither is desirable. The problem with the download is, as stated above, they are calibrated to fit a specific set up, and may not put the fuel where you need it because all exhaust systems and A/C set ups breath differently on every motorcycle.
Like I said, I paid the $200 for the download, then bought my PCIII about a year later. Remember the dealer download still has to be EPA compliant, which equals too lean in most cases. Good luck.
Like I said, I paid the $200 for the download, then bought my PCIII about a year later. Remember the dealer download still has to be EPA compliant, which equals too lean in most cases. Good luck.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 16
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From: south jersey
i have been readin through all the posts i could find on the topic beforeposting this thread..and as with any message board everyone has a different opinion/answer...and they all seem to contradict the others...and i understand the theory of the dealer download having to meet epa guidelines making it still too lean....but as far as the tuners go...seems like alot of room for error..potentially expensive error...i have read on here several times about a "thunder road with auto tune"...and what im getting is that it uses either its own o2 sensors or the factory to auto calibrate throughout the whole rpm range...is this correct?...thereby eliminating the need for a dyno tune?...so do you gust install the pipes, filter, and the tuner etc..and thats it?...or do you still have to "program" things in and open loops, close looks, set ratios etc etc...thats what i dont want to have to do...im looking for a plug and play that will give the optimal performance....i was planning on the v&h big shots tappered and the se stage one...but by buddy has the same setup on an 08 fatboy with the v&h fuelpack and his bike pops and backfire and shoots flames...all the time..its funny when its someone else but i dont want that problem...and also...if i have a problem when it comes time for inspection and need to throw the stock pipes on...with the dealer flash the bikes not going to run right with stock stuff correct?..where as with a programmer i just unplug that too and its all back to oem?