How to Install a Screaming Eagle Race Tuner

Harley-Davidson has a proud racing heritage, most evident in the motor company's continued domination of flat-track racing. Screamin' Eagle, the high-performance division of Harley-Davidson, offers a race tuner to enhance the capabilities that lay hidden within your chromed steed. Although the actual tuner is easy enough to install, properly recalibrating your bike's electronic control module and activating the wealth of features offered by the race tuner require a fair amount of technical knowledge and are best left to a factory-trained technician.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Screaming Eagle Race Tuner kit
• Harley-Davidson motorcycle equipped with a Delphi electronic fuel-injection system (2001-present EFI softail, 2002-present EFI touring, 2004-present Dyna, 2002-present VRSC models)
• Computer operating on Windows 98 or XP with a CD-ROM drive and a minimum of 32 MB RAM and 10 MB hard-drive space

1. Software and EFI Map Setup

   • 1

     Install the race tuner software on your computer.

   • 2

     Modify your fuel-injection map and settings as desired using the race tuner software.

   • 3

     Connect the included 9-pin serial cable (note that newer kits may replace the serial cable with a USB cable that terminates into a female 9-pin connector) to the computer.

   Modifying the ECM

   • 1

     Turn the motorcycle's ignition switch to the "Off" position.

   • 2

     Remove the right side cover (or seat cover, depending on the model) to access the motorcycle's data link connector.

   • 3

     Connect the 4-pin connector end of the cable included with the kit to the motorcycle's data link connector. Carefully tighten the thumbscrews.

   • 4

     Connect the Race Tuner's interface module to the 9-pin female end of the motorcycle's cable. Carefully tighten the thumbscrews.

   • 5

     Connect the 9-pin female connector from the computer into the 9-pin male end of the race tuner's interface module. Carefully tighten the thumbscrews.

   • 6

     Turn the ignition switch to the "On" position and wait for the motorcycle to run through its 10-second startup process.

   • 7

     Select your modified EFI map, using the race tuner software, and click on "Program ECM."

   • 8

     Allow the software to reprogram your motorcycle's ECM without interruption. This process can take as long as five minutes, depending on your computer's processor speed.

   • 9

     Turn the ignition switch to the Off position once programming is completed.

   • 10

     Disconnect the race tuner's interface module and cables from the motorcycle.

   • 11

     Turn the ignition switch to the On position and wait for the motorcycle to run through its 10-second startup process.

   • 12

     Start your motorcycle and test to see whether the modified EFI map has the desired effect. If not, modify the EFI map using the software and reprogram as shown previously.

Tips & Warnings

• Perfecting your bike's performance takes time, especially when modifying the fuel-injection maps and other features. Small changes can make a huge differences in performance, so take small steps toward your goal. If you are not confident that you can complete this project, or feel that you do not have the technical proficiency to properly modify your EFI maps, have the work performed by a factory-trained technician.

• Do not interrupt the programming process. Interruptions can cause the software to download useless information to the ECM, resulting in a nonfunctioning motorcycle. If an interruption occurs, restart the process and reprogram the ECM again. Do not make drastic modifications to any of the variables offered by the race tuner without considering their effects. Performance gains are only made by calculated and deliberate modifications.