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[clegg]

     I just had the second power commander in 9 months lay down and die on my bike. (2000 SERG) Anyone have a clue? I went over the bike with a fine tooth comb and cannot find any chafed wires, bad grounds, etc. (I am a auto mechanic by trade) When I pull out the PC the bike fires right up and runs fine. I have no intention of buying another PC at this point, or any other piggyback crap. I was also told that the SERT is no longer available for my bike. Any ideas? Do I really need to spend the 2 grand and replace the entire morreli system with the Zippers setup? AKA, is the Morreli system going to leave me high and dry anyway so spend the money and replace it? I have heard over and over what crap the whole works is...

[Unbalanced]

Clegg,

I would call Tri County Harley and see if Jenny can find you one that a dealer still may have of the M&M SERTs.  Another idea might be to check with TTS (Steve Cole) and see if has something that might work for you.  He has some M&M downloads on his site home page   www.mastertune.net

Any chance that your PC is missing any of its plastic inserts to close the holes in it, and possibly could have gotten wet, I see this kill them all the time.

[Twolanerider]

I'm a bit of a contrarian on the Marelli system being crap.  I really don't mind it.  Have had a couple Road Kings with it and the 2000 SERG I still have and thoroughly enjoy. 

The M&M bikes have their peculiarities.  The wandering idle thing being the most common and often troublesome of them.  Your failed Power Commanders might or might not have anything to do with the bike's electrical system though.  Nothing else on the bike is failing is or acting quirky is it?

Marelli conversions to carbs aren't that uncommon.  Also cheaper than the Thundermax conversion.  There are other Delphi-esque conversions out there akin to the TMax system.  None are as complete though and all seem to require some fab on your part to actually complete the deed.  The TMax system, all other things considered separately, is at least a complete change all in one package.

Don't believe their literature that it's a complete change to Delphi though.  It's a two piece throttle body/intake combination that still accepts all the original Marelli sensors accompanied by their Thundermax ECM built in a form factor to mount where your original did.  You do lose the mixture/idle adjustments so have some gain there (for ease of settings).  But it's not quite as they describe package.

Speaking to repetitive failures of a PC on a Marelli touring bike I can only offer one suggestion.  I've seen three Power Commanders fail on touring models.  All three had the same problem.

Install guidance is to route it across in front of the battery.  Connect to the ECM on one side and hang the module all way across on the other.  Doing this means pulling on the PC module a bit both to get things through and to get the length needed.  Have seen three over the years where a wire broke inside the insulation as it dragged/vibrated over the frame after being pulled in to place.

On my own bike, and any other bike similar bike I stick a PCIII on, I don't mount them that way.  Instead leave the Power Commander in the hole up in front of the battery.  There's plenty of room there.  Remove the top front bolt that holds the side plate to the battery tray.  The ECM mount/side tray will pull out far enough to thread the PC harness through there.

Sorry to read of your repetitive failures with system.  Good luck on getting it sorted out in a way that's both stable and that you find to be satisfying.

[clegg]

Thanks for the input. I had both my PC's mounted on the right side next to the ECM. I don't know about this one, but the old PC wires were good. I opened it all up looking for a problem. I did notice that DynoJet wants it to stay sealed....I have noticed the roaming idle, but it is not that bad. I just like the increased power and mileage I was getting with my PC. I just refuse to spend any more time on the side of the road jerking one out of my bike to get home. Both times my wife was with me........

[Unbalanced]

Thanks for the input. I had both my PC's mounted on the right side next to the ECM. I don't know about this one, but the old PC wires were good. I opened it all up looking for a problem. I did notice that DynoJet wants it to stay sealed....I have noticed the roaming idle, but it is not that bad. I just like the increased power and mileage I was getting with my PC. I just refuse to spend any more time on the side of the road jerking one out of my bike to get home. Both times my wife was with me........

Breaking down sucks, but doesnt suck near as much as having the Wife with you when it happens.  Most guys I know usually get the nod from the wife to get a new bike when that happens a 2nd time... of course it is for her safety that your doing it haha.

[Twolanerider]

I have noticed the roaming idle, but it is not that bad.

Unless your endgame becomes the conversion to carb there is something you can likely do about the wandering idle.  That was very common.  There was a service recall to address it.  An ECM download.  Did a good job of correcting the problem too. 

Might have your local service manager run the VIN to see if it's ever been done to your bike.  This is separate and apart from the other issues of course.  But we take the little victories where we can.