Advice needed on an 08 Nomad 1600 please!

jtascone · 03-21-2021, 08:20 PM

Hello all. I'm looking at a gorgeous 08 Nomad 1600. The bike only has 14,800 miles and it's obvious it's been kept in awesome condition. All fluids look brand new and the bike is spotless. Runs and sounds great as wdll. My worry is this. The guy selling it (very nice 74yr old guy named Dan that just had shoulder replacement) is the second owner. The bike has V&H pipes and a Hypercherger. The Hypercharger looks to have a K&N filter in it. Dan says the original owner literally had these items installed at the dealer before he even brought the bike home brand new. Now, I have looked everywhere on this bike and can not find a fuel programmer anywhere. The bike doesn't pop on decel at all which I'm very surprised about. My question is, should I be concerned about this bike being ridden for almost 15,000 miles with pipes and a hypercharger if it has no fuel programmer? I'm just concerned that there would be a lean issue because of this. But wouldn't it pop like crazy if it were running lean enough to harm it? Any help and opinions would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks

redjay · 03-21-2021, 09:19 PM

If it has a fuel programmer a popular place to put it is under the left side cover.
Did you look there. Have you asked the owner if it has a fuel programmer ?

jtascone · 03-21-2021, 09:37 PM

I looked under the left side cover and found nothing. Also looked under the seat. The positive battery terminal has 2 things connected to it besides the actual battery cable. One goes to the trickle charger hook up. The other has an inline fuse, and then goes to a small square black box under the left side cover that quite a few other wires are plugged into as well. But it doesn't look like a fuel programmer. No pods or knobs to do any sort of adjustments on or anything. The current owner doesn't even know what a fuel programmer is and has never been told one is on it. I just can't imagine a dealership would install a Hypercharger and pipes on a brand new bike without installing a programmer, but I'm concerned that if they did, what kind of damage could be hiding from running lean for 15,000 miles.

redjay · 03-21-2021, 10:26 PM

I have a feeling there is a fuel programmer on it somehwere and the only way to really confirm that is to take the tank off (or at least lift it up) and have a look for the fuel programmer connectors on the injectors.

DragonLady58 · 03-22-2021, 04:34 PM

OK, loosen the tank at the rear, raise it up in the air to gain some clearance....stick a piece of wood under there....
Look at the injectors in the intake, see where the wires hook up to the injectors? Follow then....if theres a tuner on there, it usually plugs in between the injectors and the injector wires....
Follow the wires, if theres a tuner to be had, it'll be at the end of the wires....whether its a dynajet, power commander, wiseco, etc.
The bike should be OK....look at the plugs, if they aren't blistered, you should be ok....

jtascone · 03-22-2021, 08:20 PM

Thanks for the info guys. I don't have the bike in hand to raise the tank, but I had Dan pull a couple plugs and send me pics. He pulled the right front and left rear plugs. Now, he has ridden this bike since 2017 and these are the plugs that were on it when he got it. So they have at least 4500 miles on them. The bike has not been ridden this year. Just started and idled a couple times. What do you guys think?

jtascone · 03-22-2021, 08:25 PM

Here's the other one. Actually looks to me like it's running a bit rich. But could just be from only idling with gas that has been in it all Winter. Idk. What do you all think? I don't see anything that looks like it's running lean. But I'm not great at reading plugs.

DragonLady58 · 03-23-2021, 12:56 AM

Well, you like the bike, haven't seen or read anything to turn us off to it, rides good, runs good....I'd say 'grab it!'
I'd say look over it a few times, ride it, sleep on it....then grab it and start making her your own....

Tamej · 03-23-2021, 07:26 PM

Those plugs show a very rich condition. Modern fuel injected engines should be very light tan to clean white porcelain.
That little box on the left side is probably a PCIII tuned rich. You program it through a computer usb cable. It only has three very small buttons on it to adjust +10/-10 %.
A bike with aftermarket air cleaner and pipes will run much better when you get it and tune it. The tunes on the Dynojet site are a joke.

jtascone · 03-23-2021, 09:37 PM

Thanks guys. I'm going to the guys house to purchase it tomorrow. My only worry was hidden damage that might have been present if the bike was run lean for the first 15,000 miles of it's life. But all signs lead to that not being the case. The bike is absolutely spotless, and already outfitted with every goody in the book. And i feel the price is right. $4500 cash. There's easily 2,000 in aftermarket on it with V&H pipes, Hypercharger, lightbar, phone charger, new tire on the rear, new front brakes, and all new fork oil and seals. Fluids all look brand new as well. Lookin forward to putting the next 50,000 miles on her just like I did my 1500 Nomad! �� Thanks again for all the input. I will post a pic of the small black thing inside the left cover in a few days to see if that is in fact a fuel programmer of some sort.

