How to replace the fork seals on a Honda CRF 1000 Africa Twin

[@TilTheRoadEnds]

EXCELLANT JOB on this video. The seals on my 2018 AT blew on my trip to Tuktoyaktuk this summer (long story)...and a buddy of my from Ireland came out to Colorado this week on vacation. After we both watched your video, we decided to give it a go. We used your video as a step by step guide. Watching...working on the forks...rewinding and watching the next step...working on the forks and rewinding and watching the next step...and so on and so on. Your video was SPOT ON! You covered everything we needed to know. You helped us get through a job that we thought would be quite intimidating, until we watched your video. After we finished replacing both seals, I hopped on my V Strom and my buddy hopped on the Africa Twin and we went for a ride in the mountains of Colorado. The results were perfect. No leaks. I have my own KZbin channel and if you don't mind (after I make the video of how my fork seals blew in the first place)...I'd like to reference your video. Again, great job and thank you very much!

[@soggybawsmoto]

I’ve just woke up here in Scotland to your comment. You’ve made my day Terry, that’s exactly what I hoped these videos would be able to be used for. There’s another one there about a roadside repair to the AT ignition switch if you ever have problems. Yes, feel free to reference this video on your ride/repair video. I’d be honoured. When you start editing that one, if you fancy doing some sort of back and forth collab, I’d be game. Might be funny. Thanks for reaching out, and commenting. Subbed to your channel, looking forward to seeing some of your adventures. Cheers Stevie

[@TilTheRoadEnds]

Hey Stevie, Yes, I'd be very interested in doing a back and forth collaboration when I do that video. It would be funny...I'm all about humor 😄 BTW, I also subscribed to your channel It might be a while before I get to it, I'm kind of backed up on videos. I'll get in touch as I get closer. Take care..@@soggybawsmoto

[@fantomas077]

Great video! Thank you for your job. I understand that without special tools repair leaking forks is impossible

[@soggybawsmoto]

@fantomas077 Thanks Karol. I've seen a few work around to avoid the special tools, but they seemed a bit dodgy to me. You can use a heavy cable tie through the holes at the top of the sleeve to pull the sleeve and spring down I stead of the clamp I showed, but it would be difficult getting hold of the rod. I was lucky that a friend had the special tools for doing the Honda that I could borrow.

[@kevinhall409]

well to day i changed the fork oil, as there was no oil leaking from the seals and tour tutorial did help lots. yours Kevin

[@soggybawsmoto]

@kevinhall409 that's great to hear Kevin. Ride safe buddy!

[@stuartshaw5880]

Absolutely magic, easy to follow narrative with all the details required to carry out a full fork rebuild.

[@robinjuniper-ly3iz]

Really very helpful video. It is all extremely clear and taken at a pace which makes it easy to follow. Thank you, Steve!! I've got a 2018 Adventure sports and I could not be happier with it. I've covered 23000 trouble free miles and am only looking at the fork seals because I feel it is about time I did. The bike is running flawlessly and there is no evidence of any trouble with the seals at all.

[@soggybawsmoto]

Thanks Robin! That’s great to hear. 👍

[@silkysilk1578]

Fantastic. Clear and easy to follow. This will save me a few pennies this weekend. Thanks

[@soggybawsmoto]

Great stuff SS, I'm glad you found it useful 👍

[@SteveCapel]

Just doing mine. Might be worth mentioning that you do not need to remove the compression damping adjusters to change the seals. Also if you are removing them, or torquing them up, may need to be done with the leg installed when pressure is placed on the damper by the spring. Otherwise the damper may just rotate and not undo/do up. Thanks to Haynes for this tip.

[@jacksomb1]

Excellent video, with just the level of detail needed to take the job on. Thnx Buddy!

[@soggybawsmoto]

Thanks Emm Jay, glad it helped 👍

[@stevebures9735]

This was really helpful, thanks. I have a 2019 Africa Twin. By the time my bike was made I think Honda fixed many of the problems that you've had with yours. It's a great all round bike.

[@zippysworld]

well put together video wit good clear detailed instructions. got a 1100 with left seal leaking after 14000 so useful to see the process

[@soggybawsmoto]

Cheers Zipster! Thanks for watching and good luck with your repair! Keen to hear if the guts of the 1100 are any different. There’s a video there for you 👍

[@rudimarais8267]

Great video, thank you for taking the time to compile it and for sharing. I am sure you are making the lives of many a folk easier! 🙂

[@soggybawsmoto]

Thanks Rudi, much appreciated.

[@5canwalk]

Great DIY replacement of fork seats tutorial, thank u for the share!

[@fast_n_curious_motoadventures]

Brilliant how-to guide, loved the gentle test ride 😀

[@soggybawsmoto]

Ha ha, that was a great day out!

[@johnbecker68]

Enjoyed the video, well done mate. Please include more bloopers next time, good to see you enjoyed it

[@soggybawsmoto]

Glad you spotted them John. They were too funny not to put them in 😂

[@2M3Garage]

Great video, easy to follow along. I ride a 2017 AT. The compression adjuster on the left fork of my bike gives maximum 7 clicks. The other one is fine (12 clicks). After watching this video, I know I can simply order a replacement centre bolt 😊.

[@soggybawsmoto]

Thanks for watching and commenting Tumelo. Super pleased you found it useful. Hope your repair goes smoothly. 👍

[@theunclegazza]

Excellent video Thank you.

