I have a 2014 pro 800 and was wondering what everyone is using for fuel controllers? I am going between power commander and boondocker. Which one is more user friendly and can be messed with easier on the go. I know the power commander you have to use the laptop to change settings but have never messed with the boondocker. Any suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!
Need your opinions!! Fuel controllers
- Thread starter ski-dookid
- Start date
I used the powercommander for 2 seasons on my turbo and hated it the entire time. Sure you can do a TON of stuff with it, but wow its a pain carrying a laptop around.... Maybe if you have a setup that only needs to be tuned once its fine but other then that id never touch that tuner again. Its also more complicated to tune.
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x2. Unless you have an aftermarket pipe or turbo or something, you don't need a fuel controller.
I was looking at putting the rktek head and piston combo in the sled. I don't what other mods I could do besides clutching to get a little extra out of the sled without paying 3500-4000 for a turbo.
Ok i should go more in depth with my original comment. The PCV is a great controller, there is so much stuff you can actually do with it and such a large range of adjustability so much that the average user wont know what to do with it, it really is a good controller as far as things it can do is..... That being said.
1. Carrying a laptop around is a pain! I got the Pod 300 and it didnt help to much... Sure you can touch up a few things but you cant do a true in depth tune from it. I however have not tried the phone app mentioned above but im willing to bet its similar to the Pod 300, meaning that it cant do a full range in depth tune like you can off of the computer.
2. Its more complicated to use then any other controller ive personally seen. There is so many RPM ranges and throttle positions along with many other settings it can be kinda overwhelming for the average guy to use.
3. This very likely was just the setup I was running on my sled with the turbo and any other supporting mods but this is what I noticed, it didnt hold a very consistent tune, it was largely effected by slight temp changes and things like that when other turbo guys ive seen could run day in and day out on the same setup with maybe only a tiny change to their map where id have to change a lot! Once again it very likely could of just been the setup I was running but this is what I found in my personal experience.
Once again I should add that yes the box is a good box to use if you can get a map going that doesnt need to be touched ever again it would be a good box, IMO. Maybe a setup like what you mentioned just some RKT pistons head whatever would be just fine with this controller since that isnt a mod that would require much of a tune.... Once again just my personal experience, take it as you will, I know lots of people have likely had great luck with these boxes all I know is I wont be buying another.
I should also add I am by no means a "great" tuner, I like to say I figured out the box decently and tuning in general decently, maybe I just never figured out how to use to box properly, who knows (its out of my life now so we'll never find out). I have had the sled runnings great on some days so it can by all means be done by even the average joe with a bit of experience.
1. Carrying a laptop around is a pain! I got the Pod 300 and it didnt help to much... Sure you can touch up a few things but you cant do a true in depth tune from it. I however have not tried the phone app mentioned above but im willing to bet its similar to the Pod 300, meaning that it cant do a full range in depth tune like you can off of the computer.
2. Its more complicated to use then any other controller ive personally seen. There is so many RPM ranges and throttle positions along with many other settings it can be kinda overwhelming for the average guy to use.
3. This very likely was just the setup I was running on my sled with the turbo and any other supporting mods but this is what I noticed, it didnt hold a very consistent tune, it was largely effected by slight temp changes and things like that when other turbo guys ive seen could run day in and day out on the same setup with maybe only a tiny change to their map where id have to change a lot! Once again it very likely could of just been the setup I was running but this is what I found in my personal experience.
Once again I should add that yes the box is a good box to use if you can get a map going that doesnt need to be touched ever again it would be a good box, IMO. Maybe a setup like what you mentioned just some RKT pistons head whatever would be just fine with this controller since that isnt a mod that would require much of a tune.... Once again just my personal experience, take it as you will, I know lots of people have likely had great luck with these boxes all I know is I wont be buying another.
I should also add I am by no means a "great" tuner, I like to say I figured out the box decently and tuning in general decently, maybe I just never figured out how to use to box properly, who knows (its out of my life now so we'll never find out). I have had the sled runnings great on some days so it can by all means be done by even the average joe with a bit of experience.
Boondocker is very easy to use. And you don't need a laptop. But carry the 9 volt battery and jumper. I flooded mine once and had a heck of a time getting it started again at elevation.
Thanks for the advise guys. With the boondocker you can change settings right there on the box right? Or am I mistaken by something else? It sure would be nice to have them side by side to really compare and mess with them.
Yes you can on the boondocker
Perfect. I really appreciate all the info!! Thank you
G
geo
Well-known member
I look at the Boony Box as a tool more than a controller. As with any tool, understanding it, how you use it and your understanding of what you are trying to do will bring out it's benefits,,, or not.
That's a lot of knowledge ahead of the installation. IMO that's why PCV's came out. Hard to make "unknowlegable" changes in the field and sometimes that is best. With the boony box right there in front of you,,,, it's real easy to punch in a few changes. Sometimes good, sometimes bad just like carbs in the old days, but way quicker.
If you decide you have the knowledge and get a Boony box, IMO you should get the button too and learn to use it right from the start.
Beside being able to work in different resolutions of rpm (helps at the beginning making broader changes to fuel IMO) as mentioned you can switch maps on the fly.
This feature can be used to tune finer details like accelerator pump settings ( pretty important if you are modding a port injected 2 stroke), top end, mid range, idle,,,,.
You can "capture the moment" So no quessing on rpm or throttle position if your getting to the nitty gritty part.
You can even set it up to add or subtract a specific % of fuel or duty cycle on the injector at any point with just a press of the button. Real handy part of the tool.
There are "controllers" for everything out there today. I just think of the Boony Box as a tool with the side benefit of being a controller.
That's a lot of knowledge ahead of the installation. IMO that's why PCV's came out. Hard to make "unknowlegable" changes in the field and sometimes that is best. With the boony box right there in front of you,,,, it's real easy to punch in a few changes. Sometimes good, sometimes bad just like carbs in the old days, but way quicker.
If you decide you have the knowledge and get a Boony box, IMO you should get the button too and learn to use it right from the start.
Beside being able to work in different resolutions of rpm (helps at the beginning making broader changes to fuel IMO) as mentioned you can switch maps on the fly.
This feature can be used to tune finer details like accelerator pump settings ( pretty important if you are modding a port injected 2 stroke), top end, mid range, idle,,,,.
You can "capture the moment" So no quessing on rpm or throttle position if your getting to the nitty gritty part.
You can even set it up to add or subtract a specific % of fuel or duty cycle on the injector at any point with just a press of the button. Real handy part of the tool.
There are "controllers" for everything out there today. I just think of the Boony Box as a tool with the side benefit of being a controller.
look at Dobecks Gen 4 it comes with a a/f gauge and can be adjusted on the hill plus it runs a closed loop system http://www.dobeckperformance.com/dobeck-AFR-controller.aspt
This will be my third year with it and still liking it.
This will be my third year with it and still liking it.
