PC and ECU clarification

[pjsmithres]

For Tripps or any other knowledgeable expert in TUNES:

What is the relationship between having the Power Commander installled on the Rocket and using Tune ECU.
The PC was installed before I owned the bike and it seems to be content without effort.
Do you need to do anything to it if you are using a TUNE ECU map?
Is there a specific map modification.
Does the Power Commander need to be setup and then use Tune ECU or is it simply ignored?

 

[Blastedbones]

PC is a piggyback computer that modifies the fuel values of whatever map is programmed into the ECU.
Tune ECU/Tuneboy allow much greater flexability, in that much more can be changed( IE rev limiter, speed limiter, idle speeds at different temps, resetting of the TPS, MAP fuel settings) & is thus an essential tool.
SO why bother with PC? Well, there's 3 reasons:
1) lots of dyno operators only know how to work PC tuning.
2) PC5 can be fitted with an auto tune module, thus eliminating the need for a dyno, esp good for those with no access to a local dyno; + it's real OTR tuning.
3) Should you go for the Carpenter package or similar mods, the PC allows the injectors to open up to 100% flow ( stock max is 80%) & You'll need more fuel.

Can you use both? ie the tune ecu for the base program & a PC module as well? Yes! most of us who use PC modules do this.

 

[warp9.9]

Phil, MMost shops can tune with a Power commander product and very few mess with the other tuning aid like tune boy or the tune ecu. This is most likely why yours ahd the PCIII on it to start with.
Now the real difference is the PC units are signal interceptors the intercept the voltage signal to the injectors and change it, this results in a change of fueling only whether adding or taking away fueling. The ecu tuning aids give control over other goodies like timing, secondary throttle postistions if you still have them on your bike along with fueling changes. This is the primary major differences between the two. Now some of the other advantages in the ecu tuning aids is control over features like rev limits, speed limiter, speedo corrections and of course engine diagnostic capabilities for trouble shooting. The tuning aids also give better finite control over fueling them the power commander units. especially in conditions where applicable engine loads change on a bike. A good example is the PC unit is tuned on a dyno and does not recognize load changes going up a hill with a passenger on a windy day. The ecu tuning aids have access to these changes do to having different fueling tables one controlled by the map sensor for different loads and conditions and one for straight out right fueling.

That being said if you dump a different tune in your bike with one of these aids and still have the PC unit in and running what ever fuel changes were programmed in it on the original map you could come up with various changes ranging from to rich to to lean to a area where the oc unit was not tuned in becouse of a different rev limit. This could and could not hurt the bike depending on how far off the fuling changes are.
Both work good together but you should have the bike tuned for which ever combination you are running. By this I mean Once yu decide which map you want to load in the ecu you should put it up on a dyno and heve the pc unit checked and altered if needed.

I have heard of dealers starting to complain about people using tune ecu and screwing up the bike. This is because the user is making changes he cannot verify whether they are needed and whether they produce better results or not. You canb screw a bike real quick making inproper timing changes if you do not know what your doing. So be carefull

I hope this helps you understand.

If your not going to the dyno I would copy what map you are runing first before stuffing some other tune in. If you are going to remove the pc unit and use somebody elses tune without a dyno remember you can either mess the bike up or not depending on how far off the map is from your locational needs. People that live in the mountains and people that live at sea level should in theroy have slight differences in the same map do to changes in barametric pressures alone.

 

[Tripps]

Tripps is probably the least TuneECU literate person on the site to be asking questions of, LOL.

 

[pjsmithres]

Thanks for the input.
It has a PCIII wired in and I'll guess that a DYNO guy can "tune" it when I can find one.

The toughest part of this is finding a guy that is willing to try to Dyno the beast.

I'm guessing that they are all rice rocket tuners and just haven't tried.
But my point would be I'd rather live with whatr I have than let some jap jockey try to f it up and then have to go to the dealer to reset it.

I have hooked in and have a copy of the current tune and it doesn't look like any different than the stock cat delete on Tune ECU.
I am pretty sure that the bike has not seen anyone other than the dealer.

I'll keep searching...I'd ride to LA if there was someone that knew his ass from his elbow.