Leaking Fork Seal - Can I fix it with Yoghurt?

A quick job cleaning the fork seal to stop it leaking

[@stevef8763]

Top tip thanks, in nigh on 50 years riding bikes I'd not heard of that solution for cleaning fork seal, just shows you never stop learning. Kind regards

[@malhunter7]

Hi ,thanks so much for the video,I am doing a vintage restoration and one fork started to weep before I even got the resto finished, your tip worked fantastic, as I was dreading the thought of pulling the forks apart,so thankyou very very much ,you are a legend........

[@blearyview2254]

What a brilliant simple fix, may not work for every fork seal but well worth trying. I have had two bikes with leaky fork seals and wish I had this fix to try first, might have saved me a lot of money 👍👍👍

[@christophmensch3945]

Very creative and interesting, thank you!

[@jimalcantara6638]

As a new NC750X DCT owner - your videos are so valuable to me! Thank you!

[@grahamglencorse307]

Good Afternoon Adrian, thanks for the yarn this morning at Jerry’s, and nice to meet Wendy too. The Fork Seal Cleaning Tool is another example of keeping something that “could be handy one day”. Recycling at its finest. Best regards: Graham wheels684.

[@halfSpinDoctor]

When I rebuilt my forks with cartridge emulators, I ended up doing the silicone lubricant trick instead of replacing the fork seals. I just sprayed it into that cavity and let it sit overnight -- seems to have done a great job restoring the flex in the seals.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Agree. I clean my fork legs with silicone spray as a normal maintenance routine as well.

[@reljoy]

You gave me the courage to try this myself. It worked. Thanks.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Well done you 🤗

[@tillailerk5329]

Thank you for your video sir it’s truly a blessing to us all!

[@hussienabukhalil2012]

I really likes your videos . Nice work 👏 👌 👍 as usual

[@HoboHiney]

Very Clever, I subscribed not because of your bike, but because of your ingenuity!

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Ha! Thanks mate. I still have the original seals in. I’ve cleaned the seals a number of times over the years as they have shown leaks. But a simple clean fixes them.

[@johnguarino6891]

I wish I knew that trick 40 years ago when I raced moto cross thanks for the education 👍🏻

[@ff2346cookson]

Excellent.....as always👍

[@farmoboy83]

my 2004 sv650 had a leak 2000km after garage fork seals replacement...did that with part of a plastic milk bottle and 10000km later still no leaks. fork seals sometimes get small debries and need a little help to seat again correctly

[@johnterry804]

Great video thanks for all your tips! 👍

[@BlaserAndDesert]

Thanks mate... I think my 2022 is only about 6000-7000km and the left is leaking just like yours...often the left what i have seen. I have to try this before summer. Best regards from Sweden😊

[@davecaddy513]

Top tip. Just done this on my NC750X and cured the leak

[@phil4986]

I thought this might be one of those stupid TicTok videos but I recognized your channel name and your voice and I said, let's see what the Aussy has for us today. That's brillaint ,mate. This should be standard thing done like every ten thousand miles to all forks or sooner as soon as you see that dirt oil line on the fork pipe. Thanks for the detailed video.

[@BreezyRider66]

Had leaking seals on most of my bikes & haven't yet replaced any seals. I make mine from plastic milk bottles - the plastic is quite soft. Always have one in my wallet in case. Somebody else mentioned upside down forks & I agree you're definitely going to lose more oil if you have a seal leak...

[@ccooper8785]

Tune in next week for "Chain Lubing With Marmite"

[@davewilson2277]

Vegemite surely ? 😂

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Agree

[@BN1960]

Nice Creme fresh works too

[@kari9856]

Wise decision. The thrill is gone but excitement is there. Here's a question to all NC 750X riders: who has replaced drivers stock seat and with which manufacturers seat? I'd like to find higher seat not to mention comfortability. I wonder how I've been able to tolerate that stock bench since 2015 😮. Maybe dct has taken the pain off😂

[@bolleolympus]

Bagster seat

[@mdesmit3415]

Goodday , a bit of talk powder Can do the trick also , and keeps the forkseal soft. Just put it onder the dust cap.

