Front forks - oil level /rebuild, 2000 mod St1100 A ABS2

[JJames]

Problem : A sweating front seal left. Not to bad -but. So I'm trying get things sorted - again- , before taking things apart.
Studied my Clymer and watched Del Boy's garage on you tube, but he sort of skips over the cartridge side of the ST

First Q : Is a 2000 year model ST 1100A = ST1100 abs/LB ? Or is there a ST1100A , without abs? - When ordering parts I - Well I have gotten wrong parts at least once (brake pads).

I have read threads that say the later model ST1100A/ abs don't have a drain plug for the fork oil ? Is the allen damper bolt the same as the drain plug ? Some threads say leave them (drain plug) alone ,they crumble. My ST11 dose not have any other drain plug on the lower fork - so maybe other models do ? This is a little confusing , because the damper allen bolt holds the cartridge in place , and I would think you have to loosen them/ could drain the oil there.
Fork oil level : Checking level: can this be done with out taking the forks off - just by taking the cap off ?. IF doing a full rebuild : set the oil levels left and right. and then pump the cartridge (left fork) full of oil- that is already in the fork ?

Thanks for any help here. I've got most of the parts for a full rebuild , waiting for new bushes. I think these are the right ones: (Part nr 51414 KCR 003 and 5i415 KCR 003)

 

[ST1100Y]

Likely that one:

Honda ST1100A PANEUROPEAN 2000 (Y) NORWAY / ABS Stücklisten und Schaltpläne

www.cmsnl.com

you can confirm with your VIN there...

On all ABS-II/CBS '96 onward the small drain plugs on the fork bottoms were omitted...
And frankly: when doing forks the right way, including full inspection and cleaning, you've to pull the legs anyway... hence cap off, drain upside down, disassemble, check, clean...

Not sure about your P/N there though, can't find them in here:

Honda ST1100A PANEUROPEAN 2000 (Y) NORWAY / ABS FRONT FORK (ST1100A) - Ersatzteile für FRONT FORK (ST1100A) online kaufen

www.cmsnl.com

And they don't sound familiar to me ('00 ST1100Y, non ABS model)...

 

[JJames]

I got the nr from MPS site , As far as I can tell , they don't have a search option for the "ST1100A ABS", just for "ST1100A" . But I have ordered the bushings from a lokal dealer here in town, They normely get it right. So will see what comes. You cleared up the drain plug question. Thanks !

 

[Rob20111]

Try cleaning the seal first.
Make yourself a tool like this from some thin plastic,

 

[Slydynbye]

Before they made the sealmate we used old 35mm film negatives to do the job.

 

[JJames]

Try cleaning the seal first.
Make yourself a tool like this from some thin plastic,

I've never checked or changed the fork oil , no idea about condition / last service. I might give that trick a try , and put things on hold a little longer.
Can someone tell me - How does one set the oil level on the cartridge side ? Is cartridge in there and fastend with the allen damper bolt ,and pumped full first ? - then set oil level height ? And then the spring, seat and cap go on ?

 

[TerryS]

The oil level is set with the spring out; roughly fill the fork and then pump the damper rod up and down and you will feel as air is expelled and the damper fills with oil, the action will become smoothly damped through the full stroke up and down. Pump the fork tube a few times to displace any air behind the bushings, then compress the leg fully and set the final oil height.