1999 Carbed Nomad

[Jeezfreek]

I've been noticing a pretty strong fumes odor while engine is running. Also, when I turn engine off I hear a sound from the pipes. It's not a "POP" like a backfire, it's more of a low "WHOOMP" once I turn it off, from both pipes!! When I first bought the bike I was using medium priced gas that contained some Ethanol (10%?). But the past 4-5 fillups have been Premium grade Ethanol-free gas. Also, occasionally, when I give the throttle a quick, short rev, I feel (and hear) air pop against my leg by the filter cover on the uncarbed right side. Any suggestions?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

[minst7877]

Are those Vance and Hines pipes? If they are check under the heat shield on the rear pipe and see it the pipe is cracked in the bend right out of the head. Next pull the cover and backing plate off the right side and make sure the boots are on the intake manifold properly. Keep us informed I'm sure other will chime in here also.

DC

[DragonLady58]

Switch back to unleaded regular, and see if it cures it. Probably will. if it doesn't, get back with that. Chances are its not a backfire, but ignition of some unburned vaper in the pipes. The spitback thru the intake isn't right.
Sounds like your carb is running a little rich, possibly dirty. Do you start it all the time with the choke engaged? Whens the last time you've done a tuneup? Did this just start after switching fuels?
To spit back thru the intake a spark has to occur when the intake valve is open. Carbon hot spots can also cause this. Does the engine run any hotter than normal, to where you feel a difference?
Nice looking bike! Love It!

What he said also! Check your exhaust clamps, make sure they're tight. Check also that you have a good exhaust seal at the head/pipe joint....

[redjay]

No need to run premium. Were the problems there when you were running the lower grade fuel ?

[DragonLady58]

if its a 'ssspoof' when you do a short hard rev turning it off, it could what we call a lean 'popback'....though that just usually happens when you jump down on it hard.
Still have the coasters on the bike? Have you marbled the intake hoses? Still running all the stock emisson controls?
And don't forget to check your intake to make sure its tight, as minst suggested. This also could cause a lean popback, also...

[DragonLady58]

Yea, on a stock Nomad, theres no need at all to run premium, just throwing that money away....if your valves aren't rattling or you don't have pinging. With the Nomads, it'll rattle some if you lug the hell outta the engine. You'll accomplish more using a octane booster.
Ethanol is fine in these bikes, well, the fuel injected ones anyway. Thats what the fuel system on these things are setup to run on. You might want to start running a ethanol treatment if your carbed.
I've had alot of folks complain about the ethanol in carbed bikes lately.
Only 3 alternatives is switch to real gas, which they don't really make anymore, except premium....
Or run the Ethanol treatments in your fuel....
Or go fuel injected....

I've switched 3 early Harleys over to EFI over the past year....but they wanted to keep their bikes and not have to trade them in....
Just wait to the 20+% ethanol starts to rear its ugly head....

[DragonLady58]

Hey JeezFreek, came down there to visit my old stomping grounds, I cut across 190 at Opelousas, blew a front fork seal out between Krotz Springs and the Atchafala refuge....hit the 'Bump from Hell'....like hitting a speed bump at 45 mph....
Hope you get your bike sorted out! Make sure theres not a crawdad in the aircleaner! Or a mudpuppy hiding under your tank!

[vulcanscott]

On A Lighter Note ! Beautiful Nomad ! Thumbs Up ! All the answers above are spot on check the VH pipes as those are known problems .Back to regular fuel forthe burp on shut down is unburned fuel in the hot pipe chambers . Popback on accel is usealy lean condition can be carb boot loose or other vacumn leak or dirty carb or jets etc. Best cure for it is open up the intake add coasters and clean and rejet the carb for Your new breather . Followingt Your post to see what You Find . V Scott

[danimal2]

My carb'd 99 runs like crap on regular (10% ethanol) fuel. I have to run premium. Hit a little station out in the middle of the desert and couldn't get my premium and was wondering if it would make it to the next town ok. Spark knocks like crazy on regular.

[minst7877]

Originally Posted by danimal2

My carb'd 99 runs like crap on regular (10% ethanol) fuel. I have to run premium. Hit a little station out in the middle of the desert and couldn't get my premium and was wondering if it would make it to the next town ok. Spark knocks like crazy on regular.

Yep mine does the same on reg gas. I can get by with mid grade. My mileage goes up and the spark knock goes away unless I push it really hard.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DragonLady58]

You can't imagine all the folks i've dealt with that absolutely hate ethanol fuel. Many have traded their bikes for FI bikes, cause FI's can digest the mess correctly and are tuned to use it.
As I said, not all bikes are the same, specs are diff. here and there, just enough they have diff. personalities. My 1500 likes reg. laced with octane booster. My 1600 will only run on Premium. She will raise 15 diff. kinds of hell when I'm stuck with reg unleaded, so I add fuel additives. They are just tools to me. A means to a end, till I can get to another fuel station that has premium. Every bike is different.
Carbs aren't designed for it unless they have the special coatings that protect the alum. from the water in the ethanol. Fuel being pressurized helps....but not enough.
I can't stress enough that folks with carbs run the good ethanol fuel treatments. Its up to you, though, your the owners and you have to decide....our place here is to give you enough info so you can make a informed decision....
One thing, on a carbed bike, don't ever let untreated ethanol fuel sit in your bike over the winter storage months without using stabil fuel stabilizer, or something that will keep your fuel fresh. Ethanol can go bad in as little 4 to 6 weeks, if not treated. Diff blends from diff fuel co's are diff.
Anyone thats experienced ethanol seperation knows what I'm talking about. It can and will ruin your carbs if you roll the dice and loose....

[gleam]

Let's just say hypothetically that someone did leave gas in a bike that was just parked in a garage for three months with no treatment or anything. What should that person (not me, of course) do? You know, hypothetically.

[Zkovach]

I found an app on my phone called pure gas that will show u gas stations around your area that sell pure no ethanol gas. Just a heads up

[DragonLady58]

Originally Posted by gleam

Let's just say hypothetically that someone did leave gas in a bike that was just parked in a garage for three months with no treatment or anything. What should that person (not me, of course) do? You know, hypothetically.

Well, since it had (theoretically) all ready happened, I'd try to start and run it, AFTER adding a good dose of seafoam, and a little shot of stabil will help too....
It will treat what has turned stale and try to let the 2 recombine slight enough to burn it.
That seperated crap, if allowed to get bad in the bottom of a tank, will cause a nice case of rust in most cases....
In really bad cases, I've had to use a bottle of (isopropyl) rubbing alcohol. It will absorb the water outta the mix, which is what seperates from the ethanol, and allow it to flow and be burned. Yes, it will probably run like shit till you get it all out.
Thats why I suggest if your gonna set it up for winter, top off the tank, and treat it with both stabil fuel stabilizer, and throw a can of Heet in there as well.

[Jeezfreek]

Originally Posted by minst7877

Are those Vance and Hines pipes? If they are check under the heat shield on the rear pipe and see it the pipe is cracked in the bend right out of the head. Next pull the cover and backing plate off the right side and make sure the boots are on the intake manifold properly. Keep us informed I'm sure other will chime in here also.

DC

Thanks, brother!! I will check those intake covers, but pipes are BUBS!!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk