Lowering Idle Speed
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Man, I was afraid someone would ask me how. I fiddled and found an idle setting somehwere in there. You have to put in a negative number to drop it. I honestly could not duplicate it without a lot of playing around with it. there are guys on here who know the pcv inside and out and they may chime in.
To answer the OP, some tuners will allow changes in idle speed--the Power Vision and TTS are two. T'Max, which replaces the stock ECM, may do it too, but I don't think the two SE tuners will allow it. Even with PV and TTS that work in conjunction with the stock ECM you can't go lower than about 900 rpm on some of the newer bikes, as the ECM restricts setting it lower. You can with my '07, as I've had it down to around 800 just briefly for a test, and I can say that not only was there no potato-potato sound but it mostly just sounded strained. I settled on 950 as the best, smoothest idle speed. I really don't think a potato-potato idle is even possible with an EFI bike.
Last edited by iclick; Nov 28, 2012 at 10:21 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 17
From: eastern oklahoma
some guys might want to drop their idle speed to impress other people. my bikes, all of them are intended to impress the hell out of me. i couldn't care less whether i impress anyone else with the traditional old school low idle speed. i have an old evo fxr, but even that is not dialed down too slow. remember it has to keep that oil pump working, and the flywheels turning. but do whatever turns your crank, it's your bike. if you want your motor to live a long and happy life, leave the idle alone. the engineers who designed our twin cam motors were sharper than the average guy who owns a screwdriver and likes to play "tim taylor, the tuner"
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 114
From: Jackson, Ohio
The SEPST allows you to adjust idle speed.
I was surprised all the canned maps for the 120r are set at 900 rpm's.
I guess they want to slow the piston speed at idle since their maps are so lean?????
I was surprised all the canned maps for the 120r are set at 900 rpm's.
I guess they want to slow the piston speed at idle since their maps are so lean?????
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 184
From: Indiana, USA
I run 10.5:1 Forged Pistons and 211 Cams in my TC with V&H True Duals and almost get the old sound but.... mostly from cam timing overlap and High Compression. Still idles around 1000 warm to 1200 cold
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
One of the reasons older Harleys like shovels 'potato' is because even when new there was nothing inside the mufflers! On my new FX1200 you could see right through them. Also the carburetion wasn't too hot and it 4-stroked on the front cylinder, but 8-stroked on the rear, unless things were absolutely perfect!
Last edited by grbrown; Nov 29, 2012 at 06:44 AM. Reason: Expanded.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 336
Likes: 1
From: Senoia Ga
Well DAMN... I guess that I can't get it with an efi bike...How much on average to have sombody put cams in? That would help I think...Then what would I have to have to make the package complete? A newby here I think very yall should know!
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 925
Likes: 56
From: Memphis, TN via NoVA
Someone may have a more accurate estimate, but general cost for having cams put in that includes parts and labor is going to be on the order of $1K.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 6
From: Spokane, WA.
Depends on the cam cost, and labor cost, but $1,000 to $1,500 range.
I had new lifters and Redshift cam shoes I stalled, so that was $300 or so that I did not have to do, but wanted to do.
I had new lifters and Redshift cam shoes I stalled, so that was $300 or so that I did not have to do, but wanted to do.