New EMP tech opens door to wider tractor remaps

New specialist EMP technology allows highly encrypted ECUs to be remapped where previously they were off-limits to third party improvements.

The Avon Tuning HD team will be at LAMMA 2027 to show why this is great news for operators.

A greater number of tractors can now be remapped through Avon Tuning HD (ATHD)’s global agent network thanks to two new Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP) devices that unlock modern ECUs with high levels of manufacturer encryption.

This breakthrough upgrade is excellent news for operators looking to increase efficiencies of tractors.

The professional EMP devices have been developed and tested to solve the encryption issue by emitting a non-intrusive pulse to unlock the ECU, allowing agents access to the machine and engine settings to provide efficiency improvements in the same way as before.

The new EMP device has allowed ATHD engineers to access relevant machine and engine settings on models with previously locked ECUs © Avon Tuning HD

High levels of encryption on modern ECUs have hampered remapping procedures for around four years on several mainline brands, with greater levels of protection added from the factory to stop invalid warranty claims and unauthorised access.

The main tractors affected by this block have been those from the AGCO and Deutz stables, thus preventing ATHD from accessing the ECU in the standard way, rendering many modern tractors unmappable.

Gareth Jones, director at ATHD, explains why the breakthrough is significant.

“This is great news for operators requiring our remapping service as the new EMP development increases the range of tractors we can safely and professionally apply our remaps to and maintains our fitting time on farm to under two hours on average. We have two devices for flexibility to solve all types of encryption.

“While it’s a different way of accessing the ECU, the process of remapping-at-source is identical, and our efficiency improvements, control of engine parameters, and reliability records show that users trust our professional techniques over other ‘tuning’ options on the market.

“It comes at a great time as there is still significant demand from the industry to maximise efficiencies from existing equipment for greater output and potential fuel savings.” 

Gareth Jones and the ATHD network have been remapping agricultural machinery for over 10 years and says the reliability and efficiency gains reported by customers following remapping is very pleasing © Avon Tuning HD

Boost unlocking

The EMP devices open a wider range of benefits to users requiring power and performance upgrades, applied professionally by a team of experienced agents across the country.

A popular option is boost unlock, allowing the tractor’s full power to be available all the time and not just when the boost parameters are met.

It is well-known that tractors leave the factory conservatively set to maintain performance in a wide variety of environments.

However, it can be a limiting factor for users working on specific jobs and Gareth says the ATHD engineers found the problem to be deeper than simply fitting a stage 1 power boost.

“Some owners were experiencing reduced performance on demanding tasks such as mowing. They assumed the machines were just flat from the factory, but, on certain jobs, the ECU limited the amount of power supplied by the engine.

“The main problem being tractor models are standard with a max power of 180hp and boosted to 200hp – leading to two different power bands.

“However, we discovered the ECU had a third power band that reduced output to below 140hp, making the tractor feel sluggish and underpowered. It was great for yard work and helped save fuel, but there were issues when operating at low speeds.”

Gareth continued: “The more research into the power issues we did, the more apparent it became that this lower third curve was the limiting factor and the type of work automatically dictated how much power was available.

“On PTO work at slow speeds, the tractor would routinely choose the lower power band, severely limiting output when it was required most.”

Once the team had found this to be the case, they could advise farmers that adding top-end horsepower wasn’t the solution.

Editing the way the tractor delivered the standard power, by preventing it from choosing the lower power curve when working at low forward speeds, was key to improving performance.

A wider range of tractors can now be remapped to improve efficiency, including adding boost unlock upgrades to allow full power across all tasks © Avon Tuning HD

Gareth says this knowledge has allowed the wider agent network to benefit and help several farmers by quickly diagnosing the issue and applying the correct ECU map to allow power to be delivered in the right areas.

“Increasing top-end power to try and solve this problem would make little to no difference.  Instead, we’ve changed the engine parameters to allow boosted power to be available on key tasks such as mowing.

“This knowledge and detailed understanding are reasons why being part of a larger network of agents is invaluable, and choosing experts who understand engines and how power is delivered is essential to achieve the right outcome,” adds Gareth.

To find your closest Authorised Avon Tuning HD Agent visit the Agent Locator map.