Does Power Commander = Junk?
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
Does Power Commander = Junk?
Just as I was starting to get used EFI....maybe carb really is the answer.
Anyone else ever have this issue? I was on the way to work when the bike started running like ***. It would sputter and fall on it's face. I pulled into an auto parts store, checked all my connections, plug wires, etc. I pulled the plugs to have a look and as you can see below they were pretty bad off, the bike was running WAY rich. I swapped in new plugs, rode about a 1/2 mile down the road to the office and ended up having to bike picked up and taken to the shop. At the shop the tech said it threw 10 different codes(I don't know which specific codes) and they eventually traced the problem to the PC. It never got wet, all connections were good, but when they're dyno guy would tune the bike it would run fine but once he'd shut it down and restart the tune would be gone and it would go back to running like crap. So they're currently waiting for a new Power Commander to show up. One thing that concerned me a bit, while talking to a tech while at a bike night(bikeless
) he mentioned that in most cases when the Power Commander is unplugged the bike will restore back the factory tune and that it would still run, rather lean, but would run. Mine apparently wouldn't start at all.
Anyone else have similar problems? My brother had to get a new Power Commander as well after the PC on his Wide Glide would never hold a tune properly and would constantly resort back to running a little rich.
Anyone else ever have this issue? I was on the way to work when the bike started running like ***. It would sputter and fall on it's face. I pulled into an auto parts store, checked all my connections, plug wires, etc. I pulled the plugs to have a look and as you can see below they were pretty bad off, the bike was running WAY rich. I swapped in new plugs, rode about a 1/2 mile down the road to the office and ended up having to bike picked up and taken to the shop. At the shop the tech said it threw 10 different codes(I don't know which specific codes) and they eventually traced the problem to the PC. It never got wet, all connections were good, but when they're dyno guy would tune the bike it would run fine but once he'd shut it down and restart the tune would be gone and it would go back to running like crap. So they're currently waiting for a new Power Commander to show up. One thing that concerned me a bit, while talking to a tech while at a bike night(bikeless
) he mentioned that in most cases when the Power Commander is unplugged the bike will restore back the factory tune and that it would still run, rather lean, but would run. Mine apparently wouldn't start at all. Anyone else have similar problems? My brother had to get a new Power Commander as well after the PC on his Wide Glide would never hold a tune properly and would constantly resort back to running a little rich.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 54
From: Mansfield, MA
Same Power commander on my bike since 2004. Multiple mods done, multiple dyno tunes and custom maps.
40K miles... Runs strong and no issues with the Power Commander.
As with all electronics. There are some bad ones in a bunch.
40K miles... Runs strong and no issues with the Power Commander.
As with all electronics. There are some bad ones in a bunch.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 11
From: Colonial Beach, Virginia
I have had a PCIII since 2,000 miles and am now at 17,200, I still enjoy the rheostat like throttle response, no hiccup and quit during warm up. My 2007 1200C is stone stock save for the PCIII.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 1
From: manhattan beach
running with a techlusion tfi. with that fuel management system my bike runs exactly how i want it to run... and now i have it running very hot. it thinks its a jap sports bike! (ever seen a sporty do wheelies?)
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
Likes: 40
From: Los Angeles, CA
Trending Topics
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,741
Likes: 1,599
From: Danbury CT
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 302
Likes: 4
From: Edmonton, AB, Canada
I have had PC III's on the last 4 bikes. One died and left me at the side of the road until I unplugged it and rode home. The others have been flawless. As mentioned above, there are always a few duds that get through the QC tests.
The good news is that Power Commander is generally great about replacement.
The good news is that Power Commander is generally great about replacement.