[@mdesmit3415]

That must be talc powder in englisch :-). Greetings from Holland

[@quars3528]

Nice tip.

[@SGCgleaton]

Great info

[@jkristjanvalk]

I just had another epiphany about bike mechanics, pros and cons of upside-down vs regular forks. If USD forks leak, gravity pulls the oil down constantly, whereas with regular forks you may get by with much less oil lost. Anyway, my 2019 Kawasaki Versys developed a fork leak after 50000 km and 3 years, not great, not terrible but then again, I never cleaned the seals and the bike sees all weather and cold storage at winter.

[@paulegan7250]

Brilliant.

[@arthurdunga345]

what a good idea i'l try that thanks

[@alejandroccrs]

It works for me .. thanks

[@mickleblade]

I recently changed the fork on my 16 Yr old cbf1000, it was pretty sludgy, degraded crap. It ain't that much harder to do the seals though. BTW Honda OE parts were cheaper than aftermarket.

[@deekando1068]

Fantastic

[@jeeves6490]

Used 35mm film in the past, the plastic bottle is probably easier to source nowadays and just that little more rigid to make the task a little easier.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Ha! Yes. Good luck getting film now. I can just imagine you on the side of the road opening your camera, exposing all those great trip shots, and cutting up the film to clean the seals 😁

[@4x4drawersystemsdesigns96]

Hi there I'm Joe from South Africa. I need help with my NC 700X on how to change the clock from miles to kms whatever I've tried doing it's not working even followed other KZbin vids on how to fix it but nothing helps. Many thanks Love your channel

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

I’ve sold the NC. But agree it is confusing to change settings. Sorry I can’t help.

[@Checkpat]

I was wondering if a 0% yogourt is the best choice you recommend ? Thanks for all your video ✌️👍

[@tjracingteam]

Brilliant

[@SsiolisP]

Should that be unstrained or Greek strained yogurt which is much thicker?

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Ha! Good question

[@MrWhothefoxthat]

genuine question, whats stopping you packing the top of the fork with some grease, that should stop dirt going down into the seal.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Hmm. That would just attract and trap dust, creating a nice cutting compound.

[@grahamsmith827]

Have you lowered your foot-pegs there? Can I ask what brand you used and roughly how much you were able lower ?

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

40mm lowered. eBay purchase do listings come and go. When I was searching I just searched Honda NC750x foot pegs

[@GPR111]

Or you could have the forks properly serviced, cleaned and fresh oil.... which is probably desperately needed at that mileage 😮

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Clearly you haven’t watched my other maintenance vids. But thanks for your concern.

[@D_Grouchy_Old_Man]

The problem with your seal cleaner was explained to me by a guy that has been servicing forks for many years. 1/2 of the debri that is inbetween the fork and the seal gets shoved into the fork and gets introduced to the working internal valve components and progressively makes the quality of your ride worse and worse. When people get their forks properly serviced the difference in the ride quality is like night and day because the forks are brought back to like new condition. 1/2 as..ing a job will always produce 1/2 as..ed results.

[@peanutbutterisfu]

I assume ur from the UK? Is yogurt spelled with an “H” there?

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Not UK. I’m Aussie. Veeerrryyy different to those silly pommy accents ! But yes. It’d supposed to have a H. Only lazy people leave it out!

[@HDHeroCam]

I do not agree with this method, the seals might get even more damaged. Just splurge and buy a "Seal Mate" it costs about 5 bucks and is specifically made for doing the same thing.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

No problem mate. I’ve been using this method on my bikes for many years. I have cleaned the seals on this particular bike 5 times with no issues. But happy for you to buy the “proper” seal cleaner.

[@kkfoto]

Now I know that yogurt doesn't work ;)

[@louvega8414]

Have you tried it with full-fat yoghurt? 😁

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

No I haven’t. I’m already ugly so am trying not to be fat as well 😢