Hey guys.

Got a 2011 XL1200. less than 1000km. Had a V&H slipons (medium baffle) fitted at new. Now the engine is run I am noticing that the exhaust pops on backing off. Been told by dealer that I need to now fit the Super Pro Fuel pack, new air cleaner and have it Dyno tuned.. Cost $1,300.

When they sold me the bike and put the pipes on they never advised that it wasn't going to run properly and that I'd have to then pay $1300 to have it running correctly.

If a fuel pack is installed is it essential to have ti dynoed?.. or can it be self fitted using the laptop etc..  Kinda feel like I am getting ripped off here.

Your advise appreciated.

cheers

Moondog

Hey Hotbagger, Hilly, robo61 & Dickobigfish.

Thanks for your quick responses guys and your advice..all appreciated. I'll go in to my HD this morning to make sure I don't void my warranty etc with any of the aftermarket products recommended.

If all ok.. i'll chk out your recs.. Are these things easy to fit and tune.. don't want to f@#*k things up...

Moondog

They will tell you that your warranty will be voided if you don't use HD stuff. The TTS will allow you to change things and if something does happen to go wrong you can put your original map back into the bike and when the dealer checks it out nothing will show up that you have altered anything with the ECU. As Hilly says the bloody things run lean as when the come form the factory, if you ever have a look through the standard mufflers you will not be able to see daylight. (Cat Converters). If you are only doing the mufflers then the ECU may sort that side of things out as far as popping on Decel. It is no big deal in the end just sounds crap.

Whatever tuner you get there is plenty of advice on this forum. I am still learning and mucking around with the TTS. When the weather warms up a bit I will be back into tuning and then Hilly old mate is going to get a flogging from the questions I will hit him with. So don't go anywhere Hilly.

I got the screaming eagle tuner because it was the same price as the TTS and the local dealer said he happy to help if I have problems with it .

If you have a tuner that you trust. Go with what he recommends. He will do a better job with what he know than using a better system that he doens't know how to use.

You can tune with a TTS and if you rename you last cal. the same as the cal. the factory put in there. Nobody will ever be able to know you have messed with it. Warrenty is no issue.

The problems you are having can be mostly tuned out if not tuned out all together. If you want to save money on a tune and do it yourself. Buy a TTS and tune it yourself. Post up here and I will do everything to help you. It's simple, but not easy. And in the end you will will be more knowegable of what is going on with your bike.

Thanx guys...

Went to the dealership this morning and told them not happy with what its doing especially as they did not advise that I would have problems. The HD principal said that it shouldn't happen and to take it in next week for them to look at.

So hopefully they can sort it out without having to add any xtra parts. Certainly later on I'll look at adding the xtras for some more HP.

Once again, thnx to everyone that responded and for your advice. Much appreciated. Shall post the outcome.

Moondog

When I bought my Fatboy, I asked about removing the standard shotgun exhaust. I had a few choices. The Fatboy I took for a test ride had Vance & Hines 2 into 1 Big Radius. I liked the sound it made so I got them to fit the Big Radius. It poped and farted and sounded shithouse when you backed off. I asked around and found out much of what everyone here is saying. It was running too lean and I was advised to fit something to retune it. Some said a Vance & Hine Fuel pack, and others said go for the Screamin Eagle. I stayed with the Genuine harly stuff and fitted the SEPST and Stage 1 aircleaner.

No more popping and it feels so much more responsive. I am very happy with my choice.

I didn't fit it myself. I had the dealer do it at my 1st service, they just hooked it up to a laptop and altered the tune that way. No dyno.

I was a little surprised though, at the price. About $700 for the tuner. I thought the tuner would be fitted to the bike, but no, they use it to alter the bike settings then remove it. I may never use the tuner again and for $700 to sit in the cupboard and do nothing is a lot of $$$. I s'pose I do have it if I do any other mods that need  a retune.

 

For the time being, it does what I want it to do, so I'll stick with it. I have no plans to do any other engine work for quite a while.

 

Good luck with your choices

I have a big joe choppers gen III fuelshot for sale for $300. It is great for stock to stage 1 mods.
It will fix your decell popiing unless the popping is because of a leak in your exhaust.
They are a good little unit and improves acceleration too.

Have a look in the parts for sale forums here.
For more info on the BJC fuelshot see http://www.bigjoechoppers.com/BJCFuelshot.html or google dobeck TFI

I have just noticed you are in Canberra. I'm just in Bungendore but work in Canberra. If you want you can try it for a week and see what you think.

Hey guys.

Thnx for all your respones and advice so far.

Next wednesday it is going in to the HD for them to chk what the issues are. Whilst the bike is under warranty I need to be aware of voiding warranty etc... I know the local dealer will support the Sreaming Eagle upgrade but will other HD dealers if I happen to have issues interstate etc.. will find out.

Will keep u guys posted on the outcome.

Moondog.

 

Rito guys, I've been reading through the threads and have learned a few things. One of them is how much I don't know.

I have recently aquired a used 07 Night Train (22000km) and  have the popping issue as well. It seems it arises from a less than optimal combo. The previous owner bought some V&H big radius 2 into 2 online and whacked em on, without any thought for running leaner than factory, and the other parts that should go with it.

He took it in to a local shop (i have been in contact with the shop who gave me all these details) due to the massive pop on decel. and was advised of the damage it would be causing (hot climate here, as I understand it the valves will bear the brunt). He took the cheapest option and went with a V&H FuelPak and heavy breather A/C to minimise the pop prior to sale. I've been yold by the shop that the pop is reduced.

I got it at a good price as the bloke was told by his missus at finding out more was needed to be spent, in the shop, to sell it now. So I don't mind spending a grand or so to get it right.

I want to get it right so that 1. I'm not damaging my bike, and 2. It sounds good.

Gotta admit, I had always admired the look of the big radius, however I'm generally a function over form kinda guy.

So as I understand it, I have a few options, as advised from the shop, but I'd like a second (or third) opinion, because I dont want to go with an option that doesn't eliminate my pop on decel.

1. Buy a pipe that will suit the FuelPak - ie V&H Big Raduis 2 into 1 (the crossover will benefit the tuner), or big shot staggered.

2. Buy a Thundermax/HD module etc to suit the pipes. (this wasn't done in the first place due to cost). I can afford it, but will it sort the problem?

3. buy some slip ons for the original headers, and set the FuelPak accordingly.

4. Do nothing. A little pop won't harm my bike (I see some thinking that way in this forum)

I like option 1, as I'm not looking for huge HP increase and the associated maintenace that goes with it , but want it to sound better than off the shelf ( ie, not like a sewing machine).

Whatdya think? will any of the 1st 3 options eliminate my pop?

 

 

gmeilke, I'm in Townsville, sea level. After havin a look at the other TTS posts, it sounds good, but I dont want to spend endless hours in the shed buggering around with it. Sounds like it's stable enough to set it up and leave it. Can we still order from Doc? The TTS website has only 3 Aussie dealers.

Thanks all. I've trawled these forums a little more closely after the above advice.
As a first option I tried dropping the value in mode 23 and noticed an improvement.
I cant seem to stop thinking about the lack of a crossover in the V&H 2into2 big radius and wonder if it can be modified/added.

Thanks guys I have learnt a lot . I'll prob get the fuelpak for my dyna but wont expect to get rid of the odd poping that I get since the V&H slip-ons went on .