WARNING:Africa Twin PRODUCTION FAULT

[Gonzalo]

Important Message to all Africa Twin owners:

Production Fault in FUEL PUMP.

If the last 6 digits on your frame serial number are 411978 or LOWER -then your bike may have been fitted with a faulty fuel pump.

If your last six digits are HIGHER then you are OK.

This information was provided off the record by a technical supervisor at Honda.

However, DON´T all of you that have an Africa Twin go out and change the pump! That´s why the info is off the record. I suggest you look into the matter only if you are going on a long trip into the bush. Honda keeps this sort of thing classified and they will not share info. again if it causes a stampede. Imagine every AT owner wanting to change their pumps! So, if you´re not going too far, stay put, your pump will most likely work for quite a while.

Gonzalo

[This message has been edited by Gonzalo (edited 26 September 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Gonzalo (edited 04 October 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Gonzalo (edited 04 October 2001).]

[chan]

Just to add on, this fuel pump contact problem was started from the RD07A models,i.e. '96 models onwards. The problem is not present on RD03,RD04 & RD07.

If I'm not wrong,the problem had been ratified on Y2K models.

[seb]

Nice one Gonzalo,
I've got an AT and never heard about the fuel pump problem.After a few phone calls I've been told that my bike is one of them...
Next Monday I'll be leaving London to Cape Town,I guess your message saved me a lot of trouble down the road...
Cheers

[andybee]

Yep, the fuel pump on my 1997 Africa Twin failed just last week (at about 7500 miles). What actually happens is that the wee contact breakers on the pump tend to burn out or weld themselves together. Alas, you cant get just the circuit breaker by iteslf - you need to buy the whole pump which is about £150.

If you go to the Aftica Twin Internetional (pun intended) Connection (www.atic.org) which is a great website for AT owners, you'll find literally dozens of similar postings, along with a bunch of novel alternatives to fitting another genuine honda pump.

[mmaarten]

Hai,

HELP !!!!!!

I am puzzled. I have an RD07 with serial number rd07000333. I heard before about this problem (1/2 year ago on atic.org), but my dealer told me it was not true.

Now, after this new outburst of rumours (even oficial ??) I contacted the dutch importer, who refered me to an oficial dealer. I went to the dealer and told him about this and he started calling right away. After a few phone-calls the outcome was: Never heared about this. It is not true. They even checked the number of fuelpumps that were ordered the last few year's and... nothing to be alarmed about.

Now I have one question: Who is fooling who ? and at were can I get a reliable awnser? Name and adres please.

Ohhh, and please don't sugest to replace it anyway to be sure. In that case I might as well buy a new bike and replace it with an other just to be sure.

Maarten (a puzzled traveler)

[This message has been edited by mmaarten (edited 14 September 2001).]

[Gonzalo]

Here´s the scoop MMaarten,

The information was given by a technical supervisor at Honda importers -not a dealer. It was given on a trust basis with the following warning: "We normally don´t give out this sort of information..." This person had received a memo on the mattter and he had to go and check it before he e-mailed me the serial numbers. This means somebody, somewhere in the Honda infrastructure had written about it.

So, as far as I am concerned it´s all off the record. They don´t want everybody freaking out and running to change every single AT pump before it fails -just in case, as you point out. However, I completely trust this individual specially since the company he works for are my sponsors and the oldest Honda importers in Europe. Plus another hint: my completely NEW AT had its pump shifted under guarantee after just 30 days -before it even failed. That should ring a bell or else how do they justify the procedure if there is no reason for it?

My advice: don´t make a big deal out of it. The chances the pump will brake are small (I think my friend mentioned something like 10%) although I have met people with this problem. Change it only if you are going into the bush.

GF
PS: As far as dealers are concerned, I have learned to take everything they say with a grain of salt.
PPS: Drop the RD07 bit when you read your serial number and see what you get... 333
[This message has been edited by Gonzalo (edited 04 October 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Gonzalo (edited 04 October 2001).]

[toddrd]

I have an A.T. witht the last six digits of 301560. I picked up a spare fuel pump prior to leaving Germany. Is there any way to tell if a pump is "good" or "bad" by the numbers on it? The spare pump reads: UC-Z9T B-1-2 and on the package label: Y9C10 with the part number.
Thanks

[mmaarten]

Hai,
I met a guy who had a pump-problem twice, soI guess he's an expert.
Only the second time they place the modified pump. Not only the pump, but also the relais needs to be replaced.
The order-numbers of the modified pump and relais:
Pump: 16710-MAY-305
Relais: 36100-MN4-008
These are dutch numbers, I don't know if they are international.
He also told me how te recognize the pump.
The bad one: Fuel-inlet on the left
The good one: Fuel inlet on the right and a fuell-line with 2 pre-bend corners.

I will replace my pump and relais. Getting it "on the road" might be a problem. Just in case... If the pump fails, remove it, short-cut the fuel-line (plug the carb-side direct on the filter) and you can drive again. SLowly (80 Km/h) and only 1/2 tank. But... it just might get you into civilization again.

By the way, in holland the pump needs to be payed for since Honda does not recognize (oficially) the problem. But.. better safe then sorry.

Keep on pumping...ehhh riding
Maarten

[Dodgy Dave]

Greetings

Have just got back from a 3 month trip around
Europe, had the fuel pump go on my africa twin on way out of Spain.

Fuel was pouring out of the pump, got the bike to a dealer (honda) who said he had never had any problems with one before.

Have written to Honda but as yet no reply.
Keep you posted


Keep rollin

David