Anyone install one of the Crane Cams Hi 4 Programmable ignition modules? Like this one (http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp?skuId=H20034&store=Main&productId=pH20034&catId=&leafCatId=)

If so, how bad was the install and setup? Im looking at doing the ignition first, then doing intake/breather and pipes. Probably doing a new cam next summer too, I think this would be a nice upgrade to have to support the work I want to do, and still keep it easy to start and running great. Any comments? Thanks!

Anyone install one of the Crane Cams Hi 4 Programmable ignition modules? Like this one (http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp?skuId=H20034&store=Main&productId=pH20034&catId=&leafCatId=)

If so, how bad was the install and setup? Im looking at doing the ignition first, then doing intake/breather and pipes. Probably doing a new cam next summer too, I think this would be a nice upgrade to have to support the work I want to do, and still keep it easy to start and running great. Any comments? Thanks!

On a stage 1 sporty it would be a waste of money, the stock
ignition would run just fine. The average street ridden sporty
ridden back and fourth to work wouldn't benefit from this
upgrade. But hey it's your money!!!
Once you get to stage 2 and stage 3 it would be a good
investment. Complete stage 1 first than once you decide
on your choice of cams then i would go ahead and look
into the programmable ignition. :yikes

I agree. Do the intake and exhaust first. Without them you won't feel a dime's worth of difference. Also, are you aware that the improvement involves using the Single-Fire setting, which necessitates the purchase of a new coil or coils? When all is done you'll be in for $500.
Use this order..1ST-S/E air cleaner
2nd-pipes or mufflers (free flow)
3rd-cam
4th-ign.
I'm using the Dyna 2000 Single Fire Ign. with 2 separate full size Dyna coils, but they do make Single Fire Coils in a one piece pack so you can mount it under the tank where the stock coil is.

OK

I'm gonna rock the boat here and say that from a tuners point of view I would recomend buying an ignition like the Crane programabe as early as yu can in your performance upgrade list.

While you may not see any benefits on the dyno it will allow you to fine tune the ignition for the set up you have (even tho it is basicly stock) and continue to keep the vehicle in the optimum state of tune thru all your future performace increases.

The sweeter it runs , the sweeter the ride

While you could certainly gain more HP per $$$$ at this stage with some other mods, if ya have the $$$$ and wish to buy it and play with it then I think it's a good idea.
Then you are familiar with it before ya go to the next stages..

While you may not see any benefits on the dyno it will allow you to fine tune the ignition for the set up you have (even tho it is basicly stock) and continue to keep the vehicle in the optimum state of tune thru all your future performace increases.

Basically still a waste of money until you start getting into
cams, head work, bumping up compression , and maybe running
a 42mm carb. All of these would be considered stage 2 and up.
But hey it's still your money. :yikes

ok xllent01 let me throw you a curve ball here ...

is it a worth while upgrade for my bike ? its basicaly at stage 1

ok xllent01 let me throw you a curve ball here ...

is it a worth while upgrade for my bike ? its basicaly at stage 1

Sure it's better than the old points system or the magneto
setup on the knee busters. :yikes

good answers guys- thanks for the help, anyone ever installed one of these animals though? No way I am taking it to a stealer for anything...

I can see it from both angles, but I would concede that I would not notice any "seat of the pants" improvement by upgrading at stage 1.

I still like the idea of having a finely tuned machine at any point in the upgrade process, and being a computer geek for a living, I can totally dig the idea that I can hook up my laptop to my scoot! :D

Not sure which way to play it, we'll see how the xmas bonus pans out and decide from there.

G'day mainstreet


The programmable side is useful if ya know what ya doin.....

I've done a few of these and the Twin Cam ones and you'll have no probs playin with it..

Do some readin up first tho as just because you can use the software doesn't mean ya know what the bike wants.

Tuning is part science, part experiance and part black art...with a dash of luck thrown in.

I re-itterate what I said before ... I doubt you'll see any power increase BUT you should be able to get your bike runnin sweet and any experiance gained is helpfull for when ya start goin to larger cams and headwork....

If you are more the computer geek than the mechanic it'll give you somethin you can tinker with and see improvements or otherwise , and provided everything is recorded it's time not wasted..

One other thing of note...The Ign. is a direct plug in, very easy. I used curve 2, the 2nd most agressive. I had to retard the timing about 6* because of pinging. Even so, the motor ran a lot snappier. I lost a little on my total advance, but the curve came in a lot earlier.

Stage 1 is high flow AC, pipes or slip ons (less restrictive
over factory) and rejet included.
#1 will i gain H-P over factory settings YES I WILL
More air in and more air out will give you more H-P.
Simple known fact that the factory AC and pipes are
built to restrictive. Thats why all or most people
choose to put on freeier flowing AC and pipes.

Will i gain alot of H-P with stage 1, maybe,maybe not.
You will see a gain over factory settings. Somewhere
between 5-15 H-P depending on your setup. Different
AC and pipe combos will give you different results.

All in all it's your bike, set it up the way you think it
will run the best. This forum has alot of good facts
here to help make your sporty run and look it's
best. :yikes

Stage 1 was good for about 10 rwhp on my bike.

Although I did not dyno the bike when it was bone stock, the stock dyno graph in the Harley-Davidson SE catalog shows a stock 04 XL1200 dynos at 59 rwhp @ 5,600 / 68 ft. lb @ 3,600

My Stage 1 bike dyno'd 69 rwhp @ 5,800 / 74 ft. lb @ 4,200 (numbers rounded)

That's a 10 rwhp and 6 ft. lb torque increase

I have now installed a set of SE cams, so I will get another dyno chart next week.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/Turbota/Stage1DynoChartb.jpg

thanks for posting the dyno slip Turbota, real world numbers speak better than words sometimes.

thanks for the clarification on stage 1 xllent01- Im still a little bit on the fence about the ignition, but stage 1 is forthcoming in the next 2-3 weeks I think! :D

the tuner/mechanic in me loves keeping all of my toys running in A-1 fashion, afterall, I do have a supermod snowblower and a propane powered potato cannon; and thats why I may just go ahead and get the ignition. I may not see any increase in HP with the ignition in stage 1, but it will be in there just ready and waiting for stage 2 and beyond!

hope everyone had a great holiday this past weekend!