Flash Tune, Anyone care to share knowledge of the software? Maps?

[Mus1969stang]

So, I have read about several people in the forum using the Flash Tune to program their bikes. On my previous bikes I've used PCIII, PCV with AT, and even Harley's flash software so I figured I would give this a try. I ordered the Flash Tune kit from Revzilla and had it 2 days later. My next night off, I hurriedly installed the bike harness with all the joy of a kid in a candy store. Sadly, after wiring up the bike harness in about 30 minutes, I found out that my supplied USB cable had the wrong connector to connect to the bike harness! What a letdown!

Since I'm currently working nights and I can't play with the bike, I figured I would see what experience people on the forum have had with the software. I assume it will be a week before my issue is resolved and I can upload some new programming into the bike's ECU, so I'll make use of my time getting some programming "what if's" out of the way. I'm sure others have wondered the same and figured out some of the questions I have.
So here goes...

I have a 2012 S10. I have the US -70 ECU, so I found the needed file easily in the software. I easily used the -030 file to load a PCV map designed for Arrow Headers and stock exhaust. Then copied it to my new -07 files. I'm not sure why Flash Tune didn't add the PC fuel map import feature to the -70 file, but its easy to work around. That's when I started to think about the new 2nd gen Tenere. Everyone likes the characteristics of the new generation bike. So.... has anyone just copied the fuel, ignition, and throttle tables over to a gen 1 bike to see if it runs like a gen 2 bike?

I have been looking at the files and it looks like it will work, the only thing that bothered me was that the fuel decal maps on the 2014 did not work in the 2012-2013 decal map. Many of the values were too large to fit. Other than that little hiccup, I've managed to make some files that would place the 2nd gen fueling and timing on my bike. BUT i'm not going to do that without taking baby steps, unless others have done this and it works.

My current plan is to just upload the -70 file with the modded fueling for the headers and the unrestricted throttle in the 1-3 gears. If the bike runs good, hopefully curing the surging the headers gave the bike, then I'll ride it and probably tweak on a different function once a week to make sure I don't put any gremlins into the bike via a large change to the programming. I figure after a month I would be up to checking out some of the gen 2 maps and see if they are compatible.

Any words of wisdom?

 

[Mus1969stang]

If someone can tell me how to easily post pics, I'll add some installation pics and some screen shots of the differences in the gen 1 and gen 2 programming. I don't know if I care to shrink all the pics to the size required and the "insert pic" button doesn't seem to do anything for me.... Thanks

 

[Checkswrecks]

Welcome aboard noob. Sounds like you might have some good input.


How to post a photo is a sticky: http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=19249.0


As for the ECU and maps, we have an entire sub-forum for that: http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?board=62.0
This thread is being moved to it.

Search is your friend and it works well.

 

[Mus1969stang]

Thanks, and nice to meet you. I'll checkout the links you provided. Appreciate your input

 

[Mus1969stang]

So... Right before I go into work tonight I get a phone call from a number that I don't recognize. I just about decline the call, then I think to myself.... What if this is FlashTune calling. I answer and it is FlashTune.

It turns out I have the right cable and harness, but there is a dust cover that has to be removed! : I thank the nice man and run out to my shop. Sure enough, at 0300 I was too tired and didn't notice the cover. So excitedly, I grab my laptop and get to flashing.

Five minutes later I fire up my S10 with the unrestricted 1-3 gears and the imported Arrow headers PCV map and take it for a quick ride.

I only had 10 minutes to test it out, but here are my initial feelings. The surging seems to be gone, the bike definitely smelled like the fueling was much closer to what the bike needed, and it rode better too. As for the unrestricted T and S modes.... ::003:: They are great. T-mode has a bit more grunt, and the 1:1 throttle response of the sport mode had me really grinning!

Now that I'm at work again I just wanted to say that Flash Tune seems to have good customer service and I am definitely satisfied with my Flash Tune kit and out of the box experience. Now I will start playing with the tuning on my bike so I can tailor it to my needs. I'll also try and import the 2014 fuel and ignition maps to see if they seem to work on the 2012 gen 1 bikes. Just looking at the differences between the fuel and timing maps, it looks like the gen 2 maps are more refined. The stock 2014 fuel map is somewhat similar in appearance to my PCV Arrow headers 2012 map.

Like I mentioned in my first post, if anyone has tried the gen 2 maps on the gen 1 bike, let me know.

I'll post pics of the Flash Tune harness install in a few days. Seems as easy as a PCV install, maybe a little less hassle since I didn't have to lift the tank to gain access to the injector harnesses.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Have fun experimenting, but also be careful in there, as the magic in the maps is getting the proportions right for how different sensors feed the ECU and then the ECU responds with outputs. Some of the outputs may not be what you expect or that are good for the engine. For example, when we got the Gen1 bikes, the hot ticket was to simply short the clutch switch wire. Then somebody realized that there's a relation between it and full throttle which is to be avoided. As a second example, some of the original re-flash customers also had to have their ECUs flashed a second time, after finding that the response off idle was head-snapping.


When people pay Flashtunes, AVC8130, or others, what you are really paying for is their experience. Don't be surprised if they don't want to share what has taken them weeks or months to develop on their own dime.

 

[Mus1969stang]

LOL, I figured out that some people like to keep their "trade secrets" just that...Secret. I PM'd a flashtune scholar and not heard a single thing back. That's OK, I'm more of a open source type guy, so I want to share what I learn with others. The FJR, Versys and Harley seemed to have a wider spread knowledge base than the S10. I learned a lot tuning each of those bikes, and now I want my S10 to be "mine".. So, hopefully Ill get more people to open up on their tuning experiences afterI post some of mine. Get some synergy going.

I'll say Flash Tune is very powerful software, but unpolished. It is free on their website and you can download the ECU maps for the GEN 1 or GEN 2 US/EU/CANADIAN ECU maps to compare. I've found that for each of the ECU #s, they may call the same feature something slightly different or they may not have enabled all the same features for each ECU of the S10's lineage. For those who want to see the differences, the software is a great way to compare the ECU's tuning.

Hopefully I'll help some others to decide to try flashing their own bikes. It's not hard, just takes time. I am impressed with the results of just the "unrestricted" file and the PCV Arrow Header fuel map. I can't wait to have more time to try out some of my ideas. Anyways....I'm working now so I had better get back to work. Lunch is over....

 

[Mus1969stang]

::012:: I want to thank Checkswrecks for his link to posting pics. Now time for show and tell. ::006:: http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/Smileys/DarkB/smiley006.gif

Let's see if I can pull this off? It's a slow night at work and they block photobucket, so I'll just have to work this blind.

Got my Flash Tune Harness from Revzilla. Ordered it and got it 2 days later. I always loved their fast free shipping.

To get to the ECU, you will have to remove the right side faring. Not sure if Gen 2 is the same, I bet it is.

I elected to pull all the relays off their supports. I don't think that is necessary. Just removing the one on the right should allow you to pull this relay bracket down to access the ECU.

This is where you get the ECU #, so make sure you write it down or take a pic. Mine is a -70 (US) ECU. You need this number to pick the right tune for your ECU. I think people who had bad tunes sending them off got flashed for the wrong ECU. Some...not all...

The ECU connector you will be modifying is the one on the bottom right of the ECU. You can see I've already unplugged mine here, just seen over the relay bracket.

I found that you don't have much room to get your hands in here to re-pin the connector. So I rotated the plug so it faced down and got it snugged in place. I used a pair of forceps to pull the pin plugs I would need out. Small needlenose pliers would probably work too. The forceps helped to remove the plugs, pull the 1 pin out of the connector and push the new pins in. The instructions cover connecting the bike harness better than I am going to attempt. So I am just giving snap shots to help fill in the instructions. I will note that you will feel the new pins snap into place 2 times if you properly seat them.

You can see the new harness pins in this pic. You can't tell, but I've already pulled the black/blue pin out that used to have a posi-tap, but now they made a female pin you plug it into and put supplied heatshrink over. No posi-taps or wiring beyond the harness.

Once you have all the harness pins inserted into the ECU connector, I checked to make sure that they were all seated the same. First time I found one that looked slightly "darker" due to the increased shadow since it was slightly recessed. I reseated it and all is good in this pic. If they are all seated, you will have a hard time getting the pin lock to close.

All is good to start buttoning the bike back together.

