Nomad saddlebags

[pooker]

Hello, I am concerned about the saddlebags on my 2008 Nomad.
They have always looked warped, the one bag does leak!
If you stand directly over the bags and look down , the doors are about 1/8 of an inch at the center but almost a 1/4 of an inch at each end!!
I looked at the new Vaquero's bags and they are tight all the way around.
Are the doors on my bags warped?
Thanks
PS,............yeah, I know I need pics!!!

[ve3hzz]

I guess first and the only real issue is do they leak? Take everything out of them, run water (maybe medium spray) on them from a couple of angles. See if any water seepage into the bags. If not, I wouldn't worry about it. If YES, then they are likely warped. The only way I know to correct it (if you can?) would be to wrap them around 2 or 3 places with padded ratchet straps. You would need to keep it like that for a while to see if it will take up the gaps. It may help to put it out in the sun to warm up and then strap it down. Then take it out of the sun and let it cool to normal temps and leave it like that for a few days if you can?

I do remember reading somewhere? where that process was tried and seemed to work to stop a leak from a gap in the door.

Hope it helps? Good luck..keep us posted on how if it works or if you find another solution (again if it leaks, if not I'd just leave it, but that's me).

Scott

[chainsaw]

Under warranty take them back to the dealer and ask for a new set.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

You said one bag does leak. That isn't something that should happen. Mine have been through rain, washings and other stuff and never leaked. I am with Al, Chainsaw, if it is still covered under warranty take them back and show the tech and tell him that one bag does leak.

[ringadingh]

Ive had mine packed with more stuff in them than I should have, and they didn't leak.
I have one bag were the door has a nice even gap all around the door seal, the other has a slightly uneven gap but it still stays dry. Id take it back and ask to see what they will do about it.

[crapper]

i also have gaps that look uneven but they don't leak
door seems to have less of a gap right at the handle-lock
they never leaked so i never gave it much thought...........

[pooker]

i also have gaps that look uneven but they don't leak
door seems to have less of a gap right at the handle-lock
they never leaked so i never gave it much thought...........


Take a good look at the door on the new ones!!

[ponch]

From the factory, the bags may have washers between the bags and the mounting bosses that act as shims. I suppose it's possible that if the shims/washers were missing for whatever reason, the bags might be contorted a bit and the doors might not seal correctly. I would unbolt the bags and see if the gaps change at all while they are on the bike. My Nomad had shims on both sides, but not symmetrical or uniform.

[reaper]

My 2 cents, check the nuts and bolts at the hinge, loosen them a little shift the door and retighten and see if that helps.

[pooker]

Yes I do have washers between the bags and the mounts.
I am troubled by this washer thing,..........I don't believe that by putting washers on the mounting bolts will change the way the door fits the bag.
This is the first thing the dealer suggested.
The doors are tight at the handles and bow out from there. The washers don't help!

[ponch]

Yes I do have washers between the bags and the mounts.
I am troubled by this washer thing,..........I don't believe that by putting washers on the mounting bolts will change the way the door fits the bag.
This is the first thing the dealer suggested.
The doors are tight at the handles and bow out from there. The washers don't help!

If that is the case, as some of my friends would say, they're farkockte.

[pooker]

I hear "Warranty"!!!!
I will take the bike in as soon as the snow is gone, or can I just take in the bags?

[rewindgy]

Dealer replaced the right side bag lid after they drove a forklift thru it. It has leaked ever since that and they will do nothing about it! I guess trial and error with the washer thing may be in order?

[cnc]

The cargo strap trick that Scott mentions is worth trying at least on the one that is leaking. In order to get the shape you want you prop ably will have to over bend the door slightly, so I would put a small block of wood or shim maybe 1/8in in the latch area before strapping. Also use a soft towel under the cargo strap to prevent scuffing the finish as it tightens.

[pooker]

The cargo strap trick that Scott mentions is worth trying at least on the one that is leaking. In order to get the shape you want you prop ably will have to over bend the door slightly, so I would put a small block of wood or shim maybe 1/8in in the latch area before strapping. Also use a soft towel under the cargo strap to prevent scuffing the finish as it tightens.

