Fitch Fuel Catalyst

The company claims a long list of advantages for using their product. Some of these claims are as follows:

• Quicker throttle response
• Increased fuel mileage
• Keeps fuel fresh during storage
• Reduces or eliminates engine knock or pinging
• Helps pass emissions tests
• Keeps injectors, carbs, and plugs clean
• Easier starting.

The one claim that most potential customers seem to zoom in on is the promise for an increase in power. After all, what can be easier than dropping a couple of pellets in the gas tank and magically improve performance? I've read several test reports in national magazines all confirming a gain of one or two rear wheel horsepower on the Dyno, not too mention a noticeable improvement in fuel economy. I also noticed that the long term follow-up promised by some of these writers never materialized, at least not as of this writing.

After this initial positive reaction by the press, came the flood of detractors all claiming this product to be nothing more than the proverbial snake oil. After extensive Dyno testing they said, the minute differences on the plotted charts could be attributed to any of the many variables possible during testing, and no real performance gain could be clearly identified.

Aside from the magazines, I also happened to catch a hot rodder's show one Saturday morning on the tube that did some fuel catalyst testing of their own. What caught my attention in particular were their emission tests, and the very noticeable improvements that they had found using the Fitch product. I guess their results finally convinced me to give Fitch a try.

My bike at the time was a 1989 FLHTC equipped with a Quicksilver II pumper carburetor, SuperTrapp slip-on mufflers, Crane cam, and S.E. high compression forged pistons. Until the point when I had installed the forged pistons, the bike had run reasonably well. I did have one problem with the carburetion though. At very low steady speeds, I experienced a reversion which would saturate the air filter with fuel causing the 91 octane to drip on to the cases.

After the re-build, the bike ran rougher, and the engine became much more difficult to start, especially when hot. Although the bike shop managed to tame most of the tuning gremlins, the cure for the starting problem remained elusive. I also began to experience pinging under hard acceleration.

So I purchased the Fitch Fuel Catalyst based on the reviews that had been written, and the company's claim for eliminating pinging. It wasn't cheap, but compared to what Harley charged for its chrome gewgaws, it was still affordable. I dropped them in the tank and waited for them to do their thing and align hydrocarbon molecule structures into greater efficiency (or something to that effect). Then I went for a ride.

It didn't take me long to confirm that the pinging had not gone away. In fact, as I rode I could discern absolutely no difference in the performance of the motor at all. How disappointing I had thought to myself. Then I discovered something totally unexpected.

I had stopped at a store for a minute and after making my purchase, returned to my bike and braced myself for the now usual ordeal of restarting it. I pressed the starter button and was instantaneously rewarded with the V-twin's trademark rumble. Although somewhat surprised by how painless that had been, I didn't give it any further thought. That is until I repeated the same ritual a half dozen more times later that day. Each time, the engine roared to life, my finger barely resting on the button for a microsecond. The bike had never started that quickly before.

Over the following months I encountered numerous mechanical problems, but starting was no longer one of them. I did notice that if the bike sat for any extended period of at least a few days, the first start would require a bit of cranking. After that, it became a dream once more. I speculated that the Fitch treated fuel lost its "alignment" during that period of time if separated from the pellets (e.g. the fuel in the carburetor's float bowl.)