Tuning Power Commander On Harley

[heavyduty1340]

Im just starting out learning to tune efi gear

My Harley runs an aftermarket Dynojet Power Commander system that allows me to alter the fuel and ignition at 500rpm intervals in 1% or 1 degree increments

I have opened up the dyno tuned map(dyno tuned by a very reliable bloke BTW) and am finding some of the fuel tables weird (- both cyl timing maps are identical )

For example, harleys run hot on rear cyls, so I'd expect to run them richer at high rpm (or pull a bit of timing from them), compared to the front cyl - mine is leaning out the rear cyl above 2500 rpm by up to 35%

Im interested in hearing from others that can tune with this system, but at the end of the day I suppose that I need to log it to get a true picture of afr ect.

I have an Innovate lm-1 - can you get an o2 sensor that you can fit to the end of the pipes to get a true reading while logging or do I have to tap a bung into the pipes and read each cyl ??

My bike is running a hot stroker motor and does suffer from a bit of pinging in the middle of summer if not careful(11.5:1comp) - hence wanting to learn this system better

Cheers in advance

Faedy

[Tre-Cool]

if the rear cyclinder runs hotter, i would probably want to put a bung in each primary to log the afr's for each cyclinder head, rather than the mix of the 2.

I see recently on the efilive forum a guy used the v2 controller to log his Suzuki GSXR-1000 through the serial and ad1 ports.

Here is this the thread. http://forum.efilive.com/showthread.php?11795-Well-that-s-not-a-GM

I believe the innovate gives you a serial output? so i guess if you asked someone nicely with a v2 cable and access to a dyno u can have some fun.

Just out of curiousity does the harley run a cat or o2 sensors?

[heavyduty1340]

Tre

Cheers for that

No they dont run sensors or bungs in exhaust - I believe the next year up from mine does (2007)

I can easily put a bung in each pipe

I'll keep looking into it

[swingtan]

As Tre-Cool says, log the data before making too much of a guess at what you want to change. You may find that the rear cyl is running a different injector that flows more, so to balance things up it's commanding less fuel. I don;t think that's what is happening, it's just a way of pointing out that you need to move forward with accurate data.

I haven't used the Power Commander unit, but it's probably not unlike other EFI systems. So you really want to log the following data to start with...

[list]
Engine RPM
Engine load ( either Manifold absolute Pressure MAP, or air flow )
Commanded fueling ( in AFR, Lambda or EQ depending on what Power Commander uses )
Actual measured exhaust AFR ( need to do each cylinder separately so get the bungs done )
Spark advance
Knock detection
[list]

These parameters would give you sufficient information to correctly tune the fueling for the motor. If you already have knock issues, I'd probably pull 5' of timing and then work on getting the fueling spot on for both cylinders. Once the fueling is accurate, then I'd go looking for the best timing. Just remember, small and planned changes each time. Don't make multiple changes at the say time unless you really know what the end effect will be.

Simon

[heavyduty1340]

Simon

Thanks for the info:goodjob:

I havent changed anything yet as I do have total confidence in my tuner - he builds and tunes a lot of performance bikes, and drags hot Ducati's along with his dad - Wayne Petterson.

The ping or knock is only at full throttle on an extemely hot day - but as we rarely ride on these days, I have been happy to leave it ----- until now

I was hoping I could get an O2 sensor to clamp on exhaust to avoid having to put bungs in it, but if I have to then thats that.

Fun fun fun

[5.7ute]

I had a play with the early power commander that had minimal settings but didnt have much luck with it. Main problem was that a wideband hooked up at the rear gets a lot of "fresh" air pulses at the sensor. Making an accurate AFR reading impossible. This was done with innovates tailpipe adaptor.
The owner didnt want to ruin his pipes by putting a bung in. (I cant blame him) So we ended up going from the plugs as best as we could.

[CunningStunter]

Ran 13.5:1 in my Australian Superbike level GSXR1000 (built by PTR of VIC) no pinging.....putting out 194BHP at the wheel. The maps were downloaded from PowerCommander for the gear I was running (cams, head work etc) and then tweaked further. No issues running hot and fairly reliable....

WSBK Level spec'd machines are running closer to 17-18:1 comp ratio and thus the constant rebuilds...but then they're putting out more like 240BHP wow :1peek:

There is an exhaust sensor you can buy from Jaycar that is pretty cheap/reliable to get the readings for finer adjustments

[karter42]

Mate you will find everything you need to know here

http://www.hdforums.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=71&view=topics&forumid=27

Including a maps repository