thundermax with autotune question
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 491
Likes: 21
From: CANADA
thundermax with autotune question
I ride a 2010 Roadking FLHR with TBW and had a thundermax with autotune installed about 5000 kms ago. I am running V&H true duals with ovals and K&N air filter and setup. My questions are as follows. I pulled the plugs the other morning after a hot ride the previous day and found the front plug a dark brown and the rear plug somewhat greyish which means that that the rear plug is running hotter than the front. I asked my mechanic if each cylinder could be adjust separately so that each plug would be both running brown or the same temperature and /or AFR. He said that he had never tried to do that before and was not sure if it was possible or not with the thundermax system. I thought that the autotune should do this or at least allow a manual way of adjustment to make the rear cylinder run cooler. The other question that I have is that when downshifting I find the rpms still seem high until I come to a stop where it goes back to the regular idle. I realize that I don't have regular cables and or carbs and it won't go back to regular idle on downshifting to stop immediatly but it seems to be lagging somewhat on the downshifting to stop. Any opinions and input would be appreciated. My buddy who has the thundermax/autotune on a different bike was wondering the same thing. I just want to get the full use out of the system. I am pleased with how it is running for the most part. Thanks for looking
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 7
From: Daytona, Fla.
Have you called Zippers? I had a minor issue on my second ride with my Tmax Auto Tune. The seller gave me the standard "never heard of a problem like that" line, so I called Zippers. Two different people assured me that my issue occurred with a significant number of their units. They explained it, told me what to do if it happened again, & promised to work with me if it happened more than a couple of times. I'll bet that if you talk to them they will either put your mind to rest, or fix your problem if you have one.
BTW, how many times have you updated the fuel off sets?
BTW, how many times have you updated the fuel off sets?
As far as AF mixture with Thundermax you have the ability to monitor AFR and learned fuel trims right in the software. There are also advanced features in the Smartlink software that allow you to analyze the map very comprehensively and I would run the Automap feature which will accept your learned adjustments in the calibration and smooth the tables as well. There will be no question if it is rich or lean, the data will clearly show this in black and white. I would not be overly concerned with the plug color as this will not be an accurate representation of how the bike is running, both cylinders scavenge differently and with todays fuel blends it is different than years past.
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Jamie Long / Fuel Moto USA
The USA's Leader V-Twin EFI & Performance www.fuelmotousa.com
Contact 920-423-3309
Email jamie@fuelmotousa.com
Jamie Long / Fuel Moto USA
The USA's Leader V-Twin EFI & Performance www.fuelmotousa.com
Contact 920-423-3309
Email jamie@fuelmotousa.com
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,423
Likes: 421
From: Northern, Ohio (Yuck!)
If you never run the Automap feature then you are severly limiting the amount of tuning you are allowing the TM to make. Everytime you run the automap the TM starts over optimizing your tune from that point.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
I have been running the ThunderMax with attune TBW for about 3-4 yrs (when it first came out). I have been very pleased with it so far.
Yes, hook up a laptop to check the learned offsets. Link the Thundermax to the laptop, then read the learned offsets, then using the TMax-ModuleControl Center Menu item you can see the range of learned offsets in the Autotune section. Thundermax also has a max change per autotune session to like default of 5%. So it will only make so much change. On the Autotune settings you can increase the max offsets to 10%. So it does learn, but only applies a max of 5% of settings change while you ride until you do an automap session. This will apply the learned offsets to your map and then start over with the learned offsets. If you learned offsets are in the 0-2% or 2-5% it is running real good to the target AFR's. If there are numbers higher than that then it is still making big adjustments to the base map for your bike.
Also check to see if you ThunderMax fw and Smartlink sw are up today using the configure menu item.
One last thing to note, it is very crucial to make sure your exhaust gaskets are not leaking. This can throw the O2 off to read higher settings and thus throw more fuel in it. Especially your front exhaust is really important. This is because the front is the master, the rear is controlled by an offset of fuel to the front cylinder. If you front sensor goes bad or leaking O2 into the header then it will be increasing the fuel to the front and making bigger adjustments to the rear.
Hope this helps
Yes, hook up a laptop to check the learned offsets. Link the Thundermax to the laptop, then read the learned offsets, then using the TMax-ModuleControl Center Menu item you can see the range of learned offsets in the Autotune section. Thundermax also has a max change per autotune session to like default of 5%. So it will only make so much change. On the Autotune settings you can increase the max offsets to 10%. So it does learn, but only applies a max of 5% of settings change while you ride until you do an automap session. This will apply the learned offsets to your map and then start over with the learned offsets. If you learned offsets are in the 0-2% or 2-5% it is running real good to the target AFR's. If there are numbers higher than that then it is still making big adjustments to the base map for your bike.
Also check to see if you ThunderMax fw and Smartlink sw are up today using the configure menu item.
One last thing to note, it is very crucial to make sure your exhaust gaskets are not leaking. This can throw the O2 off to read higher settings and thus throw more fuel in it. Especially your front exhaust is really important. This is because the front is the master, the rear is controlled by an offset of fuel to the front cylinder. If you front sensor goes bad or leaking O2 into the header then it will be increasing the fuel to the front and making bigger adjustments to the rear.
Hope this helps
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 491
Likes: 21
From: CANADA
I have been out of town for a couple of days and just got back. Thanks to all the members and Fuel Moto that replied with all good information and ways of checking out adjustments and making them. Quite a few things I never knew about especially the automap feature and being old school I thought the whole story was the colour of the plugs which Jamie has explained is not an accurated reprentation of how the bike is running. After reading everyones comments I think the first thing I should invest in is a laptop so I can see for myself. Thanks to all. THis has been very informative,
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