Background -
2013 HD E-Glide Ultra Limited - stock everything
I'm going to put on Full Boar pipes and a K&H high performance air filter.....do I 'need' or 'have' to get it tuned/jetted/mapped?

I've seen many people/posts say one way or the other....so if any of you true mechanics out there (or anyone with some serious knowledge of this) can help me out, it would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance good HD Forum folks!!!

 

In most cases a motor which flows more air in and exhaust out, will need tuning compensation.

there are a number of ways from the cheap nightrider.com xieds ( what I use), to a replacement ECM ( computer).

in between are the "piggyback" tuners which plug inbetween the ECM and the bike and "translate" data to get a "result" determined by parameters set by the owner or a technician. ( ex.: power commander, fuelpak)

there is also the Harley download or flash to your ECM- but these seems to tie you into using their techs to dyno your bike- and maybe less adjustable if the download doesn;t quite give optimal results

the cheap approach simply adds about 8% more fuel when the bike is cruising at part throttle. the rev limit stays as set. these are not suitable for added cams or headwork. These plug inline with the o2 sensors and install takes minutes. ( they offer a mil disc if that applies to you). you don't have to dyno or hook up a computer to the bike.

if anticipating motorwork down the road I'd go right to a replacement ECM like the Thundermax and bypass the piggyback tuners.


2˘
mike

 

Yes you do. The stock engines run very lean as it is due to EPA requirements, etc. If you change the AC and put on new free flowing pipes the engine is going to run even leaner and you risk burning the valves over time. So yes, if you make these changes you need some kind of fuel management system.

 

Thanks gents....

I got in touch with the folks where I'm buying the pipes from (J&P, a few days ago), and they recommended a Vance & Hines Fuel Pack..... is this what you're referring to?
I don't mind buying it, especially if it protects my investment!

 

some guys like the fuel pak, some don't.

you can look around this website- most often we are the 'complaints dept.' so we see the negative or hear from the guys who are having problems.

mike

 

I wouldn't run a fuelpak.

I did in the past, and found a flash tuner to be much better.

I would stay away from the thundermax, as it replaces the whole ECM, and the stock ECM is fine.

 

I think MKGuitar has given an excellent response. Here's my take with his comments in mind.

I had a Screaming Eagle tuner on my 11 Ultra. In that case a tuner was necessary because of the big bore kit and cams, as well as pipes etc. I chose the SE tuner because it was a Harley product and didn't piggy back onto my system, which I was uncomfortable with. As mentioned, the problem is, you are restricted to having a dyno-tune any time you make changes. Even pipe changes. The other problem is, it's only as good as your dyno tech is. And there ain't a lot of good ones. Figure $250-$450 for a dyno tune. Frankly, my bike never ran great and my stock 2014 103 pulls harder. It was alos a furnace. The new bike is much much cooler, even with a cat.

A Power Vision tuner sounds appealing. It remembers your current tune in case you want to go back. You can have it pre-loaded with a canned map based on your stuff, and auto-tune from there. I've heard of great results. But, they ain't cheap. Also questionable as far as warranty.

There are the other tuners like the Pro-Pak and power commander. Lots of threads on those and as many detractors as supporters. Warranty issue maybe too.

There's Vieds/Xieds. One's somewhat adjustable (VIEDs) and one is not (XIEDs), which is the one I'm going to. For my bike, I need simplicity. I'm adding slip ons, keeping the cat, and maybe a more efficient AC down the road. The closed loop system will figure all of that stuff out on it's own anyway, so it isn't even necessary. But, as stated, it tricks your existing closed loop system into thinking it needs more fuel. It "corrects" by 8% which cools things down, which is a good thing. It's cheap - $109 for mine. It's easily reversible (for warranty reasons). And it's effective as long as you understand it isn't designed to really increase performance as much as cool things down and smooth things out a bit.

Many people such as myself have decided to employ the K.I.S.S. method after suffering through tuners. XIEDs/VIEDs is just that - simple. For your needs, I would consider it. Because you are ditching the cat you will likely need a different product than what I have. My belief is the closed loop system won't compensate enough for the lean condition you'll create by removing the cat. A VIEDs may help compensate. Contact Steve at Nightrider and he'll steer you in the right direction. Also check out the Youtube clips on that topic.

 

Talk to the guys at Fuel Moto, they are vendors on here. They are great at putting something together for you