Back from bike week with broken Nomad

[zoom45]

Went to bike week and almost froze to death but had a good time Monday. We were coming home yesterday and stopped to get gas in Alabama and then it happened - it wouldn't crank when we got ready to leave. I had lights and horn but no shift neutral light. I tried everything with the tools I had and couldn't find the problem. Luckily there was a hotel behind the truck stop so I called my good ole father in-law who drove 3.5 hours with a trailer to get me. We stopped at a Kawasaki dealer today who thinks it may be the side stand switch. I thought if the nuetral switch didn't work when you pull the clutch lever in it would by-pass the switch. The dealer said no that the side stand switch would kill the starter from getting fire. He said it makes the ground through the switch. There is also a start kill switch at the clutch lever. I pulled the headlight out and could only find 1 hot wire with the key on. I can't tell where the neutral switch is unless it's inside the left side cover. It's probably simple but after riding all day and getting dark I gave up looking for the problem. Has anyone had this problem? Any ideas? ???
Oh, bike week is almost all Harley but I did see about 10 Nomads and left cards on them. I even met a Canadian on a black Nomad.
Thanks,
Zoom45

[01nomad]

My manual shows it inside the left engine cover. You need to take the cover off and look to the front of the driveshaft. Under the shaft and to the front some is the oil pressure switch and in front of that is the neutral switch. If you get a manual it's on page 2-10 in the fuel system section.

[zoom45]

Is this the neutral switch? If so, I think I found the problem:
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x...eWeek09051.jpg
It looks like my clutch slave cylinder make have a tiny leak. All the wire connectors that were right above it were covered in a film of dirty oil that could have only come from the slave cylinder. I cleaned them up unplugged the neutral swtch connector plugged it back in and now my light works and the bike will crank. There's another switch at the rear of the block that is tied into the neutral switch wires but I can't find it listed in the manual. If you break on the road like I did, :'( you will need a 14mm wrench for the floor board bolt, 10mm for the shift and brake levers and a 5mm allen wrench for the side cover bolts. (I had all with me but the 5mm so I was stuck on the road). Good lesson for next time.
Zoom45

[01nomad]

I think it is!! I is in that area anyway. I'm looking for wire colors

[01nomad]

Looks like a light green wire to the connector and a black wire from the connector to the switch.

[01nomad]

I think the switch behind it is the oil pressure switch

[zoom45]

The two switches are tied together in two separate connectors under the side cover. When I unplugged them, cleaned it and plugged it back everything worked fine. Maybe they are tied together on a ground wire for the nuetral and oil lights. I wish I had all those wrenches with me on the side of the road! I will for now on.
Zoom45

[01nomad]

It sounds like you got it going and saved yourself from the dealer. They probably would have kept the bike for a week and sold you new parts.
I carry a good assortment of tools and a 10" cressant/hammer combination. Probabaly 20# of tools and a few parts. I have used them on all types of bikes and always seem to have what's needed. I use to carry HD parts but have run out of them. I'm not buying anymore.

[glwilson]

Great save 01Nomad!!

This is a great example of what KawaNow can do for people.

Zoom; glad to hear you resolved the situation; although I bet you (and your father-in-law I believe it was) wished it would have been taken care of while on the road.

I have always wondered about the tools I should carry on the Nomad when traveling. I do carry an assortment; but it would be nice to know a more complete listing of a set.

Does Gadget have that listed?

[dogdoc]

I always carry a wide assortment of 1/4 inch drive tools, and other goodies. You never know.

[zoom45]

I found so far that you can fix just about anything on the bike while on the side of the road if you have a flat head and phillips head screwdriver, 6mm-19mm sockets and box end wrenches, ratchet and extensions (1/4 & 3/8 drive), electrical tape, extra piece of wire, pliers, multi-meter or tester, fuses, metric allen wrenches (at least a 5mm), large adjustable wrench for the axle nut, and a tire plug kit.

Bare minimum - a 1/4 ratchet with a 8 and 10mm socket, phillips and flat head screwdriver, 10mm-14mm box end wrenches, 5mm allen wrench, extra fuses and a tire plug kit.
Zoom45