Problem with 1500 (carbed)

[jendesigner]

Not sure where to post this (please move if in wrong forum).
Last night went for a ride, stopped for a few minutes then restarted my bike and I heard a "pop" and then smelled smoke, not a lot about enough to get my attention. Got off bike and checked headlight and light bar, they were fine. All the lights and speedo where fine. Rode bike home, everything seemed fine. The fan came on like usual. OK, where do I start to check out what went wrong, I assume looking at the fuses is the first place. Can't imagine something frying and the fuse not being blown, I'm I correct? I hate electrical problems, anyone have a clue of what to look for?

Thanks, Jen

[cnc]

Not sure where to post this (please move if in wrong forum).
Last night went for a ride, stopped for a few minutes then restarted my bike and I heard a "pop" and then smelled smoke, not a lot about enough to get my attention. Got off bike and checked headlight and light bar, they were fine. All the lights and speedo where fine. Rode bike home, everything seemed fine. The fan came on like usual. OK, where do I start to check out what went wrong, I assume looking at the fuses is the first place. Can't imagine something frying and the fuse not being blown, I'm I correct? I hate electrical problems, anyone have a clue of what to look for?

Thanks, Jen

That's a tough one. I'm presuming it smelt like some thing electrical burning. If no blown fuses and all electrics work then it it is most likely not a short to ground but maybe a loose connection arcing and heating up. Very first I would be looking at the battery connections, cleaning and tightening them as well as looking for any tell tail trace of arcing at harness connections and any where the wiring harness touches metal. There are known spots on the Nomad where the harness has worn thin touching metal I'm sure others will chime in on that also.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Norm pretty much covered it. Do make sure the connections to the battery are good and no corrosion. Then look carefully at all your wiring. There are a lot of wires under the seat. Make sure all the lights and gauges are still working. If everything is still working it was probably a short in one of the wires. There will be a tell tale sign if a wire has a bare spot.

[jendesigner]

Thanks guys. I will be checking everything out tonight. A few weeks ago I did notice that there was tape wrapped around some of the wires on the harness that is on the clutch side that looked like they were rubbing on the frame. I re-wrapped with new tape but I wonder if it got pinched somehow last night. I will check battery cables and look for any bare wires also.

[rolfe]

If you could remember a couple things. 1. where the sound came from. 2. where the puff of smoke came from. 3. when you parked the bike , how it was sitting when you got on it. You might be able to figure this out a bit easier.
I had a pin hole in a line that was rubbing on chrome, but it showed up on the warning lamps.

Keep Us posted =r=

[zoom45]

I have a 1500 carbed bike. I had corroded terminals on the start relay that is behind the coolant tank. It caused all kinds of intermittent problems. It would crank up fine sometimes then randomly it would act like a dead battery or worse die while riding on the interstate. You have to pull the coolant tank off and disconnect the wire harness off the relay and look inside. There is a 30 amp fuse in it. All the terminals in mine were caked with the green corrosion. After I cleaned it up I never had any more problems. I never heard a pop but I can't hear to well anyway. Can't hurt to check it.
Zoom45

[ringadingh]

You can also take a look at the wiring harness at the top of the rear cylinder on the LH side. They have been known to rub through in that spot and cause intermittent problems.