The bags and doors are are plastic or glass.
My experience with this stuff is, yeah it bends, but like an elastic,.......it goes back to the shape it was.
I'm going to try for new doors, new bags or both.
I will keep in touch but I might not know until Spring,......it's winter here in Canada!!!!!!!

[rickyboy]

the memory is very high with stuff such as plastic, or ABS {what ever it is} Even warming them and strapping them won't IMO fix them. Chances are it's to do with the hindge adj. and I'd let the shop do it. I would take just the saddlebags to the dealer and say fix it. Argue over the cost later. Maybe split the cost. My saddle bags fit together like a glove. I have some chrome door edge molding around the lip of the door and it still fits and closes without an issue. Never leaked!!
Where in Canada are you "pooker"?
Good luck and keep us "posted".

[cnc]

The doors are more than likely ABS plastic. Good luck with the dealer, let us know how you make out.

[rickyboy]

I gather it's both the bags???

[vulcans2]

I hear "Warranty"!!!!
I will take the bike in as soon as the snow is gone, or can I just take in the bags?

I'd wait and take the whole bike in, just in case there's a problem with how they're mounted.

[rickyboy]

If it's the doors that are what isn't sitting or closing properly, I don't see how it would be about how the entire bag is mounted.

[cnc]

I hear "Warranty"!!!!
I will take the bike in as soon as the snow is gone, or can I just take in the bags?

I'd wait and take the whole bike in, just in case there's a problem with how they're mounted.

It still wouldn't hurt to start voicing your concern to the dealer now and get a paper trail going on your problem. I think you said 2008, so how much time do you have left on the 2 year warranty, or do you have an extended warranty?

[pooker]

the memory is very high with stuff such as plastic, or ABS {what ever it is} Even warming them and strapping them won't IMO fix them. Chances are it's to do with the hindge adj. and I'd let the shop do it. I would take just the saddlebags to the dealer and say fix it. Argue over the cost later. Maybe split the cost. My saddle bags fit together like a glove. I have some chrome door edge molding around the lip of the door and it still fits and closes without an issue. Never leaked!!
Where in Canada are you "pooker"?
Good luck and keep us "posted".


Tillsonburg,Ontario,Canada

[pooker]

I'd wait and take the whole bike in, just in case there's a problem with how they're mounted.

It still wouldn't hurt to start voicing your concern to the dealer now and get a paper trail going on your problem. I think you said 2008, so how much time do you have left on the 2 year warranty, or do you have an extended warranty?

Yes, I do have extended warranty, And like I said before, I cannot see how putting a washer between the bag and frame will alter the fit of the door!
Also, fiddling with the hinges,..........well maybe but I doubt if that will fix the problem. It might however fix it temporarily but not permanent!

[rickyboy]

It still wouldn't hurt to start voicing your concern to the dealer now and get a paper trail going on your problem. I think you said 2008, so how much time do you have left on the 2 year warranty, or do you have an extended warranty?

Yes, I do have extended warranty, And like I said before, I cannot see how putting a washer between the bag and frame will alter the fit of the door!
Also, fiddling with the hinges,..........well maybe but I doubt if that will fix the problem. It might however fix it temporarily but not permanent!

You know, you're right pooker. It's the doors .....that's it. Tell him you want new doors. I wonder if the inside piece is the problem, and pulling the doors out of shape. At any rate I'd be getting the dealer to at least meet you half way. But if you have ext. warranty they should be covering you. If the dealer won't help you then Kawasaki Canada should.

[ringadingh]

The washers should shim the door to fit tighter or looser, its something you have to play with until you hopefully get right and no more leaks.
Although since you have warranty Id try to get the bag replaced by the deale as a first choice.

[pooker]

The washers should shim the door to fit tighter or looser, its something you have to play with until you hopefully get right and no more leaks.
Although since you have warranty Id try to get the bag replaced by the deale as a first choice.

