Sturmey-Archer lubrication options?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 548
Bikes: Jamis Coda Sport '06
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Sturmey-Archer lubrication options?
I've read Sheldon Brown's page which recommends Phil Wood oil. The LBS doesn't stock anything they sell although they're willing to give me a few drops when needed. But since I have the entire hub apart right now I'd rather just wipe everything clean and relube with fresh oil. Non-detergent containing motor oil has been mentioned which clearly excludes my supply of Mobil 1 5W-30. What other options are out there? Anything I can buy at CVS? Or should I just order some Phil Wood oil from Sheldon Brown?
#2
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 81
Bikes: Too numerous to note
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The Phil oil works well but in the cold winter might be a bit thick. Your Mobil 1 will also work well: the detergents will not affect it at all. Lighter oils do tend to leak a little faster from the interlocking metal seals so you might have to top up more frequently. I made my own from a can of Mobil synthetic turbine oil with a small dose of some synthetic rear axle oil I added for EP additives. Works great, but not economically practical unless you're lubing a LOT of bikes.
#3
Membership Not Required
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On the road-USA
Posts: 16,855
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
14 Posts
The main thing is that there is oil in there. My preference is Non Detergent, but I have used everything short of virgin olive oil, and I suspect in a pinch even that would work In colder climates the lighter the oil the better to a point. FWIW it got down in the low 20's here the other night, I run 30wt in my hub and it was noticeably stiff until I rode it a ways.
Aaron
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
#4
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,971
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,533 Times
in
1,044 Posts
Originally Posted by Lurker1999
I've read Sheldon Brown's page which recommends Phil Wood oil. The LBS doesn't stock anything they sell although they're willing to give me a few drops when needed. But since I have the entire hub apart right now I'd rather just wipe everything clean and relube with fresh oil. Non-detergent containing motor oil has been mentioned which clearly excludes my supply of Mobil 1 5W-30. What other options are out there? Anything I can buy at CVS? Or should I just order some Phil Wood oil from Sheldon Brown?
#5
Membership Not Required
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On the road-USA
Posts: 16,855
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
14 Posts
Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Sewing machine oil. Then maintain with a drop or two every year or so.
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
#6
Gemutlichkeit
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,423
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Sewing machine oil. Then maintain with a drop or two every year or so.
#7
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,971
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,533 Times
in
1,044 Posts
Originally Posted by wahoonc
Mine takes more than a drop or two a year...several things come into play, how much you ride it, where you store it and if you store it with the oil cap up or down, how tight the seals are, what weight of oil, etc. On my old Sports with 20wt oil in it, I would add a squirt of oil about once a week. On my current Superbe, which gets ridden a lot less than my Sports did I add a squirt maybe once a month. Listen to the sound of the hub, if it is noisier than normal it needs a squirt of oil. FWIW on my old beater Sports the hub was run dry for a while when my brother was riding it, I put a new oil cap on it, added about 5 squirts of oil and it quieted down and started shifting properly again. I have no idea how long he rode it without oil...
In 1997 I bought a 3 speed AMF Hercules at a garage sale for $5. The AW hub was manufactured in 1960 was dry and missing the oil cap. A few drops of oil, a replacement cap from my coffee can of S-A parts, and all better. Still works fine for my wife.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 798
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 24 Times
in
11 Posts
Useful tip:
When building wheels for SA hubs, always align the tire valve with the oil filler. Then you can see if the filler is up or down from 20 feet away. Useful tip #2; Write usefu1 tip #1 on a tag and tie it to your truing stand so you don't forget
Phil Tecacious oil is a great, high film strength lube, and I'm sure it's fine in a hub. But it's quite a bit thicker than Sturmy Archer oil. I use 10w-30 motor oil and thick brown automotive wheel bearing grease in the channels for a seal. The number of dried up old hubs I've OH'd that showed no ill effects, suggests they aren't all that fussy about lube.
Don't use grease inside! Oil will migrate to everywhere in, and out of, the hub, but grease doesn't. I recently OH'd a hub that was filled with a light grease. Took an hour to clean up the mess. Yet the low gear pawls had rusted onto their pins, as they'd gotten no lube.