[@blaynehumphrey3198]

Good afternoon mate, just wanted to say thank you for such a great and informative video, changing my fork seals went like a dream, thanks again , 👍

[@soggybawsmoto]

Cheers Blayne, glad it helped, I've used so many videos like this myself it was time to pay it back. 👍

[@Scorge120]

You are a legend for making this. Cheers mate.

[@soggybawsmoto]

No problem Zachary, I enjoyed making this one! Thank you, Stevie

[@edilsonfaberruizrivera7262]

SUPER ,Thanks Sir great video.

[@Bearugger]

Thank you. You just made my life a lot easier.

[@soggybawsmoto]

That’s great to hear Bearugger. Thanks for watching and commenting. Good luck with your fork rebuild 👍

[@michaelneijenhoff7201]

Thank you! Great DIY video. Very helpful.

[@paulmcnugget]

Amazing, thank you so much. What a great video with great content. I am about to tackle my forks now and this was spot on 👍👍👍👍

[@soggybawsmoto]

Great stuff Paul, glad it was of help 👍

[@andrewewan624]

Excellent video..will help many AT owners ( and other bikes ) ...and save them some money should they wish to do it themselves Keep the videos coming !!!

[@soggybawsmoto]

Thanks for your super kind feedback Andrew. Just noticed your profile picture, I see you have twice the concern relating to fork legs 😂 That’s an awesome machine!

[@andrewewan624]

@@soggybawsmoto ..Indeed...lol Had for a couple of years ...added 27,000 + Most reliable bike ever ...and that front-end grip is just amazing ... I'm usually a HONDA man

[@andrewewan624]

I in Fife..maybe meet up during 2023 wee run ? ..l an codger now..semi retired.. Visited most of your video locations Andrew

[@soggybawsmoto]

I'd love to meet up for a burl sometime and see a Niken in the flesh@@andrewewan624 . I grew up in Fife before work took me to the West Coast so I know the roads across there well. I took a few pals out to Anstruther for a Fish Supper last weekend. Until now I've not had a point of contact here, but I've just added a link to my Soggy Baws Moto facebook page on my KZbin channel banner, feel free to friend me there and I'll make a point of reaching out privately when I next have a free day in my riding schedule

[@petrosgaliatsis3530]

Excellent video!! Thank you!

[@DJAguitars]

Nice vid sir 👍

[@alpye]

Following your video now 👍 brilliant thanks

[@soggybawsmoto]

Its great to hear its been of help! Best of luck!

[@Coolhand99au]

Thanks for making this very detailed video and going to the trouble of adding diagrams for the special tools. I have a 2018 AT so I'm sure the parts will be the same Question for you My bike is a 2018AT and has the same colour scheme as your red white and blue with a black frame and gold rims. My mate just bought a 2018 AT Adventure Sports this bike is taller has a white frame and a larger tank . Does our bikes sit between the Standard model and the Adventure sports ?

[@soggybawsmoto]

Thanks for watching and commenting Steve. 2018, 1000 should be the same. I’ve always understood mine was the baseline standard model. As you say, the Adventure Sports has the upgrades, but there was even more problems with the paint on the white frame, and the modifications they made to the tank to increase capacity. Ride safe buddy!

[@robinsongguitars]

Nice video. Apparently there is a design flaw with the early Africa Twin forks. This is a known issue. The anodize inside the upper aluminum fork tube wears pretty quickly fouling the oil and prematurely wearing the bare aluminum. This causes the bushing wear quickly and contaminates the oil and prematurely causes the fork seals to leak. The area is right at where the lower triple clamps pinch bolts are. Did you check the inside of the tube verify if yours are okay? The wear happens quicker when these bikes are riding off road as the forks works harder. The newer CRF1100 had this issue fixed.

[@soggybawsmoto]

Thanks for watching and commenting Jim, touch wood, I managed to get the best part of 50,000 miles and 5 years from the original seals, so I didn’t go looking for more problems. The new seals have been ok, so I must have dodged a bullet on this issue.

[@Spiderwebsider]

Brilliant mate. Thumbs up and thanks.

[@armenvartanian4796]

Excellent video buddy.

[@soggybawsmoto]

Thanks for watching and commenting Armen, much appreciated.

[@domenicofabiano3892]

nice video

[@soggybawsmoto]

Thankyou Domenico, hope it was useful to you. Ride safe buddy!

[@smirkybear1]

Very informativ and well made video. Did the new oil stiffen up the front a little, or was there little difference? Enjoyed the gentle test ride, "this is the biggest jump" :D

[@soggybawsmoto]

Thanks Bjorn, yeh it firmed things up nicely and they were damping properly after rebuild. That’s my favourite road in Scotland, must have ridden it a thousand times 😂

[@mahoon1986]

My damper rod bolt keeps spinning even when I hold the rod? Any idea what might be causing this?

[@soggybawsmoto]

I'm afraid not, I didn't experience that, and there wasn't a prompt in the manual to expect it. The only thing I can suggest is the old trick on traditional forks, of using a wooden broom handle to apply friction to the bottom of the tube when you turn the bolt, but not sure if that would help in these circumstances. Good luck, let me know how you overcome the situation 👍

[@SteveCapel]

@@soggybawsmoto Loosen/tighten the nut whilst still on the bike. The pressure of the spring will stop the damper rotating. Thank Haynes for that tip.

[@Jago3825]

What wheels are you running?

[@soggybawsmoto]

Honda Varadero wheels mate. If you have a look at my 50,000 mile review video, there is a link in the notes to a how to on the Africa Twin forum.