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ECM calibration

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Old 01-25-2011, 03:26 PM
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Default ECM calibration

Guys, I'm looking to change my 2010 FLHX 2 into 1 header. I want to use the HD 2 into 2 headers that HD put out this year. I have a pair of Rinehart slip on's given to me by a friend. HD catalog says the ECM will need to be re calibrated. I'm not changing the Air intake, it will stay stock.
Do I really need to re calibrate ?
Thanks, any help would be great. I'm searching the site for an answer.
 
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Old 01-25-2011, 04:11 PM
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Some found this to be a good answer, from another similar post.

Will you "need" a tuner? I don't know; what is your end state criterion for tuning? Most will say just a pipe, or just an AC swap, you don't need a tuner, but if you do them both you will need a tuner. I got the Twin Scan WEGO last winter, and then spent the whole year playing with the data logger and tweaking the power commander to tune my bike. Doing this myself, I learned more about tuning than I ever thought possible. It was very time intensive and downright aggravating at times. Once I endured the learning curve it was all worth it; my bike runs fantastic and is now tuned the way I want it, and I am very confident that my goal tune condition is exactly what the data-logger says it is. Bear with me, there is a point. Throughout this process I made a very fundamental tuning observation; that ANY modification to the intake or exhaust has an effect on the tune condition, just installing a clean air filter will alter the tune slightly. When someone else tells you a tuner isn’t needed, they are really saying your tune condition will remain “close enough” to the OEM or otherwise acceptable tune condition and that it wont really “hurt” anything. The question should be; are you willing to accept someone else’s perception of “close enough”? Knowing what I know now, NOBODY will ever convince me that they can accurately claim how a given map will perform. I tried several canned and “custom” maps from the most highly acclaimed tuning specialists in the country, and none of them proved to be remotely close to being “tuned”. Unless you have some type of AFR feedback you will not truly know the condition of your tune. So, your choices are; go with the recommendation of someone you trust, or do the mods and then hook up to some type of AFR reader to see for yourself if you actually “need” a tuner. Sorry I couldn’t give you a simple yes or no.
 
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Old 01-25-2011, 04:43 PM
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thanks, the more I read the more I learn. I'm thinking I shoulod start with the SE tuner along with the new 2 into 2 header. Just to be safe. I'm not much for the bikes ECM "adjusting" itself. If you know of any similar posts please forward.
thx
 
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Old 01-25-2011, 05:35 PM
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Originally Posted by rocket4
thanks, the more I read the more I learn. I'm thinking I shoulod start with the SE tuner along with the new 2 into 2 header. Just to be safe. I'm not much for the bikes ECM "adjusting" itself. If you know of any similar posts please forward.
thx
May I respectfully suggest you slide on over to the "tuning" section and read some the threads there before you "start" with the SE tuner?
 
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Old 01-25-2011, 05:37 PM
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You said what you want to change on your bike, but you didn't say why you want to make those changes. If you post your goals and/ expectations it will be easier for folks to reply. Tell me what you want achieve by adding the 2:2s, and I can give you a better reply.
 
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Old 01-25-2011, 06:24 PM
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Honestly, I wan't to change to 2 into 2 headers simply because I'm not diggin the looks of the 2 into 1.
 
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Old 01-25-2011, 07:08 PM
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Cool, I totally get the duals on a bagger. You know you want the symetrical look of the duals, now lets explore the other considerations for the exhaust. Do you want a stock pipe to maintain stock apearance? What do you want for "sound"? What do you want for performance? What are you willing to spend? Is the heat from your current pipe an issue for you?
 
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Old 01-25-2011, 08:02 PM
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Don't want to hijack the thread but I have a question for fabrik8r, I have an 11 SG with the 103 power pak, I would like to put a wimmer better sucker air cleaner, rhinehart 4 inch slip ons and from the reading I am doing here I am thinking a power commander and dyno run are in order for these mods, correct? I would like a bit more sound from the pipes, just a little more grunt, don't like stock air cleaner, like the looks of the wimmer better sucker.
 
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Old 01-25-2011, 09:22 PM
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Originally Posted by porkchopsd
Don't want to hijack the thread but I have a question for fabrik8r, I have an 11 SG with the 103 power pak, I would like to put a wimmer better sucker air cleaner, rhinehart 4 inch slip ons and from the reading I am doing here I am thinking a power commander and dyno run are in order for these mods, correct? I would like a bit more sound from the pipes, just a little more grunt, don't like stock air cleaner, like the looks of the wimmer better sucker.
My thoughts on air cleaners are about the same as my thoughts on pipes. They are all a great improvement over stock, but the performance difference among brands is negligible. Most of us aren’t building competition drag bikes, so haggling over 1-2 hp or ft/lbs of torques seems like such a waste of time and energy. About any aftermarket air cleaner will flow more air than your motor will ever use, so just pick the one that suits you best for whatever reason. Your slip-ons will be a bit louder and different from stock; how much louder or different I couldn’t say. The best suggestion I’ve ever heard is to go to a dealership or event and listen to other peoples exhaust to help find the sound you want, and you can see how they look. The power commander and tune you might want to think about a little. Personally I would look for a tuning product that eliminates my dependence on a dyno tuner. Dyno time is expensive and it takes a lot of it to tune properly. The expense of one good Dyno tune could cover an auto tuning system or data logging system to help you do your own tuning. Every change you make in the future will require a re-tune, so you will save some money in the long run. Not to mention a lot of tuners are merely traveling snake oil salesmen. I currently run a PC III and Twin Scan + WEGO IIID and I’m very happy with it, if I ever need another tuner I will look for something with more functionality just to expand my experience. An additional consideration for your exhaust is the primary diameter. I’m not sure if the 103” has a larger OEM header pipe, but 103” displacement is right on the border of 1 3/4” being too small and 1 7/8” being too big. I have no experience with the 103” so I can’t really say for sure, you’ll have to research that one. Short answer; you are planning on changing pipes and air cleaner, I would recommend some sort of tuner and proper tuning.





 
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Old 01-26-2011, 08:37 AM
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Cool, I totally get the duals on a bagger. You know you want the symetrical look of the duals, now lets explore the other considerations for the exhaust. Do you want a stock pipe to maintain stock apearance? What do you want for "sound"? What do you want for performance? What are you willing to spend? Is the heat from your current pipe an issue for you?

I have a pair of Rinehart 3.5" slip ons. And I would like to use an HD 2 into 2 header set up with the CAT, maybe an AC. I'm thinking Xieds to help reduce the heat. I really don't want the expense of an HD SEPST and Dyno. Thought ?
 


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