Start Up Hints

[blowndodge]

Most of you have reported that our beloved Nomads are awfully noisy in the morning. Mainly the loud ticking of the engine.

Could it be the fast idle solenoids? Lifters?

I've been doing things differently this last month and I'm not sure if I've hit on the answer or not.

I was checking the oil the other morning by standing on the right side of my bike and pulling the handlebar towards me and taking a peek at the glass site for the oil and saw nothing! Then slowly I started to see oil and it took about 30 seconds.

At first I panicked and then slowly the oil level rose 3/4 the way up the glass window.

I started thinking, "I wonder where the oil pickup is on a Nomad since I don't have the full manual (hint for a loaner email copy?) to see where the oil pick up is.

Anyway I thought about it and decided that for the next week I would get ready for work and get my helmet and all my stuff on and sit on my Nomad like I'm at a light with the bike straight up and wait 30 seconds then hit the starter.

For the past month now I've not heard one (1) tick, not ONE. I can't say that this is the answer, (semi dry start) but for some of you not blocked out with bad weather, try doing this, especially if you think your bike's clickity clacks too much in the morning and let BD know if you bikes starts up silently or not. I'm curious. ???

[bobzinger]

Because I leave early for work... I back my bike out of the garage and coast down into the street before starting... so I don't wake my kids up. My Nad still clacks like crazy, buts it's much worse the colder it is. I'm using 20W50. Maybe if I was using 10W50 it would quiet quicker.

[jmorrow]

BD,

You may be on to something there. During my time on this forum I have read everyone complaining about there Nomad being noise at start up and thinking I must have gotten a good one because I wasn't hearing all the noises (I'm not to old and deaf yet). I keep my Nomad in my shop with a piece of 2" x 10" lumber under the kick stand. That keeps the oil level at about 1/4 up the sight glass. When I start the Nomad it runs quite smoothly. If I lean down to the right side I can hear the solenoids but as far as lifter noise there is very little. I didn't put the lumber under the kick stand for that reason it's just something I've always done with my other bike and my wife's bike.


Jim

[toby]

I've had a stand welded together for my garage so that when I drive in on My Nomad it stays straight up. When I start it the next day, My oil is always level and I never hear any ticking, clicking etc. Hope this helps. I believe the bike being straight up when started cold is the key. Toby

[unwind2]

Interesting.....will give this a try and let you all know.

[dogdoc]

Will try anything once. :-)

[Idaho]

Will try anything once. :-)

Hey Doc, Anything? Have you ever....................

Naw, I'll leave it alone. :)

[naugaman]

I guess each bike is different. I do not remember ever having any start up clackity sounds.

[dogdoc]

I tried both ways and my bike starts fine either way and I notice NO difference in sound either way, it clicky clack anyway you cut her. thats the Nomad, choke knob does help start up some what but Im happy!!! :-)

[unwind2]

Tried both ways. Very slight difference, still have some lifter noise but perhaps a little less 'clacky' sounding if stand the bike up first.