Is Dynotuning Bad For Your Motor
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,865
Likes: 32,872
From: King George, VA
Is Dynotuning Bad For Your Motor
I had my 06RG engine built out to a 103 stage V at the Patriot Harley Davidson store in Fairfax, VA. They offer the build as one of their specialty big inch motors. http://www.patriothd.com/miscpage_002.asp
After about 30K miles, the rear jug head gasket was blown and in the repair process it was found that the crank had a .019" runout on the cam end. The hardened surfaces on the cam bearings, cam surfaces and crank were worn down. The piston skirts and bore sleeves were scored and worn down from the glass like metal the runout produced.
I spoke to the service manager just to tell him that this 103 stage V didn't get the 70K + miles that they said it would probably run till and that I know it wasn't covered by warranty because it was a performance engine. I told him that I had taken the bike out to an Indy for a better dyno tune that produced better numbers than his shop did 98h/108t vs 108h/121t. The service manager basically told me that I shouldn't have dyno tuned the motor and that I probably didn't do the proper maintenance on the bike. Didn't really say why, but then he didn't explain how proper maintenance could have prevented the blown head gasket or how the crank ended up with that kind of runout.
Anyway, is he just blowing smoke here about the dyno tune? His shop dyno tuned it for about 5 hours total, preliminary then after the breakin according to the charge sheet. The Indy dyno tuned it for about an hour or so.
After about 30K miles, the rear jug head gasket was blown and in the repair process it was found that the crank had a .019" runout on the cam end. The hardened surfaces on the cam bearings, cam surfaces and crank were worn down. The piston skirts and bore sleeves were scored and worn down from the glass like metal the runout produced.
I spoke to the service manager just to tell him that this 103 stage V didn't get the 70K + miles that they said it would probably run till and that I know it wasn't covered by warranty because it was a performance engine. I told him that I had taken the bike out to an Indy for a better dyno tune that produced better numbers than his shop did 98h/108t vs 108h/121t. The service manager basically told me that I shouldn't have dyno tuned the motor and that I probably didn't do the proper maintenance on the bike. Didn't really say why, but then he didn't explain how proper maintenance could have prevented the blown head gasket or how the crank ended up with that kind of runout.
Anyway, is he just blowing smoke here about the dyno tune? His shop dyno tuned it for about 5 hours total, preliminary then after the breakin according to the charge sheet. The Indy dyno tuned it for about an hour or so.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 7
From: St. Charles, IL
Yes, dyno's are hard on engines, drivetrains and tires. But not much more than running your bike full throttle to redline in each gear. It is tougher on the tires as the bike must be strapped down to hold it in place
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 7
From: Wisconsin
The service manager basically told me that I shouldn't have dyno tuned the motor and that I probably didn't do the proper maintenance on the bike. Didn't really say why, but then he didn't explain how proper maintenance could have prevented the blown head gasket or how the crank ended up with that kind of runout.
I've had both of my Harleys and my 400 rwhp Camaro dyno tuned with never an issue. Yes it gets run hard but until you've exceeded the rpm limitations of the engine components or you overheat the drivetrain you should have no issues.
MANY Harley dealers dyno tune and many of them are even Dyno-Jet certified tuning centers. Others dyno tune using SERT or some other tuning software.
I think if the dealer is making the statement that you shortened your engine life by 40,000 miles because of dyno tuning or proper maintenance...you should be looking at your service records.
There are a lot of other factors that may have shortened the life of your engine. I can't believe dyno tuning played any role in it unless it was overheated or over reved during the tuning process.
Good luck.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 16
From: Nor Cal
Not to hijack the thread I posted a similar question. Lot of responses
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?dyno tune?
I was at a local shop the other day and asked about getting a tune. The owner told me that he doesn't use a dyno but can tune by base line maps and adjusting by riding the bike. They had a dyno in the past. The part of are conversation that had me thinking is that according to him doing a dyno tune is that it's like putting 5,000 to 10,000 miles on the motor. Is there any truth behind that?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
?dyno tune?
I was at a local shop the other day and asked about getting a tune. The owner told me that he doesn't use a dyno but can tune by base line maps and adjusting by riding the bike. They had a dyno in the past. The part of are conversation that had me thinking is that according to him doing a dyno tune is that it's like putting 5,000 to 10,000 miles on the motor. Is there any truth behind that?
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 240
Likes: 3
From: Norman Oklahoma
I will never let some wanabe tuner with a dyno get hold of my bike again. It was brutal the way they treat your bike. Get a thunder max and be done with the DYNO dudes.
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I had all my bikes Dyno'ed after wether I just did a Stage 1 or cams. The difference between a true Dyno and "canned" map is like night & day IMO. As a matter of fact I am dropping of my 2012 SG with my new 120R crate this weekend my tuner said he will only adjust certain tables until I put about 800 miles on it, then he'll run it on the Dyno.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: NH
1 hour on the indy dyno and they claim thats a main cause of your issues? They're full of shat. A real competent dyno guy will get that bike running better, stronger and probably increase reliability cause the motor should be more efficient. Did the shop that did your build check runout b4 the build?
Last edited by streetg131; Feb 7, 2012 at 06:02 PM.