I purchased a Shimano DH-3N80 dynamo hub new in March, and built a wheel with it for a touring/commuter bike.

I've put less than 100km on it so far this season, but last night after I got home from work I noticed that the non-drive side of the hub was leaking a substantial quantity of light-grey fluid (grease I presume, it has a graphite-y kind of feel, but it isn't very thick... not like the grease I'd expect to find inside bearings, but it also had a kind of foamy consistency perhaps from the spinning wheel as I'd just finished my ride... very odd).

Not good, man!:



I'll examine it more closely soon, but I'm wondering what the heck's gone wrong. The cones weren't loose as far as I know, I didn't hit any crazy bumps or potholes, and there's no way anything (seals, etc.) should be worn out by now. Is this unit just a dud?

I sent an email the LBS where I bought it asking if they've seen this before, and I plan to take it in on the weekend... but man, am I bummed. From what I've read, these hubs are supposedly non-serviceable (although they can be serviced, with great care, lest a wire inside break rendering them useless) especially from the drive side. So I can adjust the non-drive side but I plan to leave it alone until the LBS checks it over in case I'm still within any kind of warranty/sympathy zone.

Have you run into this before? Was it perhaps just a loosened cone? Or is this something else?