When building wheels for SA hubs, always align the tire valve with the oil filler. Then you can see if the filler is up or down from 20 feet away. Useful tip #2; Write usefu1 tip #1 on a tag and tie it to your truing stand so you don't forget
Phil Tecacious oil is a great, high film strength lube, and I'm sure it's fine in a hub. But it's quite a bit thicker than Sturmy Archer oil. I use 10w-30 motor oil and thick brown automotive wheel bearing grease in the channels for a seal. The number of dried up old hubs I've OH'd that showed no ill effects, suggests they aren't all that fussy about lube.
Don't use grease inside! Oil will migrate to everywhere in, and out of, the hub, but grease doesn't. I recently OH'd a hub that was filled with a light grease. Took an hour to clean up the mess. Yet the low gear pawls had rusted onto their pins, as they'd gotten no lube.
#9
Gone, but not forgotten
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Newtonville, Massachusetts
Posts: 2,301
Bikes: See: https://sheldonbrown.org/bicycles
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 24 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
Originally Posted by Lurker1999
I've read Sheldon Brown's page which recommends Phil Wood oil. The LBS doesn't stock anything they sell although they're willing to give me a few drops when needed....
I ran into the same thing when visiting my daughter in Santa Cruz in June. I went into the top local bike shop to get some oil so I could oil her bike. They too didn't have any to sell, but one of the mechanics offered to let me use some of his private stash!
It's not as if it's difficult to get. Quality Bicycle Products sells it, part # LU1022
It's also easy enough for a shop to order direct from Phil Wood.
I don't understand why Phil stuff isn't more widely available. In my experience, every Phil Wood product is the very best of its type, and their customer service is unequalled.
Sheldon "Phil-o-phile" Brown
#10
totally louche
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: A land that time forgot
Posts: 18,023
Bikes: the ever shifting stable loaded with comfortable road bikes and city and winter bikes
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
9 Posts
Phil products are fantastic, even if their freehub pawls seem extremely robust in their resistance.
if you can't find Tenacious oil and can't get a shop to order you some (?), a bottle of Finish Line Cross Country (wet) lube is pretty thick and would work well in a SA hub.
if you can't find Tenacious oil and can't get a shop to order you some (?), a bottle of Finish Line Cross Country (wet) lube is pretty thick and would work well in a SA hub.
#12
Membership Not Required
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On the road-USA
Posts: 16,855
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
14 Posts
Originally Posted by Sheldon Brown
Isn't that interesting...the mechanics know and use the best, but for some reason the sales department doesn't choose to carry it.
I ran into the same thing when visiting my daughter in Santa Cruz in June. I went into the top local bike shop to get some oil so I could oil her bike. They too didn't have any to sell, but one of the mechanics offered to let me use some of his private stash!
It's not as if it's difficult to get. Quality Bicycle Products sells it, part # LU1022
It's also easy enough for a shop to order direct from Phil Wood.
I don't understand why Phil stuff isn't more widely available. In my experience, every Phil Wood product is the very best of its type, and their customer service is unequalled.
Sheldon "Phil-o-phile" Brown
I ran into the same thing when visiting my daughter in Santa Cruz in June. I went into the top local bike shop to get some oil so I could oil her bike. They too didn't have any to sell, but one of the mechanics offered to let me use some of his private stash!
It's not as if it's difficult to get. Quality Bicycle Products sells it, part # LU1022
It's also easy enough for a shop to order direct from Phil Wood.
I don't understand why Phil stuff isn't more widely available. In my experience, every Phil Wood product is the very best of its type, and their customer service is unequalled.
Sheldon "Phil-o-phile" Brown
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
#13
Membership Not Required
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On the road-USA
Posts: 16,855
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
14 Posts
Originally Posted by rhenning
I have always used Sturmey Archer's own brand of oil. Seems like since they built the hubs they should know what to put in them. Roger
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
#14
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
226 Posts
Just happen to have the remains of a can of SA Cycle Oil dating back to 25+ years ago when my wife and I had a couple of thrift shop Hercules bikes. "This specially blended oil is ideal for lubricating any mechanism which requires a high quality light oil, such as sewing machines, motor car windscreen wipers, hinges and many other appliances in the home, garage and office." Doesn't say what wt. it is. "A small drop of oil at regular intervals will keep your bicycle in excellent running order."