Nomad Rear Air Schocks

[jodale]

I'm new to this forum and also to my 2008 Nomad. I'm not new to
motorcycles though.

On the Nomad's rear air shocks:
1) What air pressure do you put in the rear shocks ?
2) The owners manual says don't use a tire gauge so how do measure the air pressure ?
3) How often do you have to put air in the shocks - do they leak over time ?

Thanks for the help

[petenomad]

You need a zero loss pump (it will have a gauge). I bought a progressive brand pump - very nice.
How much air is a comfort thing. You will need to experiment. My wife and I ride together and we put 30lbs and III pre-load on the shocks.

[jandreu]

I run 20psi level 3 for my wife and me total passenger and rider weight around 400lbs. The hard part is getting both shocks the same, it's a lot easier if you install an air balance kit. PM me and I'll send you the details on this. You can also look at Gadgets page;

http://www.gadgetjq.com/gadgetsfixitpage.htm

You need an air gage with a locking readout and low total pressure readout. I bought one from the HD shop for 30 bucks HD brand, works good.

You will get a lot of answers as to how to air the shocks and my method is not recommended by most due to the danger of blowing the shock seals but it has worked well for me over the years. I have a small air tank that I use for mobile applications where my hose from the big compressor will not reach. It has a pressure gage on it. I simply drop the pressure in the tank to 20 psi and air the shocks with it. They do not take hardly any air.

No, they do not normally leak and it's very easy to let all the air out of them by just checking the air, that's where the balance kit works good especially if you add a gage.

[ringadingh]

I seem to like 35lbs on #3 setting. Get yourself a progressive zero loss pump. the shocks take very little air, and a compressor will destroy them in a second unless your extremely carefull and turn the pressure way down like noted in the above post.
Mine do tend to leak down over a few months, check them a couple times a season and you should be fine.

[crapper]

i also run 20lbs in the shocks.
i was running 30 last summer and i found the ride a little stiff.
20 lbs seems to float more and around here the roads are godawfull..........

[markusmaximus]

I run 20 lbs on #3 solo, bumped to #4 for 2-up riding. You'll need to experiment to find your favorite settings.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

I see this was your first post Jodale, so welcome to the forum.

[landman]

i run 20 # at the level 3 on the preload.have had my progressive
no loss pump for 12 years and it continues to work flawlessly.

[redjay]

I have the Harley no loss pump and run 30 lbs in the shocks. Number 1 setting on the shock when its just me and number 4 when I have a passenger.

[thedude]

The manual states you need to lift the rear tire off the ground when filling the shocks and checking pressure. I didn't have the jack adapters yet, so I just put 20 lbs. in with my Harley pump. I set the preload to #3. I am curious how different the pressure readings are when you compare wheel up to wheel down.

[skeeter]

I use an $8 bicycle pump. Just takes a couple pumps to put it up to 30-35psi. Then I bleed it off to 20. Tricky and sometimes have to try it several times. Either spend the time or pay the bucks.
It is my considered opinion that the airshocks don't add much to the cush but they help compensate for the weight on your suspension to keep you from bottoming out. So the more you pack on the bike, the higher your pressure should be (not to exceed 40 lbs). I have never gotten a satisfactory explanation on the operation of the air shocks so somebody feel free to weigh in with facts. Til then my considered opinion will do for me.
As to the dampening adjustment... the wife and I are pleased with setting 2. #3 seems to be a bit of a jolt on the cattle guards. 1 was too bouncy.

[krash]

Originally Posted by landman

i run 20 # at the level 3 on the preload.have had my progressive
no loss pump for 12 years and it continues to work flawlessly.

+1 on that, although I've only had my progressive pump for a month it works great.

[bigsid1]

0 psi setting #2

[billyboy]

Always have some pressure in the shock. You need a zero-loss pump with a gauge scale of 0 - 60psi. here's what I have:

http://www.debrix.com/Die-Cast-Gauge.../116-10-mw.htm

Some pump gauges go to 300psi, but that scale makes it impossible to accurately set pressure and balance the shocks.

[macmac]

I weigh 300 with my wife. I have a air kit and it has a gauge. We ride at 15 psi and setting 2. I just leave it that way for solo.

With this set up one air valve shares to both shocks, so no matter what both shocks are the same.