ECU 'flash' - a cuppla questions...

[wordsmith]

My understanding of the ECU 'flashing' process is that it's intended to smooth-out power delivery and make throttle openings less abrupt and 'snatchy'.   Early readings suggest this was quite a major issue on very early MT-09s and later Tracers, with improvements gradually introduced over time.   Is this correct and can more explanation be given, please?

Next question - is ECU 'flashing' available here in Oz?   If so, I'd like to explore it.   And - I guess - is it worthwhile in a practical functional sense, and does it work?

TIA all... 

[StealthAu]

There are benefits to be had. Yamaha have to comply with stringent emissions laws, where as tuners do not. 

While improvements have been made over the previous generation, it can be smoother out more so. The ride by wire throttle can be ironed out to improve control. 

To determine if you want a tune, ride and see if there are things you don't like. For me, the low-mid range where it is in closed loop, it doesn't bother me. It could be improved, but this alone wouldn't motivate me to do so, where as on other bikes it has been the main motivation. 

What I do want to change, is the throttle delay. Taking off from a stop in A mode it is noticeable, as well as when giving it a handful anywhere in the rev range.

 

A lot of people go with canned maps. This refers to generic tunes, mail the ecu in situation. 

I'd recommenced avoiding this where possible. You are better off taking your bike to a specialist and having them tune YOUR bike for YOU.

Woolich Racing have a great interface for tuning our bikes and they are down your end of QLD. Have a chat with them, they are very informative and will be able to point you in the right direction should it be seen as beneficial to you.  

[norcal616]

Woolich Racing is also has an office/shop in QLD last I checked about 3yrs ago when talking to them about ECU flashing for the FJ-09... also Extreme Creations just north of Sydney may be able to help you... maybe KevTx(?) Can help out... 

Mainly the ECU reflash removed the 114mph speed limiter, smoothed out the engine behavior, turned the decal injection back on( its OFF on OEM which gives the engine more engine braking feeling or touchy throttle to some ppl) lower fan temps to kick on earlier, set the default power mode selection you want, can disable closed loop fueling( aka eco mode) if software allows it, disable AIS(mainly it reduces the burble/popping with aftermarket exhaust).. you will lose a few MPG with the reflashed ECU as AFRs get a tad richer to smooth out the engine, the decel injection turned back on which will also reduce the engine braking/smooth out throttle...

A ECU reflash usually goes hand in hand with an aftermarket exhaust but it is still pretty beneficial if one is running stock exhaust... 

Also there is products such as PowerCommander which is a "piggy back" solution( its maps run best on an ECU that still has the OEM ign/fuel values) or FTech Active Tune...

My ECU was flashed via 2WDW using Woolich Software... I even also further smoothed out the throttle by adjusting the Acceleration Position Sensor( APS sensor) which seems to be set at a value of "17" to a value of "13" which I could do at home thanks to having an early year bike which allowed the owner to see/test/adjust the various sensors via the dashboard...

[BugsInTeeth]

get it done...you won't be sorry....

I had 2WDW do the ECU on my FZ-07, (absolutely best mod I did to that bike), and have traded that

bike for a 2019 Tracer 900....which is scattered all over the garage in pieces, because the ECU is up

at 2WDW getting flashed as we speak  LOL

... something else while I'm thinking of it....they do actually answer the phone, (usually. if too busy

leave them a message they will get bak to ya), Wordy, and are quite willing to explain things .... if you

could ring them up perhaps  ?

[Larz]

On 11/21/2019 at 4:33 AM, StealthAu said:

....A lot of people go with canned maps. This refers to generic tunes, mail the ecu in situation. 

I'd recommenced avoiding this where possible. You are better off taking your bike to a specialist and having them tune YOUR bike for YOU.....

 

What he said. If you are going to spend the coin, do it right the first time ( unless you are just not all that picky.eh)

[Threadbare]

The aforesaid is helpful, thanks all.  So does anyone know someone in Sydney who can flash a 2019 GT using Woolich?

I spoke to Ben at Creative and he doesn't use Woolich which is the only way with the 2019 models. He also explained that O2 sensor mods like Kev's don't work because the ECU remaps to compensate.

[CountP]

Wordsmith why don't you contact Kev in Brisbane he does flash tunes using Woolich software. He offers a overnight service where you can post your ecu to him. 

[Threadbare]

Guys, here's what transpired.  Kev politely declined as he also couldn't help with the 2019 model.  Searching this forum and others I found Mototune in Adelaide. Joel Sim said he often fixes messed up ECU flash tunes from others and as I had doubts about sending the ECU interstate, he made me a pretty amazing guarantee.  I'll be impressed, or it'll be free!

Fearful of relying on an interstate supplier should I need further suppport  I found a Sydney shop and explained that I'm not looking to race the bike, just want smoother throttle response and cruising without the sense it's miss-firing. They confirmed they use Woolich and could fix the 2019 Tracer GT so I left the bike with them for a day and paid $500.  The result - I couldn't notice much difference. If anything, it was worse. Over the next few days I got so fed up with it that I took the bike back in and they said all they could do was richen the mix a bit which should help.  It didn't.  So I called Joel at Mototune back and he wasn't at all surprised and re-committed his original offer.  So I stripped the bike and sent the ECU to him by Express Post. It arrived at the Post Office on 23rd December and by 6.48pm Joel texted that it was done and he'd send it the next day (Christmas Eve). Indeed, he messaged that as he was flat out, his wife had taken it to the Post Office for me!  It arrived on 29th (delayed due to Xmas) along with Joel's OBD tool on loan. I disconnected the O2 sensor, installed the ECU, put the bike back together and followed Joel's instructions to clear the ECU faults. Then went for a ride.  What a difference!  Much smoother, more consistent power through the rev range.  The top speed limit is still removed,  but I'll never test it and it wasn't part of my brief. I dropped Joel's OBD tool at the PO the next day before going for an extended ride.  If anyone has any doubts about flashing their ECU, let my experience convince you to go ahead and do it, but don't waste your money, use Joel!!  To cap off a great service, he charged me only 60% of his original quote (eventually 1/3rd what I paid for the first flash). Obviously I couldn't recommend Joel at Mototune more highly. 

Edited January 4, 2021 by Threadbare
Best not to name the other shop.