Please explain this to me how putting washers between the bag and frame will change the fit of the door.
Thanks

[ponch]

The washers should shim the door to fit tighter or looser, its something you have to play with until you hopefully get right and no more leaks.
Although since you have warranty Id try to get the bag replaced by the deale as a first choice.

Please explain this to me how putting washers between the bag and frame will change the fit of the door.
Thanks

Think in terms of three dimensions. It's not a question of having an equal number of washers...The bag is probably racked for whatever reason and washers can correct this. The bottom is anchored and the mount points on the side can be adjusted which "twists" the bag.

[vulcans2]

If it's the doors that are what isn't sitting or closing properly, I don't see how it would be about how the entire bag is mounted.

You know dealers--they could want the entire bike brought in before they decide to look at it. Could be a mounting hole is off on the bag, somehow, or maybe the mounting point. Or it could be the plastic is just warped somehow. Dealers can be funny to deal with sometimes. Just a thought.

I know that with the GL1800 Gold Wings, the trunk lid fitment was an issue, and there were all kinds of ways to deal with the tendency of the trunk lid to chafe against the upper lip of the trunk box, causing the paint to rub off. Honda would look at it, but never came up with a fix for it..

[mdgeorge]

Perhaps there is a way you can get the bike to them now. They will want to keep the bike for some time to argue with Kawa about the warrenty covering. Then they have to order the part. While you can't ride, it could be getting fixed.
Bringing in just the door doesn't allow for the possibility that it is the bag that is messed up.
If it is covered, I would get forcefull about it being their problem.
They might try to say you had an accident or something, so be prepared.
I have found that Kawa is really good about fixing things under warrenty. You can go directly to Kawa if the dealer doesn't satisfy you.
Good luck.

[cnc]

Please explain this to me how putting washers between the bag and frame will change the fit of the door.
Thanks

Think in terms of three dimensions. It's not a question of having an equal number of washers...The bag is probably racked for whatever reason and washers can correct this. The bottom is anchored and the mount points on the side can be adjusted which "twists" the bag.

You make a good point, and this could be the case if the gap was greater at say the front compared to the rear of the door or visa versa. Something to try and if it was the case just loosening the bolts should show a change in the gap. Pooker did say that the gap was greater at both the front and rear than at the latch, so it is probably not going to have much effect.
Having said all that, I bet you would be hard pressed to find a Nomad that had a perfectly aligned gap front to back. I know mine are not and have been forced out from time to time from over enthusiastic packing of stuff in them. They do not leak one bit however and that part of the issue would be unacceptable to me.

[ringadingh]

[Please explain this to me how putting washers between the bag and frame will change the fit of the door.Thanks

Ponch explained it pretty good, you may be able to fix it with one washer, and it may take three under a hinge. Or you may have to shim two bolts. This is the way a lot od doors on various things are shimmed and fitted. There is also a possibility that no amount of shimming will fix it.
How is the weather strip on the door? is it split, seperated, or glued on crooked.

[pooker]

Think in terms of three dimensions. It's not a question of having an equal number of washers...The bag is probably racked for whatever reason and washers can correct this. The bottom is anchored and the mount points on the side can be adjusted which "twists" the bag.

You make a good point, and this could be the case if the gap was greater at say the front compared to the rear of the door or visa versa. Something to try and if it was the case just loosening the bolts should show a change in the gap. Pooker did say that the gap was greater at both the front and rear than at the latch, so it is probably not going to have much effect.
Having said all that, I bet you would be hard pressed to find a Nomad that had a perfectly aligned gap front to back. I know mine are not and have been forced out from time to time from over enthusiastic packing of stuff in them. They do not leak one bit however and that part of the issue would be unacceptable to me.

If you want to see perfect bags and doors,......look at the new "Vaquero". The doors fit so perfect, you would be lucky if a nickle would fit in anywhere!!!

[cnc]

If you want to see perfect bags and doors,......look at the new "Vaquero". The doors fit so perfect, you would be lucky if a nickle would fit in anywhere!!!

I guess there's the ticket then, make sure your dealer has a new Vaquero on the floor to compare with when you go see him.