bhtooefr

So, on my 2011 TerraTrike, I have a Sturmey-Archer X-RF8(W), and am wondering what maintenance is required to keep it happy for the long term. Nothing wrong with it, just want to keep it safe.

Searching around isn't finding anything conclusive for this specific hub, just general statements.

Sturmey-Archer says the following about maintenance:

So, how often should major services be performed? I've found references to which types of grease should be used in such a major service (SA103A, which is apparently NLGI #00, for the gears; SA103B, which is apparently NLGI #2, for the bearings), but how well does the X-RF8(W) respond to, say, adding an oiler, and switching to oil lubrication for the gears? I know some hubs are different from others in this respect, as far as how well they retain oil.

Dan Burkhart 

I'm running a XFR8(w) on an ATF oil dunk. It's away for the winter, but when I get it out in the spring, I will run it for a bit and then open it up to see if the lube is staying where it's needed.
There has been no leakage so far, and the hub runs much smoother and quieter than it did with the factory grease.

Andrew R Stewart 

The service intervals will depend on the conditions the unit is used in and the amount it's used. So a hub used once a week in heavy rain should be serviced more often then one used five times a week in sunny weather (assuming same daily mileage). A hub used by a 250lb rider who shifts under power will need more frequent service then a 125lb rider who knows how to shift lightly. All the service charts I've seen (and i just last night was looking at the Chris King BB one) qualify the service frequency with the load, environment and mileage. The only thing that you can take to the bank is that more frequent service is better then less frequent service. Andy.

tcs

Judging from the trouble-free service I've gotten from my XRK8(W) over the last ~three years, I'd strongly encourage you to not over think this. But to answer your question, and just shooting from the hip, I'd say "major service" is when you're servicing your cables, front hubs, bottom bracket and - what are they called on a tadpole - headsets? kingpin bearings?

BTW, Dan has put some scintillating videos on youtube covering disassembly and theory of operation of the XRF8(W).

SunRace Sturmey-Archer has published in various official factory documents that their SA103A gear grease is an NLGI #00 and suggested Castrol Impervia TR Light as a commercial equivalent. Many American lawnmower repair shops carry NLGI #00 in 4 oz tubes as Snapper 7061017 or Stens 770-123.

Sturmey says their SA103B bearing grease is an NLGI #2 and that one commercial equivalent is Castrol LMX. Another dandy and commonly available NLGI #02 is Sta-Lube Marine Grease (the blue stuff for boat trailer wheel bearings).

bhtooefr

BTW, my usage is:

Fairly short distance - I'd have to check the Garmin logs for 2012, but I'd be surprised if I did 1000 mi (and I probably did 20-50 mi before I got the Garmin, including the week after I bought it in 2011) - I do plan on doing more this year, though.
Usually dry (but sometimes quite cold - speaking of which, I've not had any trouble with the grease thickening up all the way down to 20 F) weather, although I might start doing wet weather commuting eventually.
Almost always stop pedaling to shift (it's a SA 8-speed, it ain't shifting under load anyway)
I'm 245 lbs, but I suspect rider weight isn't the real concern with a recumbent. The reason why rider weight is usually a factor is because of torque put on the pedals from the rider's weight coming down on them, right? And on a recumbent, you're not standing on the pedals, and you ARE braced against the seat... so rider torque output is actually the factor, not rider weight, I'd think. (And I'm rather weak on torque output.)

And, various names are used for the bearing surfaces in a tadpole's kingpins - some (usually either nicer or more DIY) trikes use proper headsets, TerraTrike uses oil-impregnated bronze bushings. (This means that the TerraTrike ones usually require more frequent service, as I understand, but they're cheaper.)

Dan Burkhart 

I will just add this about my oil lubrication experiment. It is just that, an experiment. I am not endorsing the practice, and ATF may very well not be the best lube for the job, but being the contrarian that I am, I like to try stuff rather than listen to a bunch of theories about it.
I'll let you know in 10 or 12 years if the ATF pans out.

fietsbob

One guy in Cal is the S-A US rep ,to contact, and ask.. [the product, afaik, is shipped directly to Distributors]..