"Download" or Power Commander?
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 929
Likes: 1
From: Central CA
"Download" or Power Commander?
Just installed the Screaming Eagle air stage I and HD "Nightstick" mufflers. I've been told from my DH dealer that I will need a "download" from the dealer. I asked the dealer if I would be better off installing a Power Commander (PC). He said that I didn't need the PC just need a download, he said if I were installing cams then I would need the PC.
Does this sound right?
If I decide to go with the download will it hurt my bike to drive it to the dealer which is 40 miles away without the download or PC?
Realy like the sound of the Nightsticks.
2012 Ultra Limited 103.
Thanks!
Does this sound right?
If I decide to go with the download will it hurt my bike to drive it to the dealer which is 40 miles away without the download or PC?
Realy like the sound of the Nightsticks.
2012 Ultra Limited 103.
Thanks!
The dealer download is an EPA approved tune that does nothing except raising the rev-limit and advances the timing slightly at full throttle. It's a total waste of money.
The power commander let's the user adjust the fuel trims as well as timing in multiple ranges which a person can then richen the a/f ratio if you subscribe to the too lean bull.
Ive got a pcv. My 106 makes 107hp/115tq and gets 50mpg on the highway.
My vote is the power commander. From experience it's a great unit and it will grow with you if you choose to do more to the engine.
The power commander let's the user adjust the fuel trims as well as timing in multiple ranges which a person can then richen the a/f ratio if you subscribe to the too lean bull.
Ive got a pcv. My 106 makes 107hp/115tq and gets 50mpg on the highway.
My vote is the power commander. From experience it's a great unit and it will grow with you if you choose to do more to the engine.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 7
From: Atlanta, Georgia
Definitely PC-V
just installed a pc-v on my bike which is totally stock and downloaded a map from power commander website which was labeled "103, stock intake, stock 2 into 2 exhaust" and it had adjusted tables for the front cylinder and WOW what a difference it made. I definitely noticed the bike ran cooler and was smoother across the whole powerband and definitely felt like it had a little more power when using the butt dyno. It was literally a 15 min install on the bike and the map download took all of a few seconds and I was back on the road. I am going to add my cobra powerport headers and gutted screamin eagle 4" exhaust with the screamin eagle intake and the pc-v auto tune in the next few days and im definitely looking forward to that. once i get those installed and ready to go, i will drop in these cams i have for the bike. oh yeah, 2012 RGC with 103.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: nashville
definitely do the download, don't listen to the backyard guys that think they are better at programming than the guys that designed and built the bike. i have a 2011 flhp 103 with SE A/C and SE Fatshots. The map I downloaded through my SE street tuner works fantastic. 14.3 closed loop transitioning to 12.8 afr open loop. Perfect idle, linear throttle response, excellent power throughout and a 64oo rpm redline. No pops, no pinging, good mileage, etc., etc. They will whine about "epa lean" and all that crap. This forum is full of people complaining about just about everything on their bikes. :-)
The Harley map works GREAT. It also keeps the full engine warranty, if that is a factor for you.
BTW, you'll be fine riding it to the dealer, I put about 5oo miles on before I got my street tuner. You can get that with cables for under $300 if you want to do some extra fine- tuning yourself without the dealer.
Be wary of anyone telling you their bike runs cooler with a richer tune. The only empirical evidence I've seen shows that EGT temp is the only thing that goes down with a richer fuel mixture. The engine itself won't run much if any cooler whatsoever.
The Harley map works GREAT. It also keeps the full engine warranty, if that is a factor for you.
BTW, you'll be fine riding it to the dealer, I put about 5oo miles on before I got my street tuner. You can get that with cables for under $300 if you want to do some extra fine- tuning yourself without the dealer.
Be wary of anyone telling you their bike runs cooler with a richer tune. The only empirical evidence I've seen shows that EGT temp is the only thing that goes down with a richer fuel mixture. The engine itself won't run much if any cooler whatsoever.
Last edited by trispeed; Oct 15, 2012 at 07:42 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,488
Likes: 30
From: Maryland near DC
for me the PCV was the way to go, as I knew I would be making other changes to the bike in the future and did not want to have to pay again and again...which ever change you decide on will work just fine...I prefer the PVC as it gives me the control over my bike where the SE download makes the bike more harley's than yours...
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
I had the dealership download installed after I changed my breather and pipes. I'm not satisfied with the performance. I plan on calling FuelMoto today and ordering the PCV. From what I've read, it should make a considerable difference. Plus being able to tweak the values is a plus for me.
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And they (HD) don't even make the cables, computers, and interfaces that access the various tuning tables.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,456
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From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
definitely do the download, don't listen to the backyard guys that think they are better at programming than the guys that designed and built the bike. i have a 2011 flhp 103 with SE A/C and SE Fatshots. The map I downloaded through my SE street tuner works fantastic. 14.3 closed loop transitioning to 12.8 afr open loop. Perfect idle, linear throttle response, excellent power throughout and a 64oo rpm redline. No pops, no pinging, good mileage, etc., etc. They will whine about "epa lean" and all that crap. This forum is full of people complaining about just about everything on their bikes. :-)
The Harley map works GREAT. It also keeps the full engine warranty, if that is a factor for you.
BTW, you'll be fine riding it to the dealer, I put about 5oo miles on before I got my street tuner. You can get that with cables for under $300 if you want to do some extra fine- tuning yourself without the dealer.
Be wary of anyone telling you their bike runs cooler with a richer tune. The only empirical evidence I've seen shows that EGT temp is the only thing that goes down with a richer fuel mixture. The engine itself won't run much if any cooler whatsoever.
The Harley map works GREAT. It also keeps the full engine warranty, if that is a factor for you.
BTW, you'll be fine riding it to the dealer, I put about 5oo miles on before I got my street tuner. You can get that with cables for under $300 if you want to do some extra fine- tuning yourself without the dealer.
Be wary of anyone telling you their bike runs cooler with a richer tune. The only empirical evidence I've seen shows that EGT temp is the only thing that goes down with a richer fuel mixture. The engine itself won't run much if any cooler whatsoever.