Ray789 · 09-09-2021, 08:24 AM

So, did it have a fuel programmer on it??

andyvh1959 · 09-10-2021, 08:31 AM

Keep in mind those plugs pics are when the bike was idling. To properly read the plugs you'd need to do a "throttle chop" test at speed. That means you get the bike fully warmed up and ridden some miles. Then, say you're riding at 60 mph, then pull in the clutch and flip the engine kill switch together at the same time. Coast to a stop. Remove the plugs to read the plug color as it was at the speed and load the engine was experiencing.

At idle, to read the plug color indicates the air/fuel mix at closed throttle, which is the highest vacuum condition for the engine. So it is getting the least air in against the nearly closed throttle plates. The popping on closed throttle decel is only sound, it's not a lean condition that is harmful in any way to modern electronic fuel managed engines. It definitely is a lean condition, but not one that is detrimental to the engine.

You report the engine does no popping on closed throttle decel even though it has V&H pipes and a Hypercharger. Normally that leans out the fuel/air mixture more, especially at closed throttle decel and the aftermarket exhaust has less volume to dampen out the popping. No decel popping and the plug color as shown could indicate the fuel/air mix is rich. A fuel programmer would allow you to adjust the fuel/air mix at closed throttle to lean it out almost to a popping condition on closed throttle decel.

03-21-2021, 08:20 PM	#1
jtascone Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 282	Advice needed on an 08 Nomad 1600 please! Hello all. I'm looking at a gorgeous 08 Nomad 1600. The bike only has 14,800 miles and it's obvious it's been kept in awesome condition. All fluids look brand new and the bike is spotless. Runs and sounds great as wdll. My worry is this. The guy selling it (very nice 74yr old guy named Dan that just had shoulder replacement) is the second owner. The bike has V&H pipes and a Hypercherger. The Hypercharger looks to have a K&N filter in it. Dan says the original owner literally had these items installed at the dealer before he even brought the bike home brand new. Now, I have looked everywhere on this bike and can not find a fuel programmer anywhere. The bike doesn't pop on decel at all which I'm very surprised about. My question is, should I be concerned about this bike being ridden for almost 15,000 miles with pipes and a hypercharger if it has no fuel programmer? I'm just concerned that there would be a lean issue because of this. But wouldn't it pop like crazy if it were running lean enough to harm it? Any help and opinions would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-21-2021, 10:26 PM	#4
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 7,017	I have a feeling there is a fuel programmer on it somehwere and the only way to really confirm that is to take the tank off (or at least lift it up) and have a look for the fuel programmer connectors on the injectors. Last edited by redjay; 03-22-2021 at 04:08 AM.
	0

03-22-2021, 04:34 PM	#5
DragonLady58 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Somewhere South of Alaska.... Posts: 2,373	OK, loosen the tank at the rear, raise it up in the air to gain some clearance....stick a piece of wood under there.... Look at the injectors in the intake, see where the wires hook up to the injectors? Follow then....if theres a tuner on there, it usually plugs in between the injectors and the injector wires.... Follow the wires, if theres a tuner to be had, it'll be at the end of the wires....whether its a dynajet, power commander, wiseco, etc. The bike should be OK....look at the plugs, if they aren't blistered, you should be ok.... __________________ --------------------- Don't start no schit, there won't be no schit.... My Sarcasm is directly proportional to the amount of Stupidity involved --------------------- VBA#03239 VROC#37400 VRA --------------------- 2014 Vaquero 2001 Nomad FI 2003 Street Glide (sold) 1500 Meanie, fresh rebuild (sold) 90s BUBF Bobber (sold) 2001 UltraCycle FatPounder (Sold) 1975 HD ElectraGlide (Sold) 1982 Kawasaki Z1 Chopper (Sold) Suck It Up & Ride! Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-23-2021, 12:56 AM	#8
DragonLady58 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Somewhere South of Alaska.... Posts: 2,373	Well, you like the bike, haven't seen or read anything to turn us off to it, rides good, runs good....I'd say 'grab it!' I'd say look over it a few times, ride it, sleep on it....then grab it and start making her your own.... __________________ --------------------- Don't start no schit, there won't be no schit.... My Sarcasm is directly proportional to the amount of Stupidity involved --------------------- VBA#03239 VROC#37400 VRA --------------------- 2014 Vaquero 2001 Nomad FI 2003 Street Glide (sold) 1500 Meanie, fresh rebuild (sold) 90s BUBF Bobber (sold) 2001 UltraCycle FatPounder (Sold) 1975 HD ElectraGlide (Sold) 1982 Kawasaki Z1 Chopper (Sold) Suck It Up & Ride!
	0

