smoothness 

I know that everyone is always about using sturmey archer oil/shimano nexus super special oil/phil's tenacious oil, but i can't get a bottle of any of aforementioned products on short notice without paying dearly. So I decided to hunt in my garage.

I debated using 3 in 1 oil, but decided against it when I found the bottle slightly...less than liquid. Found an almost empty bottle of mobil synthetic 5w 30, said "eh, what's the harm" and dropped a bit into the hub. mind you that this is a modern 3 speed sachs with a 7 speed cassette on the outside, but i figured a bit couldn't do any worse than dilute whatever's crusted inside.

everything went peachy, till I let the bike sit for a few minutes, in which a fair amount of oil started dripping out of the cassette side. darn. anyone else know of any "generic" oils that'll hold inside a hub, but not be binding to the point of sticking?
(checked sheldon's site, was a bit ambiguous other than "mid-weight oil," which i understood to be motor oil).

ps: feel free to trash b/c it's not "strictly vintage," but i figure that tossing this question in C&V would garner more responses. sorry.

Grand Bois

I use motor oil and it doesn't leak. Could you have overfilled the hub?

nfmisso

5W30 is a bit thin at normal bike operating temperature. Straight 30W worked fine for me (decades ago).

sillygolem

The proper oil is 20W non-detergent motor oil. You can pick up a quart at any auto parts store. Alternatively, you can pick up 3-in-1 20W for electric motors at most hardware stores: It's in a blue can and is normally stocked with the power tools. It only takes a few drops each month to keep the hub lubricated.

David Newton

You just overfilled it.
The oil you used will work fine.

wahoonc

Any oil is better than no oil. I live in the deep south and typically use straight 30 wt. What kind of condition was the grease around the bearing in? It helps hold the oil in.

Aaron

Mr IGH

This is good stuff for a SA. 30W from the mower is good too. 5W-30 is a little thin just because the SA hub isn't well sealed, a little thicker is better.

cudak888 

So long as a Sturmey hub is filled with oil, oil will leak out of it in one form or another. The bearing raceways are not sealed off from the shell internals, and are free to receive oil splashing around in the shell.

Try as you might, it'll leak. Just think of the ramifications of cornering, coupled with a hub that can't hold its oil.

-Kurt

Road Fan

I think they lose oil until they have what they really need, which is not much at all. If you put in more than 20 drops, you are asking for a mess. Start by spinning the wheel and listening, then give it 4 drops and listen again. Clicking should improve. Grinding sounds are not a good sign. Repeat the process in a week.

If it sounds good and feels good, and you don't have leaks, leave it alone for a few months or until it feels/sounds bad. They are not designed to run dry.

sillygolem

FYI - Multiweight oils are designed to flow freely when cold, then stiffen up as they warm up. This makes it easier to pump them through an engine when starting up, while allowing them to stay on parts when the engine is at operating temperature.

Gear hubs don't get that warm, so a 5w30 oil stays at its 5w viscosity.

smoothness 

awesome. i love the varied and informative responses. i'm just going to guess that i put too much in at this point. i was pouring straight out of a motor oil bottle (lol) and counted to three. the diameter of the stream i was pouring was probably a couple mm in diameter, but after learning that it only needed a few drops, i obviously put in too much.

i also did not bother to take apart the hub; instead i was praying on "the last person never used the bike, so let's just assume things are a bit sticky." i love taking the hubs apart, but i really just wanted to test out the bike. (free E-Bike Recumbent xD.)

sillygolem: i was attempting to find non-detergent oil in the house, but i guess we don't own it.
cudak: i was hoping the centrifugal force of the hub would keep the oil inside the hub body and out of the bearing races . also, i assumed there would be a bit of leakage, but not that much.
mr IGH + everyone else: i guess i should just go out and find some 20w oil. i was thinking of ordering a bottle of 3-1 20w through amazon prime, but two days is two days too long.

thanks for all the responses!

Ciufalon

I am happy to hear all these responses and have this information as well. BTW, that is one nice bike you got for free!