Raoul Delmare wrote:
>
>Sheldon, I'd really like to hear your thoughts.
>
>Here's what I know:
>
>1.) The problem with "3-In-1 Oil" is that it includes things which become
>SERIOUSLY GUMMY with age. Perhaps they have changed the formula in
>recent years? I doubt it. I've heard it includes some vegetable oils?
>Very fresh castor oil in your Bugatti's crankcase is one thing.
>Old rancid vegetable oil in your bicycle's rear hub is another thing
>entirely!
> 3-in-1 = GUM
Yep. 3-in-One is best for poisoning fish, don't know anything else
it's good for.
>2.) Again, let me mention that years ago I was lucky enough to speak with
>an engineer who was actually on the team involved with developing what
>became "WD-40". As if we didn't all know it already, WD-40 forms
>SERIOUS VARNISH.
> But here's what I can tell you. It was DESIGNED to form varnish!
> The development team was given the task of creating something which
>would form a varnish-like barrier, to keep big steel equipment from rusting,
>before it was painted. It penetrates through water, to form a
>varnish-like-barrier. It was never intended to be a lubricant.
> WD-40 = VARNISH
I did not know that, but I know that WD-40 is a lousy lubricant.
>
>3.) Actual, genuine, real Sturmey Archer Oil, always looked thinner than
>"30-weight" to me. I'm fairly sure that "30-weight" is thicker than what
>Sturmey Archer chose for their hubs.
>
>4.) In the automotive world, they worry about lubricants designed to work
>in machines which have steel teeth which mesh together.
>Key terms; Hypoid Drive, Hypoid Drive Lube, Gear Lube,
>High-Pressure Lube.
> Obviously, "90-weight" rear axle lube is much-much too thick for
>your Sturmey gear .
> However, something in about a "20-weight", but containing
>"high-pressure" "gear-lubricants", might be theoretically the best thing
>for your S.A. rear hub.
>
>5.) Currently there is much heated discussion among the owners of very
>high-performance motorbikes. What lube to use? Are new oils TOO thin?
>What to use when your engine shares its oil with your gear box?
> The result?
> Some, I say again some, oils for motorcycles actually do contain
>different "gear lubes", which automobile oils do NOT contain.
Sturmey-Archer hubs are not at all fussy about lube, any decent medium-weight oil works fine. The three things I've known of to cause problems are 3-in-One, WD-40 and salad oil. Other than that, I'd say don't worry.
My personal favourite is Phil Wood Tenacious oil. I used to use a homemade concoction of Sturmey-Archer oil mixed with 90 weight hypoid gear oil or bed-way lube, but the Phil Wood seems to have the same characteristics as my old witch's brew, _and_ it's cholesterol free!
Sheldon "Tenacious" Brown
+-----------------------------------------------+
| The wayfarer |
| Perceiving the pathway to truth, |
| Was struck with astonishment. |
| It was thickly grown with weeds. |
| "Ha," he said, |
| "I see that none has passed here |
| In a long time." |
| Later he saw that each weed |
| Was a singular knife. |
| "Well," he mumbled at last, |
| "Doubtless there are other roads." |
| --Stephen Crane |
+-----------------------------------------------+
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