Do I Need a Tune?
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 140
Likes: 20
From: Oklahoma
Do I Need a Tune?
I researched online about what I can change on my 21 forty eight without needing a re-tune...all say that slip-ons without new pipes or air intake would not require a tune... I even went to the closest Harley dealership and asked a tech and he told me the same thing. He told me the onboard computer could make the minute adjustment that "may" be needed for such a small change. Well I installed a set of Cobra 3" RPT's and first off they sound freagin great...I love the sound. The thing though is I now get a crazy amount of popping, sometimes even as I shift. Anyway the knowledge I have required through my google research tells me that popping means theres a fuel/air imbalance. Now I have a 6yr. ESW that I do not want to lose so if I do need a tune my only 2 options are an expensive dealership dyno-tune or the somewhat less expensive screaming eagle street tuner...I guess what Im asking is do I need to re-tune or is my google research wrong?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 12,254
Likes: 4,946
From: England
I think you can find several hundreds of posts on here all stating that the engine is tuned lean from the factory.
The exhaust note sounds crap as the engine is not running clean.
Find a way to get a richer mixture and the exhaust note will become mellow like it is supposed to be. It will even sound better with stock mufflers.
The exhaust note sounds crap as the engine is not running clean.
Find a way to get a richer mixture and the exhaust note will become mellow like it is supposed to be. It will even sound better with stock mufflers.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 300
Likes: 112
From: Iowa
See the tag line at the end of the post from @Andy from Sandy
As @TracerBullet points out, that much popping indicates that you have modified your bike beyond what the stock tune can accommodate and thus need to tune. Since you have the ESW, you need to dance to H-D's tune or void the power train coverage.
If you think you will be doing more mods to the bike which may require further tuning then buying the Screaming Eagle will save money in the long run.
Does the SE tuner have an auto-tune feature? I'm guessing not since it runs from a laptop. Some tuners, and I think the Screaming Eagle is one such device, just have a library of stock maps that they write to the ECM. Others tune to reach specific performance and emissions goals based on the engine sensors. I haven't had a bike dyno tuned, but I think the dealership would do the latter.
As @TracerBullet points out, that much popping indicates that you have modified your bike beyond what the stock tune can accommodate and thus need to tune. Since you have the ESW, you need to dance to H-D's tune or void the power train coverage.
If you think you will be doing more mods to the bike which may require further tuning then buying the Screaming Eagle will save money in the long run.
Does the SE tuner have an auto-tune feature? I'm guessing not since it runs from a laptop. Some tuners, and I think the Screaming Eagle is one such device, just have a library of stock maps that they write to the ECM. Others tune to reach specific performance and emissions goals based on the engine sensors. I haven't had a bike dyno tuned, but I think the dealership would do the latter.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 612
Likes: 172
From: U.S.A.
Yes you need a tune.
get a power vision it saves the stock tune so if you need to go to the dealer you can reinstall the stock tune.
With the power vision you can do a auto tune so you will not need a dyno tune, and it can be saved as a custom tune so you can do a few.
get a power vision it saves the stock tune so if you need to go to the dealer you can reinstall the stock tune.
With the power vision you can do a auto tune so you will not need a dyno tune, and it can be saved as a custom tune so you can do a few.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 10,858
Likes: 5,421
From: My own little slice of heaven
why would you reinstall the stock tune. Once you flash the ECM with another tuner its game over. Even if you reinstall the factory tune MOCO can tell you were in the ECM
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 612
Likes: 172
From: U.S.A.
the bike is under warren. So it can void it out or for emmission testing like in az
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
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From: England
The ECM shows the date when changes were made. It is very obvious if the mapping has been changed.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 612
Likes: 172
From: U.S.A.
and i was an emmssion inspector for az back when bikes had to go though it and it never showed
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 140
Likes: 20
From: Oklahoma
Thanks for the reply..I checked with the service dept. and they informed me that slip-ons was indeed fine as far as the ESW was concerned...just cant use any tuner outside the Harley/SE biosphere..