I reconnected the ECU connector to the ECU. Then, like any cautious person has learned thru hard experience.... I started the bike to make sure I didn't have a surprise necessitating that I pull it back apart.

Success! It started. ::012::

 

[Mus1969stang]

Now feeling like I had done all the hard work, I eagerly reached to connect the still plastic wrapped USB connector to the now installed Flash Tune bike harness. ::010:: Uhhhh..... this doesn't loo right!!!! NO! NO! NO! ::010::

http://[/http://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w508/sean_carey2/436BF9A1-4FC3-49E9-861A-5F6C407BC2FA_zpsmpejz2bt.jpgimg]
Yep, that doesn't look like it will connect together....

So here I am around 0400 on Sunday morning with no cable to upload the tunes I had already played with! No riding the bike and seeing the results of my hard work... Off goes my new help case begging Flash Tune to send me the right cable when they can. It's going to be a long week waiting for the new cable, so I go back to comparing all the different ECU tunes so see what is different and get ideas as to what I want to play with and how they all relate to the stock tune.

Fast Forward to Monday at 1700, just an hour before I have to go into work on another long 12 hour nightshift. It will be 6 days before my next day off. I'm eating dinner and my cell phone rings. California number I don't recognize so I start to decline the call. Then I think, what if this if Flash Tune? I had better answer. A calm voice asks if this is Sean?.....Yes it is..... He goes on to say in a very polite tone "I don't think you have the wrong cable". I think back to the 2 connectors and think...this will be fun. He says "did you take off the dust cover on the bike harness end connector? After you remove the cover it should work." I ramble something about being on nights and a quick thank you. So off I run out to the shop to see if I had missed this detail....still a little skeptical.

[img]http://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w508/sean_carey2/BFAEBD59-9C51-4444-A3E5-673E938C1E6C_zps7caodcrk.jpg
I couldn't believe it. 30 minutes, I can download my tune if I'm quick....Do a fast test drive ::26::... and then.... go to work.

It might have taken 5 minutes to download my first tune. A very long time when you are watching the clock thinking about work!

The tune was loaded, verified and I had 15 minutes! On went the side cover of the bike, I fired it up. She purred to life! Sounded better than the rough idling I have had since installing the headers. I let it warm-up and took off on a quick joy ride! The lean surging was gone (at least it seems like it is) and T-mode felt stronger. I switched to S-mode and wrung the throttle out. She took off flashing the traction control lights like a 4th of July celebration! S-mode definitely feels much stronger and I loved the 1:1 feel they gave the throttle. But it is a little jumpy when in S-mode and riding slow.

So begins my experiences tuning my S10 and making the bike drive the way I want it. And if I don't like it...then I'll play some more!

::26:: As I ride it some this week and start making changes I'll post what I find out. The install was easy. Probably an hour to do the harness, taking your time. Hopefully anyone else figures the dust cap out! ::025:: I am a blond, but usually I look things over better than that! ::010:: If you order the kit, you won't get install instructions. You'll have to register the USB cable on FlashTune's website and create an account. After you connect the USB cable to the laptop/computer it will unlock the license for you to tune. You will be able to print the harness pinout instructions that I used, and they will remain unlocked for you to view in your account anytime. When you do your first flash, the USB cable will be married to the bike's ECU and you won't be able to flash another ECU except the one the cable is married to, UNLESS you buy a new license. You can buy as many as you want. $100 per bike or $250 for 3 is what I saw on the Flash Tune site. Hope to see more people post their experiences. We can make the Super Tenere the bike that is made the way you want it! I love tinkering with my bike. That's why I'm doing it all on my own, otherwise I would have someone else flash it for me. But where is the fun in that!

 

[Mus1969stang]

I still have a slight surge with the arrow headers at 2000-2500 rpm, with very light throttle applied. Easily drivable compared to before, but something I bet fattening that area of the MAP vs RPM fuel map will cure. I have to wait until my next day off to really see how much my fix will affect the surge. I'll post what I find. Other than that, I love the flash tune so far. both modes are much better than the original yami tunes had them.

 

[snakebitten]

Don't be discouraged by any lack of responses Mustang.

