Plus one for TwinMax carb balancer

I thought that the steppers just take care of tickover revs (and closed throttle deceleration performance)? The ecu has no way of measuring intake vacuum so can't compensate and adjust balance - the steppers just tweak themselves up and down together (the same amount each side) to maintain idle?

What I don't know is the mechanism for adjusting the idle balance - i.e. is it on the cables or are there adjustable stops (as far as I know it isn't with air screws like on the 11xx's)...
 
Mine isn't perfectly even at idle but with the (very) limited use since setting the balance with TwinMax it does seem to more smoothly settle from just above idle to stepper controlled idle.
Before it sometimes felt close to stalling before the steppers took over.
I found it a doddle to use though any differential vacuum gauge would do the job.
 
The way I do it is to get the engine to normal operating temp then use the GS911 to park the idle stepper motors. I then check idle balance and increase to 4000 rpm watching the Harmonizer display. The 'sweet spot' for balance is quite small in a sea of adjustment so it's tweak, check, tweak, check, lock off. Keep an eye on engine temp as it gets hot quite fast, you may need to stop and cool down if you can't find the spot quickly enough. I have a thin walled 10mm spanner just for throttle cable adjustment.

Last step is to reset idle steppers with GS911 so they park and relearn their base opening set points from fully closed.

As I work in a secure place with private roads I take a check test ride with the Harmonizer in the tank bag map pocket as a final test.
 
Pukmeister said:
The way I do it is to get the engine to normal operating temp then use the GS911 to park the idle stepper motors. I then check idle balance and increase to 4000 rpm watching the Harmonizer display. The 'sweet spot' for balance is quite small in a sea of adjustment so it's tweak, check, tweak, check, lock off. Keep an eye on engine temp as it gets hot quite fast, you may need to stop and cool down if you can't find the spot quickly enough. I have a thin walled 10mm spanner just for throttle cable adjustment.

Last step is to reset idle steppers with GS911 so they park and relearn their base opening set points from fully closed.

As I work in a secure place with private roads I take a check test ride with the Harmonizer in the tank bag map pocket as a final test.
Click to expand...

Thanks.
Although I've got a harmonizer, it looks like the only way to do it properly is with a GS911 also. Resetting the steppers after the operation makes good sense, as would resetting fuelling adaptations so that it re-computes idle fuelling from scratch. Just can't quite convince myself to stump up the £300 for a GS911 (especially on a 5500 mile bike still under the approved used warranty). However, as the bike checks out fine on the dealers diagnostics 'no codes present' (or it did 1000 miles ago), I'd have to pay to get them to do the job.

It'd be nice to have it 'just right' for my Alps / Corsica trip in September - decisions, decisions...
 
Certainly the GS-911 is the ideal but for those of us who cannot justify the cost, just switch off the engine and unplug the steppers.
Restart the engine and the balance can then be checked with gauge/gauges, TwinMax or Harmoniser.
The listening method that works for me on twin SUs and Japanese bikes is not practical on the hexhead.
The engine is awkward to start without the idle stepper motors so you'll need to "catch it" on the throttle., but it's no big deal.
I have not ridden my bike with the balancing device connected but I see no reason why not. Safety disclaimers excepted of course.
 
Well I've just bought myself a second hand Bluetooth GS911 - time to learn about throttle body balancing 1200 style ;)
 
MattW said:
Well I've just bought myself a second hand Bluetooth GS911 - time to learn about throttle body balancing 1200 style ;)
Click to expand...

Well done they are good kit (so I hear), but you'll still need a throttle balancing device of your choice. :)
 
Are these harmonisers available to buy, does someone have a price or a link?
 
DGB said:
Are these harmonisers available to buy, does someone have a price or a link?
Click to expand...

Keep checking here:
http://advrider.com/index.php?threa...ulti-tool-it-aint-your-daddys-twinmax.701625/
Currently out of stock but the PayPal link will appear when he's manufactured some more.

He stopped making them for years (just when I really needed one for my 1100) and they were like hens teeth second hand - everyone who had one was keeping hold of it. He restarted production a few months ago and I finally managed to get hold of one.
 
Those cheap vacuum gauges are woefull.
High quality, calibrated ones are ok but those cheap Chinese ones are worse than useless.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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