09-09-2021, 08:24 AM	#11
Ray789 Jr. Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Posts: 4	So, did it have a fuel programmer on it?? So, did it have a fuel programmer on it??
	0

03-21-2021, 09:19 PM	#2
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 7,017	If it has a fuel programmer a popular place to put it is under the left side cover. Did you look there. Have you asked the owner if it has a fuel programmer ?
	0

03-21-2021, 09:37 PM	#3
jtascone Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 282	I looked under the left side cover and found nothing. Also looked under the seat. The positive battery terminal has 2 things connected to it besides the actual battery cable. One goes to the trickle charger hook up. The other has an inline fuse, and then goes to a small square black box under the left side cover that quite a few other wires are plugged into as well. But it doesn't look like a fuel programmer. No pods or knobs to do any sort of adjustments on or anything. The current owner doesn't even know what a fuel programmer is and has never been told one is on it. I just can't imagine a dealership would install a Hypercharger and pipes on a brand new bike without installing a programmer, but I'm concerned that if they did, what kind of damage could be hiding from running lean for 15,000 miles.
	0

03-23-2021, 07:26 PM	#9
Tamej Jr. Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 24	Those plugs show a very rich condition. Modern fuel injected engines should be very light tan to clean white porcelain. That little box on the left side is probably a PCIII tuned rich. You program it through a computer usb cable. It only has three very small buttons on it to adjust +10/-10 %. A bike with aftermarket air cleaner and pipes will run much better when you get it and tune it. The tunes on the Dynojet site are a joke.
	0

03-23-2021, 09:37 PM	#10
jtascone Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 282	Thanks guys. I'm going to the guys house to purchase it tomorrow. My only worry was hidden damage that might have been present if the bike was run lean for the first 15,000 miles of it's life. But all signs lead to that not being the case. The bike is absolutely spotless, and already outfitted with every goody in the book. And i feel the price is right. $4500 cash. There's easily 2,000 in aftermarket on it with V&H pipes, Hypercharger, lightbar, phone charger, new tire on the rear, new front brakes, and all new fork oil and seals. Fluids all look brand new as well. Lookin forward to putting the next 50,000 miles on her just like I did my 1500 Nomad! �� Thanks again for all the input. I will post a pic of the small black thing inside the left cover in a few days to see if that is in fact a fuel programmer of some sort.
	0

09-10-2021, 08:31 AM	#12
andyvh1959 Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Green Bay WI Posts: 775	Keep in mind those plugs pics are when the bike was idling. To properly read the plugs you'd need to do a "throttle chop" test at speed. That means you get the bike fully warmed up and ridden some miles. Then, say you're riding at 60 mph, then pull in the clutch and flip the engine kill switch together at the same time. Coast to a stop. Remove the plugs to read the plug color as it was at the speed and load the engine was experiencing. At idle, to read the plug color indicates the air/fuel mix at closed throttle, which is the highest vacuum condition for the engine. So it is getting the least air in against the nearly closed throttle plates. The popping on closed throttle decel is only sound, it's not a lean condition that is harmful in any way to modern electronic fuel managed engines. It definitely is a lean condition, but not one that is detrimental to the engine. You report the engine does no popping on closed throttle decel even though it has V&H pipes and a Hypercharger. Normally that leans out the fuel/air mixture more, especially at closed throttle decel and the aftermarket exhaust has less volume to dampen out the popping. No decel popping and the plug color as shown could indicate the fuel/air mix is rich. A fuel programmer would allow you to adjust the fuel/air mix at closed throttle to lean it out almost to a popping condition on closed throttle decel. __________________ My $1200 Vulcan, to start from.
	0