I'm soaking it all up! And really appreciate the detailed teaching.
I might never actually do anything with it myself, but I am always fascinated by the "computer" side of the modern internal combustion engine.

Also note, I have had my 2012 since it arrived on our shores. And I have the Arrow headers and PCV and AT and flashed ecu................
I didn't DO any of it myself, of course. I simply followed the leaders (around here) a few years back and responded to whatever was "All the rage" at the time.

Anyways, I'm watching and learning.

 

[RicoChet]

Same here bud, I have actually done my own Tuning using TuneECU when I had my Triumph Rocket III So I am familiar with what you are posting, but what stops me from doing it myself is that the system is locked down to your one bike and im not really down with that.. for the price.. TuneECU was free to use and only needed a USB adapter to work with the triumph, not a $500 (CAD) cable

Keep the updates coming! Can you show us some screenshots showing the areas where you change the restrictions for 1-3 gears and the engine idle and fan temperature control?

 

[talonboy]

I bought the Flashtune stuff a few years ago, and when thru some of the same things you are doing now. I hated the software, and lack of documentation. I didn't like that every time I tried to use the software it needed Internet access, which I didn't have at home.

I made changes to the fly-by-wire tables, and got much better throttle response. I played with the decel tables, to reduce deceleration, and let the bike freewheel a little more. I added a couple degrees of timing, and found a little increase in power. I didn't play with fuel at all, as I also have a Power Commander on the bike.

I wanted to calibrate the speedo turn off the o2 sensors, and change traction control settings. I became increasingly frustrated waiting for new things to be added, that I think still haven't been added. I gave up on the company, and haven't used the software in a few years. A coworker recently got the software, and it looks much the same as I recall from a couple years ago.

 

[cavenger]

I am really interested in this! This is my first bike with an ECU that can be programmed. I have thought about sending it to Anthony but then I started to think about whether I could do it myself. Is it right to say you paid $400 plus for the kit?

I realize that others know how to do this and have intellectual knowledge that is valuable, but I am not scared of software at all as long as I have a good backup to turn to. I think the big advantage of doing it yourself is you can continue to customize it to your liking vs. what someone else may think is what you want.

Anyway, I am considering buying the kit, that is for sure. I appreciate you offering your insight and knowledge!

 

[Mus1969stang]

Snake, Rico, Talon, thank you for the support. I'm only in this for the community. and I've see you all post, so thank you! I hope everyone gets something out of this thread. I've never spent time to put to words what I've played with, so this is a challenge learning the "forum code". LOL, but thank you!

 

[Mus1969stang]

::025::
I just spent 30 minutes writing a reply that dropped! I tried to attach my arrow header gen 1 map. TOO LARGE! OH, well. ::010:: I guess email me if you want my initial attempt. about 6 tunes to get a good smooth arrow header tune. I need more time, but I'll give anyone who emails the copy I have.

Cavenger, Your response I typed was lost as well. Snake, Rico and the other responses, thank you for following my efforts. I want to help all us S10 owners in getting the ride we want. And AVC, thank you for all the initial footwork. I haven't heard from you, but that's expected.

The software is free and easy to use. As another posted, there is no real documentation, so it's on the user to know what they are doing. Honestly, if you've played with PCIII/PCV or other tuning software it's quite similar. hopefully we can get flashtune to update all the files with the same options. otherwise, you just have to be a little bit more "copy/Paste" between the ECU files to get the same outcome.

 

[Mus1969stang]

I'll see if I can post some pics of the software here in a bit.

Thanks again to all who reply and interact. Questions or Answers! Thanks!

 

[Mus1969stang]

Cavenger, I bought the kit for $380 at revzilla. Free shipping and you earn points towards the next purchase. Since I bought the arrow headers from them last year I only paid a total of $350 after my points were deducted.


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[Mus1969stang]

This is the neutral gear Ignition timing on the Super Tenere. Gen 1 and 2 are slightly different. I circled why the clutch jumper mod can be bad. When the CJM is in, this ignition map is used. It advances timing, but at 100% throttle you get way too far advanced timing.


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[Mus1969stang]

This is a gen 1 TPS vs RPM FUEL MAP after the PVC arrow header map is imported.

This is the gen 2 TPS vs RPM fuel map

This is the comparison of the two fuel maps




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