I have a couple of questions. 1. In the previous post "GRiSO Valve Adjustment" there's mention of tampons being required.
I'll be checking the valves on my 1100 soon so would like to order them. I'm not sure which item they are on the parts diagram at the bottom of this post.
Is it number 17? Could someone let me know when they get the chance; I'd appreciate it!
2. I've been getting a little drop of oil dripping from the bottom (I assume) of my right throttle body onto the gearbox; anyone had similar? Nothing major, maybe one or two drops. Haven't had the tank off yet to have a proper look.
On a side note: I have for the first time ever filled my tank with Super Unleaded fuel as it's still E5....think it was rated 98 Ron
I can honestly say that the bike runs nicer with it!
All these years I have stuck to normal unleaded so I'm pleased in a way that I have been forced by E10's introduction into "discovering" Super Unleaded. Never thought it'd make any difference but it really does seem to! It feels a bit smoother.....
That's all, really; bike's been great! Cheers to all...
The 1100 doesn't use tampons. They are used under the four mushroom shaped bolts that hold the rocker cover down on the 8V motor.
A word of advice with the rocker cover gaskets for the 1100, (Or any 2V motor). Get a pair of the Valpollini ones. They won't squeeze out nor will they leak. They can also be re-used many times.
If you have oil dripping out of the throttlebody spindle it is likely that the airbox has oil sloshing around in it. Take the battery out and remove the cover at the front of the airbox and check for pooled oil, (Have you ever drained it by unplugging the drain under the bike?). Do you keep the oil 'Topped up' to the full mark on the stick? If you do then that will be the source of the excessive oil expulsion. Even if the ring seal is good if the oil level is too high it will be pumped out until it finds its own level. This varies from bike to bike but it is usually somewhere between the 'Add' mark and halfway up the stick. Don't fill it above that half way mark and don't add any more unless it drops off the stick.
Yes, you could, conceivably, have a broken ring but unless it's smoking like a destroyer on convoy escort duty laying down a smoke-screen it's not a ring. I've yet to see a GRiSO with a broken ring. Not even ones rebuilt by Harry Hometune who put them in upside down!
Pete, Cheers, mate. Great knowledge & sharing of it!
Thanks re: Tampons not needed & gasket tip... the gaskets I've been using are a pain to remove.
Yes, I do tend to keep the oil level high in the engine so I'm thinking it's that... will look at the weekend as it's oil & filters change time. It's the merest of drops!!! I've read your previous thoughts about the GRiSO having a ridiculously over-cooled engine so will follow that advice re: engine oil level.
No, I've never unplugged the drain under the bike but will have a look when I get home tonight.
The lower level is nothing to do with cooling, it's to do with crankcase vs. swept volume and the proximity of the crank to the oil surface in the sump. Also the 1100 actually has a thermostat so over cooling isn't as much of a problem, (Although they will all run cool in wet weather.).
Don't forget to pre-fill the new filter before installation and make sure the gasket of the old filter has come off with the old filter when it is removed.
Last year when I changed the filter I had to really whack the filter cup onto it; so much so that I found it hard to pry off! It was the same type filter as the one I'd removed from the bike but slightly bigger!
Cheers for the warning, John, I've had to use e5 for quite some time (many years, now) & thankfully it's not caused any issues with the tank (as far as I know). I'm avoiding e10 right now. Here in the UK all the Super Unleaded pumps are e5 (as far as I know) so I'm using that.
Re: that previous post. There is a noticeable difference running with the higher octane rated Super Unleaded for me; it's a bit smoother, as it were. I'd always stuck with the owner's manual instruction to use 95 rated fuel until last week's first Super Unleaded fill. Bit worried re: tank but will keep my eye on it..... wil post any Ethanol related tank weirdness if I experience any.
I ride this bike every day as it's my commuter/ general purpose bike so I try to do my best for it.
What are other UK GRiSO riders using since the e10 rollout? I'd be interested to know.... it's only been a week, I think.
To narrow it down further: Any UK riders in Essex/Suffolk on this forum? What are you using? Where are you fuelling?
side note: I unplugged that drain under the bike when I got home yesterday (re: Pete's post).... quite a bit of water & black oil came out!
I use Esso super unleaded which is ethanol free in the UK.
This is from their website link:
'What’s in our Synergy Supreme+ 99 premium petrol
Although our pumps have E5 labels on them, our Synergy Supreme+ 99 is actually ethanol free (except, due to technical supply reasons, in Devon, Cornwall, North Wales, North England and Scotland). Legislation requires us to place these E5 labels on pumps that dispense unleaded petrol with ‘up to 5% ethanol’, including those that contain no ethanol, which is why we display them on our Synergy Supreme+ 99 pumps.
There’s currently no requirement for renewable fuel, like ethanol, to be present in super unleaded petrol although this could change in the future, in which case we would comply with any new legislation.'
Subject: Re: Tampon question & slight oil leak.. Mon Dec 06, 2021 4:25 am
Currently I am swapping between E10 and E5 as I fill up every 2 days. Haven't noticed any real difference in mileage figures between the 2 - only the price...
As for the tank - again not noticed anything YET, however I am looking into coating the tank [but do worry about how well it will stay in place for.] I know that having the inside keyed nicely will help a lot.
JohnA GRiSO Capo
Posts : 735 Join date : 2015-01-13 Age : 67
Subject: Re: Tampon question & slight oil leak.. Mon Dec 06, 2021 4:32 am
Brian,
I used Caswell expoxy for tanks on mine about 6 years ago and it’s been fine. They have instructions which include scratching up the inside of your tank to get good adherence. If you get around to it and have a question, let me know.
Red Leader Tanabuso
Posts : 69 Join date : 2017-04-24
Subject: Re: Tampon question & slight oil leak.. Mon Dec 06, 2021 5:14 am
Hi Folks, Brian D,
Just wondering if you think the bike fires smoother with the Super Unleaded? Mine feels nicer to ride with Super in it.......... that's still E5 at my local Co-Op garage. I think I'm getting more miles per gallon now but haven't actually done the maths!
Subject: Tampon question & slight oil leak.. 
Tue Sep 07, 2021 4:17 am
