[Chris Willis]

I have a Moulton Super 4 which works fine – however the Sturmey Archer 4 speed gears sound ‘clunky’ – I would say it’s a bearing issue. They are working fine but the perfectionist in me wants it to run smoothly. Am I worrying about nothing or should I get it seen to? If so … where? (I have looked at ‘exploded’ views of the SA hub on the web and it’s scary!! Also, I’ve looked on Youtube – and I just wouldn’t attempt to do anything myself).
Any comments gratefully received.
Chris

[david james]

try putting some oil in the filler hole first, probably a little red plastic cap on the cylinder part.i’ve had the same on 3 speeds and they work like new after.

[CLIVE FENNER]

Don’t be tempted to use 3 in 1 oil. According to the gear section by Moulton Preservation in the Classic Moulton you should use ‘Halfords’ garden machinery oil SAE 30 for four stroke engines. It must be four stroke not two stroke oil.

[david james]

i used gearbox oil from halfords type plastic container used for topping up car gearbox’s, seems to work fine, hypoid type, after all it is a gearbox!

[Alexander Johnston]

Assuming lubrication isn’t the issue a Google search came up with Colwood Wheelworks tel 01323848667.
I haven’t used them so this is not a recommendation but they do say that they renovate SA hubs.

[david james]

had the same problem also on a nexus 7, which is supposed to be lubricated with special grease from shimano which is about 20 quid a thimbleful, but good old car gearbox oil work’s better.with regard’s colwood his father earned a living doing sturmeys and he has taken over the business, he must be in his 50’s, i have not used him but normally his type survive on recommendation, i would guess there are not too many who can fix sturmeys like he can

[Ian]

Sturmey Archer sell a semi-fluid grease for use in hubs, but it costs a lot for what it is. I have a tub of Castrol Spheerol EP0 that is used in some racing kart gearboxes and have been using it perfectly happily in my hubs for some time. You can find similar on ebay for @£7 for 500ml. Better than oil – it doesn’t leak out! I’m just trying an experiment with Finish Line Wet (chain lube) in a hub. Suspect that it will be good too. First impressions are that it is fine.

[david james]

presumably you can’t squeeze that through the the small hole in the old sturmeys?

[CLIVE FENNER]

As l have no idea how much oil is in my S.A. hub, how do l calculate how much to top up with ? Is overfilling to be avoided ?

[Alexander Johnston]

Put in about a teaspoonful. I was advised to use 4 stroke lawnmower oil which is a mineral oil and that’s what I use.
If the bike is ridden regularly put in a few drops or a squirt every couple of months.
If you overfill it will simply seep out.

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