I am going to install a banks six gun with speed loader this weekend and have read about the transmission relearning period. How many miles does this take? Any comments would be appreciated. Also if there is a safeguard in the six gun with the thermocouple for the speed loader and it cutting back fuel when the EGT get too high, is there a real need for gauges? One more??, can the thermocouple that is tapped into the exhaust manifold for the speed loader be used for a pyrometer too?

It's not about miles with Allison learning, it's about the number of shifts. Cruising down the highway will not allow it to learn a thing. City driving is probably best, but go easy to avoid damage.

I would still say you need gauges, but that's just my opinion.

You will need a special switch which doesn't alter the voltage/resistance of the calibrated thermocouple if you want to run two leads from one thermocouple. Some guys do it without a switch, but they usually have varied success.

I think an ideal setup would be a thermocouple in each exhaust manifold. That might be more work than you want to go to.

In my opinion, I would rather monitor my own EGTs than have a computer decide what is safe for my engine.

It's not about miles with Allison learning, it's about the number of shifts. Cruising down the highway will not allow it to learn a thing. City driving is probably best, but go easy to avoid damage.
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My Banks rep told me that in setting 1-5 would be fine w/ out guages if you have the speed loader. But take that at your own risk. Their PDA w/ guages should be available in mid July, per Banks. It will be their version of the Attitude w/ all the same functions.

Try this, its from the predaror FAQ, and I hve done this on three different trucks and it works really well.

Predator: 2004 Chevy Duramax Diesel/Trans - I just purchased a Diablo Predator for my 2004 Chevy Duramax Diesel. Of the 4 pre-set settings, 45, 60, 85, & 125 HP's, all of the ranges slip gears on my transmission, with the 85 and 125 un-drivable (or at least I won't do it). The 45 and 60 slip at first, but after a few runs through the gears, it settles down and they are useful tools. Do I need to return this to you for re-programming? Where do we go from here?
The Predator for Duramax truck has no transmission function in it at all. No manufacturers can communicate directly with the Allison transmission. It is a self-learning system, the trick is to drive it, and it will adjust to the power level your using in time. The more you change around the power level the longer you drag it out, the higher power levels will adapt for the lower ones, and the harder you drive it the faster it will adapt.
Now there is also kind of a trick you can play on the system that helps speed up the process. Take the truck out on an open piece of road, allow it to shift all the way up to high gear at cruise, then release the throttle and shift the truck down into low gear, not to worry it will not jerk down into low gear, foot off the throttle allow the vehicle to shift down through the gear progression until your riding along in low, apply brake, put the truck in Park, and do it again.
After two or three times, generally, you will see improvements right away, Allison has learned.
Or just keep driving and it will improve on its own, just know your going to have to wait it out.
Again this is the case for every manufacturer adding horsepower to the GM Duramax trucks.

Thanks,
Nick Spinelli
DiabloSport Sales Manager

Seems as though, the "Predator" method was dispelled by Mike L. a little while back. Maybe he will chime in to confirm this.

Seems as though, the "Predator" method was dispelled by Mike L. a little while back. Maybe he will chime in to confirm this.
Thats what a few people keep saying, but I have tried this several times and it work pretty good. Does not hurt to try, its all computer controlled when you shift down to 1st. It won't shift into any gear until the truck has slowed to the proper speed for that gear.