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[ACfixer]

Hey guys. I bought a beaut of a 2005 Springer last week, it has some tuning issues but the bike was so far and away nicer than anything else I found (not to mention the upgrades were right in line with my tastes) that I was willing to overlook it and just buy the bike and figure out how to bring it into tune.

Here's the deal, all I know is the bike supposedly makes 106HP (which I highly doubt) because it was "bored and ported". The 2005 has no O2 sensors so Steve at Fullsac wasn't able to help me with it so I figure I'll start here. Other than the unknown engine work, I have a PM FASTair intake and Freedom Performance true dual sharktails with NO baffles in it. The bike runs poorly under a load at low RPM, hesitates and coughs through the air cleaner. Once it's rolling and over say 3000 RPM's (guessing, no tach) it runs pretty well and pulls fairly strong. I have no clue as to where to start since I don't know what cams, what displacement, etc... was done. The bike came from out of state so I'm trying to track down the previous owner and get any info I can but short of that I guess I'm on my own.

I contacted Freedom Performance and they are sending me their "performance baffle" so I'll get those installed before I proceed. It's obnoxiously loud especially on decel, so besides adding some back pressure I'd like to tame it a bit on the noise factor.

Any suggestions as to where to start other than that? Do I just buy a tuning box and start trying canned maps and tweaking it?

Another journey starts, let's see where this one goes. Oh, here's the ride...

[hd-dude]

You can easily add o2 sensors to the 05. The hardware to support them was in the ECM starting in 05 but Harley did not start to use it until 07. If you headers don't have the bungs they can easily be added and the wiring to the sensors is straight forward. You then use a calibration for an 07 bike to get you started.

[ACfixer]

Thanks Jim, yeah I had thought about that in a roundabout way. I was looking at the Thundermax tuner and the auto tune but I don't think I have any bungs in the pipes. I'm pretty limited in my neck of the woods when it comes to any techs I trust so I don't know how to go about installing the bungs, I'm an HVAC guy and not a welder and besides I'd probably put them in the wrong spot and they'd hit something for sure. 

[FLSTFI Dave]

Very nice looking springer, really like that color on that bike as it fits.  I see why you bought it.  Good luck with getting the tune smoothed out and correct.

[ACfixer]

Thanks Dave. Yeah I'll get it ironed out, I don't think it will take too much but whatever it is I'm so numb from paying the HD tax over the years that nothing would really surprise me. It doesn't run horrible, it's just not right. That tune I got on my RGU spoiled me and so I know what it could be... so the pursuit starts once again. 

I think hd-dude is on the right track, short of knowing exactly what's in the engine that might be the only way.

[hd-dude]

I'm not a thundermax fan so I wouldn't suggest that. The TTS is my preferred tuner. Having the bungs welded in is a simple job. Most any muffler shop can handle that with ease. Or you can take a road trip and I can do it all for you

[Fullsac Performance]

Lance

If those Fish Sticks are empty inside, you definitely need baffles before attempting any tuning.
I don't believe Freedom is going to send you anything that's going to help. Most of there stuff is
way too big. You need full length 1.75 or 2.0 louvered baffles to make it run decent. Get me an
ID dimention and I can build you something that will work if Freedom sends you more junk.
Correctly sized baffles may be all it needs.

SG

[YELLOWBIRD]

Nothing to add that wasn't mentioned above.

Except, gotta love those springers!

Yours looks great.   👍👍👍



Wish I never got rid of my 2005 Springer!


YB

[ACfixer]

Lance

If those Fish Sticks are empty inside, you definitely need baffles before attempting any tuning.
I don't believe Freedom is going to send you anything that's going to help. Most of there stuff is
way too big. You need full length 1.75 or 2.0 louvered baffles to make it run decent. Get me an
ID dimention and I can build you something that will work if Freedom sends you more junk.
Correctly sized baffles may be all it needs.

SG

Excellent, thanks Steve. Yeah I meant to ask you about that in our e-mails... They are definitely empty inside and you're the first person I thought of when I saw that. They do sound awesome and since it's a "local" bike I'm not as concerned with peak HP/TQ performance like we got out of the RGU, so I'm hoping to just get it to run smooth while retaining at least some of the fishtail sound. I have FP's baffles showing up today, we'll take it a step at a time here and see how it goes. I'll get you an OD size of off FP's baffles and we'll take it from there.

This is the best forum, and all of you guys are by far the most helpful. I'm sure with a little bit of patience and the knowledge you guys have coupled with my wallet we'll get it up to snuff. I still have my original dyno sheet to remind me about the stupid tax I paid before I had you do it. 

Nothing to add that wasn't mentioned above.

Except, gotta love those springers!

Yours looks great.   👍👍👍

Wish I never got rid of my 2005 Springer!

Thank you YB! I've been missing my '05 softail since I bought the RGU, not because it was a better ride, not even close.... but I've missed the seat of the pants rumble for short rides and I never thought a 700 pound bike would feel light, but compared to a 943 pound bike it does! I've always been in love with the springer look so I was thrilled to find this one.

Yours was beautiful, I can see why you miss it!

Hey, they look really good next to a CVO...

[ACfixer]

*** UPDATE ***

Got the Freedom Performance standard baffles for the sharktails today. It is a completely new bike, it runs perfectly and I am quite shocked at the difference.

All the ills are cured, no more popping, no coughing, no hesitation, and tuned beautifully throughout the power band in every gear. Someone obviously did their homework on the build and the tune... which honestly shouldn't surprise me because guy didn't spare any expenses on the other stuff and that was part of the reason I was willing to overlook the tuning issue. The sound is awesome, no longer obnoxious at all and the lynch mob on my street has settled down.

If those Fish Sticks are empty inside, you definitely need baffles before attempting any tuning.

Correctly sized baffles may be all it needs.

Bingo. 

[FLSTFI Dave]

Wow, that is great.  That is nice it was such an easy fix. 

[ACfixer]

Man you aren't kidding Dave, I'm walking on air here!

[Fullsac Performance]

*** UPDATE ***

Got the Freedom Performance standard baffles for the sharktails today. It is a completely new bike, it runs perfectly and I am quite shocked at the difference.

All the ills are cured, no more popping, no coughing, no hesitation, and tuned beautifully throughout the power band in every gear. Someone obviously did their homework on the build and the tune... which honestly shouldn't surprise me because guy didn't spare any expenses on the other stuff and that was part of the reason I was willing to overlook the tuning issue. The sound is awesome, no longer obnoxious at all and the lynch mob on my street has settled down.

Bingo. 

Just curious, what size and how long were the Freedom baffles?

SG

[JCZ]

It probably had baffles in it when it was originally built and tuned.  Some guys will sacrifice money and performance for more noise. 

[ACfixer]

Just curious, what size and how long were the Freedom baffles?

SG

Steve, I sent you pics in your e-mail. They were roughly 1 7/8" OD and 14.75" long. They also make a "quiet baffle", I'm not sure about those but I am satisfied with the db level of the standard baffles. If it was a touring bike I'd look into the quieter ones for sure but around town in Victimville I prefer to be heard a little more. The standard baffles are fine cruising down the street at low RPM without setting off the alarms, but they have a fairly aggressive idle note and they do bark a bit when you get on it. The decel issues are gone entirely.

It probably had baffles in it when it was originally built and tuned.  Some guys will sacrifice money and performance for more noise. 

I think this was absolutely the case JC, it just runs too good with the baffles in to be an accident. With them out the bike was downright obnoxious, just not something I care to be at age 53. I don't mind hearing the bike, especially with the nutty driver around here... but I'm not looking to piss anyone off.