Question on tuners??

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Dec 5, 2007 | 02:27 PM

mcline_1968

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Question on tuners??

Hello all,
I am new to this forum and just bought my first Harley (2008 Ultra Classic). i have not done anything to the bike except add a set of Screaming Eagle Slip on mufflers a friend gave me.
I have read alot about a remaps, PCMIII's, SERT's and highflow air filters. Can you guys help me out with what these are and what the benifit of doing these would be? What does PCMIII and SERT stand for. This bike seems to run very hot and from what I have read the mufflers I added may be causing this problem.
Thanks

Dec 5, 2007 | 02:39 PM

Windup08

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RE: Question on tuners??

PCIII is Power Commander-III SERT is Screamin Eagle Race Tuner. Both of these allow remapping fuel/air mixtures, plus some other settings on the fuel injection control module. To get a good "bang for the buck" on a new bike you add the free flowing exhaust, then a free flowing intake, like the Screamin Eagle Stage-1 intake. Once you have more air coming into the engine you need to be able to add more fuel to the mixture....that's were the PCIII or SERT comes in. The end result will usually be a noteable increase in horse power and torque, better throttle response and overall just a better running bike. I added the Vance and Hines slash-cut slip-on mufflers, Screaming Eagle intake and SERT to my 08 Ultra and got a 16% increase in HP and just under that in torque, plus a much nicer sounding exhaust and a bike that just feels like its running better. The SERT is just a program that allows you or a tech to change settings on the OEM control module. the PCIII is another device that connects to the OEM control module and "fools" it into changing the original settings. There are many here who have used all the tuners with good results, its usually just a matter of choice.

Dec 5, 2007 | 02:45 PM

Windup08

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RE: Question on tuners??

Just a PS here....being able to add more fuel with the PCIII or SERT will usually help reduce the heat as most of the heat issues are cause by the factory setting the system to run very lean to pass EPA requirements. The mufflers alone probably didn't do much to add heat to your bike, but if you go with a new intake then you really need a fuel managment system.

Dec 5, 2007 | 02:58 PM

SoCal_Pappy

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Joined: Oct 2006

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From: Southern California - Palm Springs Area

RE: Question on tuners??

CONGRATS & WELCOME

Air Kits will increase to flow of air mass to the engine - This will make the already Lean running condition of your Harley run even Leaner (Lean will creat more heat and the '07 & '08 are already adjusted to run lean to comply with current EPA Laws) - To correct this condition you have to richen the fuel to the engine this can be done with a Fuel Management system (SERT - POWER COMMANDER III - THUNDER MAX - FUEL PAK - etc...)
Depending how much $$$ you want to spend and how many more mods you want to do to your engine this will halp pick the better Fuel Management System to suit your needs

ThunderMax with Auto Tune: this system will monitor and make adjustments to your system with out you putting in data or need of a Dyno
Power Commander III: This system by-passes your O2 sensors and will send info to your ECM to make changes that you or a PC Tech have made (Dyno Highly Recommended to fine tune the adjustments)
Vance & Hines FuelPak: Very basic unit that is very user friendly and will work on the fuel circut only - a Good System with very limited options and will not kill your pocket book

There are MANY OTHERS but the above 3 seem to be the most used by forum members here...

Once you have installed all 3 (slip-ons or exhaust system - Fuel Management System & Air Kit) you have completed what is called a STAGE 1 on your Harley and you should notice a INCREASE IN OVER ALL PERFORMANCE & REDUCE THE HEAT BUILD UP- Only other recommended up-grade would be to change over to a GOOD SYN OIL like AMSOIL or MOBIL 1

Dec 5, 2007 | 03:03 PM

BlueRoad

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Joined: May 2007

Posts: 22

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From: Manassas, VA

RE: Question on tuners??

If your interested in the heat issue, here is a good place to start:

http://www.americanrider.com/output.cfm?id=1279963

This is an article by Joe Minton that details the issue an offer some recommendations.

Many ppl do a stage1 upgrade to their bikes. The upgrade consists of changing out the stock air filter for a high flow air filter (about $140) and optionally adding a more free flowing exhaust sysem (like you did) and optimize fuel management. When you increase the airflow into your engine, the air to fuel ratio increases - your bike will run lean and hot as a result, so you need to richen up the AF ratio to lower the heat, which is not good for your engine, let alone your leg. There are a bunch of fuel management systems - SERT is OEM, but I think there are good aftermaket options as well. You'll get a variety of opinions.

Dec 5, 2007 | 06:26 PM

jag1886

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Joined: Sep 2007

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From: Boise Idaho

RE: Question on tuners??

I didn't think much of the SERT at first because I only have information from here.I had already purchased my bike before I begain looking at all the options and the dealer had already sold me the SERT with the dyno time.
I was ready to take the SERT off and put on a THUNDERMAX but my dealer convinced me to keep the SERT.
Man where they right my bike was on the dyno for 4 hours and when I got it back it had 86 HP and 105 Torque, it flat hauls *** now, my Sportser has 85 HPand I betmy RC would almost keep up with it.
There's no replacement for a Dyno and a good programer.
It also doesn't run any hotter than my Sportsters now; before the Dyno time it would about scortch your left leg off.

Dec 5, 2007 | 07:55 PM

Badbagger

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Joined: Dec 2006

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From: Florida

RE: Question on tuners??

Ya are sure right... there are lots of good products but after reading a whole lot, calling a few very good tuners who know all of the systems quite well & live well out of my area, I have found that the SERT appears to be by far the best IF you can find a tuner that KNOWS the SERT and it's capabilities and KNOWS how to tune a bike properly and will put in the investment of time to tune it right. A GOOD/GREAT tune can easily take 5 plus hours and 10 or more runs to get it dialed in... I have heard f folks getting tunes with upwards of 20 runs to get it dead nuts.