Vance & Hines Fuelpak Talk.

[Jeffytune]

Originally Posted by ftlee20723

I also have "popping" on decel.

2008 Street Glide, Python Tru-Duals, Python Slip-Ons, AN Big Sucker, and V&H FuelPak.

I wish someone could figure out how to fix the problem with the 08 bikes.

Frank

Hi Frank.

Popping is the number 1 issue with any free flow system, anywhere that air and get into the pipe, the most common place is the exhaust gaskets at the head. The slip joint are problematic as well, they have cuts in the pipe so the clamp will work, if the cut is not in far enough, it will suck in air at that point.
I would suggest you start with checking to make sure everything is fully seated and the pipes are tight on the heads.

It may not help, but it's a good thing to eliminate as a possible problem.

[Ultra RB]

Originally Posted by Ultra RB

Perhaps if everyone emailed V&H they would come up with a solution ...

tech@vanceandhines.com

Yes, a solution would be nice ...

RB

After posting this I emailed the link to V&H ... within the day they responded and asked what my problem was. I replied outlining my setup including all the numbers for setup modes and changes made as per V&H previous instructions. They responded with ...

"I showed your settings and application to the FuelPak tech and he said your setting are right and not to change anything. Your bike will not get any better than it is now."

Sounds to me that we are just SOL ... they can't make their own pipes and FuelPak work together properly ... a waste of a few hundred of our bucks ... so, anyone considering open pipes and a FuelPak ... beware ... look for other products ...

RB

[luvstoride]

Just having joined this forum, excuse my "n00bness". I tried reading this whole thread through, as I am having some minor problems with my fuelpak. I got to about page 12 when my brain melted and oozed out my ears. So, I figured I would just ask the gurus here.

My story:
2006 FXSTI
About 6 months ago I purchased a set of Santee 2 1/2" 50 cal pipes. They replaced my SE slip-ons. I have the SE air filter that now has a K&N filter in it. The whole time I ran the SE pipes and SE air filter, I had no fuel management system other than stock. The bike ran pretty darn good, but had some popping on decel.

So, now I have the Santee pipes (with baffles installed) on and opted for the V&H Fuelpak because I am tight with a dollar. Ordered from E-bay, and was a flawless experience. It installed quite easily, and I mapped it to what V&H told me to, which was the map for V&H Staggered short shots with standard baffle, FP-0035. My fuel mileage hit the ditch, and I could smell raw fuel while stopped with the motor running, and had popping on decel. I e-mailed V&H and got a rapid response telling me to tweak a few settings, which I did, and nothing really improved.

Being the genius that I am, I changed the map to V&H staggered short shots with no baffle, FP-1291. My fuel mileage got better, the bike ran pretty darn good, but still had popping on decel. Again, V&H responded fast and told me to change mode 23 down 1, to 15. I did, and the popping did not seem to get noticeably better.

Being even more of a genius, I thought I should try a few different maps since it's so easy to do. I used a map for V&H big radius with standard baffle and.......BINGO!

The bike runs better than it ever has and has almost no popping on decel. Strong off the line, smooth and powerful at cruising speed. I have not run a full tank of gas through yet, but I suspect my MPG has dropped a tad, but it's worth it.

Now I am being nit-picky. I still have an occasional pop between gears, and a small amount of pop when decel from normal city driving speed (30-45 mph). I tried moving mode 23 down to 15, but it seemed to get worse. I then moved it UP 1 from stock to 17, and success again! Less popping, but still the erratic pop now and then. This may be the best I can get without a dyno run ( I'm tight with a buck, remember?), but if anyone has any advice of a minor tweak to try, I will try it and report back.

By the way, I think this is an awesome forum.

[Jeffytune]

Hi.

Great story, and thanks for sharing.
The issue hear is the pipes, there not what most would have gone with, and V&H may not have it dialed as well as say a set of short shots.

I would suggest you have the dyno run done, just a basic two run and then e-mail it to V&H to see if it needs to be tweeked a bit.

As to the popping, you wanna know a secret.......they all do it from time to time, even with a SERT tuning, most tuners will not garranty you will not have some popping.
I have found that if you make an effort to close the throttle on shifts, it gets ride of most pops, assuming you don't have a air leak in the exhaust.

[gilb66]

I have 2008 FLTRI, V&H true duals, ovals, fuel pak and have a little pinging on occassion when it is hot, and not a major brand of fuel. Is there a setting to change for this?

Thanks

[Jeffytune]

Originally Posted by gilb66

I have 2008 FLTRI, V&H true duals, ovals, fuel pak and have a little pinging on occassion when it is hot, and not a major brand of fuel. Is there a setting to change for this?

Thanks

The Fuelpak does not have any ability to change the timing curve, so, no, if you use "El Cheapo" fuel, you will get pinging.
I'm sorry if this comes off as a bit crass, but, really, you have a 22K dollar bike, is $0.05 cents a gallon going to break you?
Pinging damage is not a warranty issue, that means if you put a hole in the piston, you will be paying to fix it.
I run only Chevron, but if all I can get it Union 76, then I will get that as a second choice.

The cure is to use only top tier fuels, I believe in your state that would be Chevron, Texico and Union 76.
And carry a bottle of Lucus Octane booster for the times you get the pinging.

You might want to have the ECM's program checked at the dealership to see if it has been updated. My 2007's program is now on version "E", and it runs far better then it did on version "B".
This will have no effect on how the fuelpak works, or the program you will need to run it.

