Thanks for the replies all.

Dan: I have watched the 2 videos you posted when I was trying to better understand 5 speed hubs to rebuild the SA-S5-1 that I have, and I thank you for them (you helped me discover that it had been rebuilt before I received it and reassembled without lining-up the timing marks). However, they seem to describe more how the X-RD5(W) is unlike its ancestors than describe how it works or what to expect as one disassembles it. I am a little concerned that this hub may have been disassembled (it was not tightly threaded into the hub shell) and not successfully reassembled (because the internal parts are not closely held together inside). I will see what the hubstripping website has. My crawling on the intertubes has led me to have some concern that this orphan hub may not be as robust as the venerable AW and its contemporaries. I will try again to open it next week and perhaps video its current condition to see if others can offer guidance with better information.

As for the SRAM
I know I am going to have to McGyver the thing because I do not have the parts it was originally shipped with (and I am allergic to twist shifters). I am thinking that I will use a bent spoke to make a part to catch the end of the cable that comes out of the hub and link it to a standard gear cable. But I am thinking that like any 3 speed, there is only one critical position - 2nd gear. The extreme gears are at either fully relaxed cable or fully taught cable, so using a friction shifter one must gently discern at what angle 2nd gear if fully engaged and adjust cable length so that angle can be repeated. Did I miss something on this one?

I am aware that best practices are to use marine grease on bearings and barriers, and high temperature grease on coaster brake parts. Thanks for adding that information to this thread.

Once again, thanks to everyone for your ideas and support.

-Will