Fair enough. I bought an XRK8(W) in the spring of '09, built it into a wheel and put a lot of miles on it since. Never missed a shift, and actually, I've never adjusted the cable. I stir it with a Jtek bar-end shifter.
mac_cycleface wrote:I am sure Mercon ULV ATF has a low viscosity and I am currently considering Hypoid gear oil or manual transmission oil like Castrol Manual EP 80W API GL-4. What do you think of that idea?
I have two bikes equipped with SA hubs, both 3-speed but different generations . The modern hub was maintained with the official fluid grease, following advice suggested here I purchased and will now use the seemingly superior LR swivel grease. My older hub is an AW with a oil port on the body. I tried some EP80w gear oil, it works OK but the hub was noticeably sluggish during the recent cold spell as the oil had thickened up. Sturmey recommend 30w oil in these hubs and I now use this spec. It is not expensive and often sold as lawnmower / horticultural machinery oil.
If I understand your reply, then you have not experienced cold winter weather problems, or drag in the hub caused by too thick oil, while using plain single grade motor oil 30W as lube in this 3 sp IHG?
mac_cycleface wrote:I am sure Mercon ULV ATF has a low viscosity and I am currently considering Hypoid gear oil or manual transmission oil like Castrol Manual EP 80W API GL-4. What do you think of that idea?
I have two bikes equipped with SA hubs, both 3-speed but different generations . The modern hub was maintained with the official fluid grease, following advice suggested here I purchased and will now use the seemingly superior LR swivel grease. My older hub is an AW with a oil port on the body. I tried some EP80w gear oil, it works OK but the hub was noticeably sluggish during the recent cold spell as the oil had thickened up. Sturmey recommend 30w oil in these hubs and I now use this spec. It is not expensive and often sold as lawnmower / horticultural machinery oil.
If I understand your reply, then you have not experienced cold winter weather problems, or drag in the hub caused by too thick oil, while using plain single grade motor oil 30W as lube in this 3 sp IHG?
That is correct with sluggish behavior eliminated. SA recommend 30w oil for the old AW hub anyway. I only used EP80 as had it to hand.
mac_cycleface wrote:What kind of lube do you use. Oil or grease?
I use NLGI #00 semi-fluid "John Deere Cotton Picker Spindle" grease for the mechanism and Sta-Lube Marine grease for the axle bearings and labyrinth seals.
. The modern hub was maintained with the official fluid grease, following advice suggested here I purchased and will now use the seemingly superior LR swivel grease. My older hub is an AW with a oil port on the body. I tried some EP80w gear oil, it works OK but the hub was noticeably sluggish during the recent cold spell as the oil had thickened up. Sturmey recommend 30w oil in these hubs and I now use this spec. It is not expensive and often sold as lawnmower / horticultural machinery oil.