[ceraaa42]

Originally Posted by gilb66

I have 2008 FLTRI, V&H true duals, ovals, fuel pak and have a little pinging on occassion when it is hot, and not a major brand of fuel. Is there a setting to change for this?

Thanks

Aside from the nickel Jeff mentioned, you are running super right?

Chris

[gilb66]

Yes running super or premium 95% of the time, Chevron and once in a while get a ping with that, especially on hot days.

[dagsportster]

I'm still confused about overlapping XIED's with a Fuelpak. I have an 08 Ultra Classic with SE A/C, V&H ovals and the Fuelpak. Very slight decel popping (more like a gurgle). I'd like to add the XIED's for heat-management at idle. I've read that the two are complimentary as one is for closed-loop (XIED) and the other is for open-loop (Fuelpak). I've also read that the switch from closed to open doesn't happen until around 4000 rpm, but 90% of my riding is well under that, so is the FP doing nothing or was I given bad info?

Thanks.

[Jeffytune]

Originally Posted by gilb66

Yes running super or premium 95% of the time, Chevron and once in a while get a ping with that, especially on hot days.

You need to run premium 100% of the time.
Even then, As my brother in law who drives a gas delivery truck clued me onto, sometimes the drivers dump the gas in the wrong tanks, and, yes it happens far more then they would like to admit.
That is why I carry Octane booster, just in case.

Also, have the dealer check your ECM for an Updated program.

Lastly, do to where you live, a oil cooler and a parade fan maybe an oprion you will want to look into.

[Jeffytune]

Originally Posted by dagsportster

I'm still confused about overlapping XIED's with a Fuelpak. I have an 08 Ultra Classic with SE A/C, V&H ovals and the Fuelpak. Very slight decel popping (more like a gurgle). I'd like to add the XIED's for heat-management at idle. I've read that the two are complimentary as one is for closed-loop (XIED) and the other is for open-loop (Fuelpak). I've also read that the switch from closed to open doesn't happen until around 4000 rpm, but 90% of my riding is well under that, so is the FP doing nothing or was I given bad info?

Thanks.

Hi.

The closed loop system that Harley is using works at Idle, and when holding speed. It is in open loop when accelerating or decelerating.
Vance and Hines has stated that they do not advice the use of these O2 sensors, as it will through the fuelpak's calibration out of wack.

If you call V&H and ask them, they can give you a program that will run the bike richer, but it will only help the heat issue to a point.

I would suggest that the crossovers are the main issue here, a Pro Pipe will get rid of that Issue.

If you are in traffic a lot, then you might want to consider having Harley upload the parade program into the bikes ECM, it will shut down the rear cylinder if it get too hot.
Harley will download it and turn that program on for free and if you do not like it, will turn it off for free, BUT ONLY ONE TIME.
If you later on want to have it turned back on, Harley will charge you for it. (They know because it goes off your VIN code, and the programs are from a on line Harley site).
I thought about doing this to my bike when I has slip-ons, but now with the Pro Pipe, I can handle the heat just fine, even wile riding in Southern California in August.

[TOMCENTRAL]

Originally Posted by dagsportster

I'm still confused about overlapping XIED's with a Fuelpak. I have an 08 Ultra Classic with SE A/C, V&H ovals and the Fuelpak. Very slight decel popping (more like a gurgle). I'd like to add the XIED's for heat-management at idle. I've read that the two are complimentary as one is for closed-loop (XIED) and the other is for open-loop (Fuelpak). I've also read that the switch from closed to open doesn't happen until around 4000 rpm, but 90% of my riding is well under that, so is the FP doing nothing or was I given bad info?

Thanks.

I run the IEDs with a FuelPak on my 08 Ultra.I tried the XIEDs & my gas milege dropped 6-8mpg.The FP/IEDs get me 38/40 around town & 44+ on the highway at speeds between 70/75mph.Also,the bike runs much cooler in the Az Heat!Regards,Tom PS:I just switched pipes today to a 2:1 Cobra PowerPro HP from TDs w/0vals & went w/ProPipe map......Sweet!!!Lets see where my milege goes now.

[dagsportster]

Originally Posted by Jeffytune

Hi.

I would suggest that the crossovers are the main issue here, a Pro Pipe will get rid of that Issue.

Thanks for the reply. Since I already have the V&H ovals, I was thinking of getting their Dresser Duals so I can continue to use the oval slip ons and keep the dual exhaust. That would eliminate the crossover. Do you think that would cool things down?

[Jeffytune]

Originally Posted by dagsportster

Thanks for the reply. Since I already have the V&H ovals, I was thinking of getting their Dresser Duals so I can continue to use the oval slip ons and keep the dual exhaust. That would eliminate the crossover. Do you think that would cool things down?

You will still have a hot pipe running between both legs.

The best plain it to get ride of the hot pluming. The Pro pipe does follow the stock routing, but it does not have that crossover that slows the flow down. The faster the exhaust pulse gets out of the pipe, the less heat will be transfered.
That is why the 2009's have the new pipe routings.

My suggestion would be to get a Pro pipes from eastern performance, and sell the slip ons on e-bay.

[BOTT711]

Like everyone here--having popping on decel. Have a '07 FLTR Road Glide. Went V & H with true duals, slash-cut slip ons, K & N RK 3909. Longtime shop in the area installed everything. However, the settings are noticeably different than the ones V&H shows in the instructions. Whatta ya think? Should I re-program with suggested settings and see if that's the answer? This guy has been in business for a long time and is successful engine builder--his wife owns several bike drag racing titles--so I assumed he knew what he was doing. Suggestions?