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Old 09-29-2014, 10:17 PM   #1
raymatt   raymatt is offline
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Question 99' Nomad low power at high speeds

I have a 1999 Nomad 1500. I was in the mountains last month on a ride and noticed the bike did not have normal power especially when climbing hills. With full throttle, it would bottom out. The guys behind me wanted to push me up the hill! I put in new plugs, air filter and fuel filter. I went on a ride this past weekend and had the same issue only I was on the eastern plains .... only small hills but with a strong head wind. It had trouble staying at 65 mph. I am at a loss. Any ideas as to what may be causing this?



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Old 09-29-2014, 10:25 PM   #2
rolfe   rolfe is offline
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Sounds like you may need to replace the Old Clutch Spring with a Mean Streak Spring and possibly some new Clutch Friction Plates.

Could also be a bad vacuum line on the carburetor as this happened to me.

Last edited by rolfe; 09-29-2014 at 10:29 PM.
 
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Old 09-29-2014, 10:31 PM   #3
raymatt   raymatt is offline
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rolfe, Thanks for the quick reply, but I need more info. How does the clutch spring or clutch plates cause low power?
 
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Old 09-29-2014, 10:35 PM   #4
redjay   redjay is offline
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If the clutch is slipping full power output will not be getting to the rear wheel.
Do you know what a slipping clutch feels like ?
 
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Old 09-29-2014, 10:45 PM   #5
paul   paul is offline
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Are the pipes stock, and if so do you still have the goat belly? Maybe a bad catylitic converter?
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Old 09-29-2014, 10:47 PM   #6
minst7877   minst7877 is offline
 
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All 99's were carbed. My money would be on the clutch slipping. Adding throttle gets you nothing in the higher gears is the first indication of the clutch spring needing to be replaced. No cat on the 99's the goat belly is just a prechamber.

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Old 09-29-2014, 10:48 PM   #7
rolfe   rolfe is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raymatt View Post
rolfe, Thanks for the quick reply, but I need more info. How does the clutch spring or clutch plates cause low power?

Since you say your loosing power then my guess would be a vacuum line on or near the carburetor.

"In my case I could throttle while sitting but then when riding a loss of power"
 
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Old 09-29-2014, 11:00 PM   #8
minst7877   minst7877 is offline
 
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Was the bike revving up just not pulling?

DC
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Me and my 99 G1 Nomad on US 2 by the Lake Michigan Shoreline.
Judge's Oil Gear failed and engine overhauled @ 35563 miles

VBA/KawaNOW #01625
Christian Motorcyclists Assoc.
Wheels Of Destiny Chapter #735
PA Wilds NE/Eastern Canada regional rally July 2012
Eureka Springs National 2015
Rolling Thunder Washington DC 2016
NE US / E Canada Rally - Mont Tremblant, QC 2016
VRA Eastern National at Maggie Valley 2017
99 Nomad G1 gone but never forgotten traded 4/8/17 for a 2017 Indian Roadmaster
 
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Old 09-29-2014, 11:07 PM   #9
minst7877   minst7877 is offline
 
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Check the boot from the intake manifold to the Carburetor these have a tendency to come off and create a massive vacuum leak. Bike would be running so lean it will barely run at idle.

DC
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Me and my 99 G1 Nomad on US 2 by the Lake Michigan Shoreline.
Judge's Oil Gear failed and engine overhauled @ 35563 miles

VBA/KawaNOW #01625
Christian Motorcyclists Assoc.
Wheels Of Destiny Chapter #735
PA Wilds NE/Eastern Canada regional rally July 2012
Eureka Springs National 2015
Rolling Thunder Washington DC 2016
NE US / E Canada Rally - Mont Tremblant, QC 2016
VRA Eastern National at Maggie Valley 2017
99 Nomad G1 gone but never forgotten traded 4/8/17 for a 2017 Indian Roadmaster
 
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Old 09-30-2014, 09:49 AM   #10
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Depending on how high an altitude you were at, it will effect the jetting of the carb, this is normal. Did it seem to have more power when you got back to lower ground?
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Old 09-30-2014, 10:48 AM   #11
raymatt   raymatt is offline
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Wow, lots of options to consider. Thank you for all the responses. Here are some of the answers to the questions:
1) Paul - it has V&H baggers. No goat belly.
2) minst7877 - Not really revving up, just not pulling. Had to gear down quite a bit. Also, it idles fine and has good power at lower speeds. No problem with throttle or power around town. Just out on the highway.
3) ringadigh - I did not have the problem a year ago in the mountains or on the plains, but maybe it does need to be rejetted. I live in Easter Colorado. It was frustrating over the weekend in strong winds when it would not pull on minor inclines.
I will check for possible vacuum leaks. I will also look for for a clutch spring. Any links where I could get one?

Thanks for all the help! It will rise to become the mean, green machine it once was!
 
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Old 09-30-2014, 10:59 AM   #12
danimal2   danimal2 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raymatt View Post
I did not have the problem a year ago in the mountains or on the plains, but maybe it does need to be rejetted.
No answers.........just another question.

Is it pinging when you're hard on the gas trying to make the grade, or just boggy?
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Last edited by danimal2; 09-30-2014 at 11:02 AM.
 
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Old 09-30-2014, 11:19 AM   #13
seagullplayer   seagullplayer is offline
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To check your intake gasket, spray carburetor cleaner between the jugs on the side behind the carburetor with the engine running.

If the engine bogs down, you have a leak.

(If it runs fine at lower speed I don't think this is your issue.)

Do these bikes have a screen in the petcock or a fuel filter? That could be your problem.
 
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Old 09-30-2014, 01:03 PM   #14
dgconstable   dgconstable is offline
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I would say clutch spring.

Mine did the same thing until I replaced the clutch spring.
 
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Old 09-30-2014, 04:57 PM   #15
Silent Sam   Silent Sam is offline
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San's clutch slippage...fueling issues... I have a 02 Nomad 1500fi...a couple years ago I was riding in the Walden Colorado area..up toward Encampment, Wyoming..on pretty level terrain,...I had a 25 -30 mph head wind and my Big Assed Bike would barley run 65 mph (due to altitude/temps)..it makes a huge difference in engine power output when you get above around 5500 ft + , as I recall the altitude up there was 6000-8000 above sea level.
 
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