Is an annual oil change really necessary/

[Dingle]

My Rohloff hasn't done more than a couple of hundred miles since my last tour a couple of years ago and I am wondering about the need to change the oil. Does something awful happen to it over time that could damage the hub? Surely it would be fine until it has racked up some miles. Does anybody here have technical knowledge about this stuff?
Thanks

[Danneaux]

Hi Dingle!

Reading Rohloff Stories (the company publication telling all about the Rohloff hub, its development, and the human stories behind the users and service), I've come to think the first service is likely the most important.

Why?

While it appears the oil itself doesn't break down, it does serve as a suspension for the small metal particles that accumulate due to wear. Also, if water has somehow managed to get in the hub, changing the oil will take the water out with it. There is a story in the book of a hub that was somehow used for an extended period with nothing but the assembly lube (apparently the original owner had not filled it per instructions). It was sent in eventually, but too late to prevent damage. Rohloff said if it had even been sent in at the end of the first year, no damage would have occurred from running only the assembly lube.

Too, wear tends to be highest on a new hub as the parts begin to mesh and wear to each other. That first oil change removes the problem before they can cause rough or imprecise shifting. It seems many cases of rough Rohloff shiftng are speedily resolved with only an oil change. Subsequent oil changes probably aren't as critical due to the lessened rate of wear, but I would still consider them wise and i plan to keep to schedule myself.

Given your low mileage, I'm virtually certain the hub would be okay without an oil change, but given the cost of the hub, why risk it? Once changed and refilled, you'll have no more worries till the next service internal. I picked up a spare oil change kit off eBay for only USD$22, so the cost isn't terribly high. I normally buy from SJS Cycles, but grabbed this one because of time and because the vendor was nearby so arrival would be almost immediate. I'm not sure how common they are at that price.

So, all told, I think it's a good precautionary measure to make that first oil change now and avoid worries and inconvenience on down the road -- and then do regular changes thereafter.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Dan. (...who believes regular engine oil changes for the car are cheap insurance, too)

[Andre Jute]

Post removed on hand of what Dave Whittle says below. Thanks, Dave. -- AJ

[Dave Whittle Thorn Workshop]

The SPEEDHUB does not require any special care to be taken during the break-in period (the first 1000km) like old car engines because the internal gears do not wear in as such, the component surfaces are merely slightly polished through use. The components are all chemically de-burred by Rohloffs subcontractors before being built into hubs back at the factory. The mating surfaces of these components could be polished prior to being used but that would increase the cost of the product to astronomical levels. Market research showed the majority of customers would rather spend the 1000km or so breaking-in the hub themselves then spend the extra money to have this process completed in the factory.

Because we are not talking about larger abrasive particles floating in the oil, the initial oil change does not need to be completed early. If this was necessary, I would guess that Rohloff would have stated this as necessary for warranty cover and to earn an extra few quid in revenue. They didn't/don't so no need to panic.

A major point that we mustn't overlook is that the SPEEDHUB isn't a sealed unit - and never will be. The belief that all will be fine without upholding the oil change intervals if the bike is "just standing in an even temperature" is nice in theory however in reality is only possible after investing in an air bubble type storage facility (as classic cars sometimes are). The temperature difference of night and day, humidity difference of seasons etc is enough to cause the hub to breath through these seals (although whether this is enough to cause damage is yet to be proved).

The SPEEDHUB uses the 2 (or 3 for Q/R hubs) main seals as breathers to help balance internal and external air pressure values and as such where air can escape, moisture can penetrate the hub. This constant back and forth of moisture and oil can allow the hub to run low on lubricant leaving the internal gears susceptible to corrosion.

The less oil that is inside the hub, the greater the chance of this oil coagulating as it mixes with penetrated moisture simply because the balance can be more easily tipped. The way a bicycle is stored therefore may also ease oil leakage. If the bicycle stand is incorrectly suited to the bicycle for example, and the bike leans too far to one side, the oil level may collect over the seal itself where the weight will slowly force the oil out. It is still possible therefore for a hub that is not used to lose oil.

In addition I feel it worth mentioning that Rohloff are also still investigating a yet non-understood phenomenon where plastic components within a SPEEDHUB swell after long-term exposure to moisture. If the plastic parts swell, the internal play required in the gear-unit for a smooth function is greatly reduced. Internal friction increases and the only way to rectify that is a trip back to Rohloff in Germany. The repair of such a case is not covered by warranty either as Rohloff can easily see (and smell) that the oil change intervals were not upheld.

Hope this helps, Dave.

[Danneaux]

Hope this helps, Dave.

Help greatly, Dave; an outstanding and extremely informative response; thanks!

Best,

Dan.

[gearoidmuar]

To see if I could find any metal particles. I didn't. If they were there, they weren't big enough for me to see.

[Matt2matt2002]

To see if I could find any metal particles. I didn't. If they were there, they weren't big enough for me to see.

Got a magnet?

[revelo]

This is related to this topic. I rest my bike on the right side each night (sprocket side) while touring and oil leaks out fairly quickly through the seals there. I would say most of the free oil is gone after 2 months. As I understand, the hub will run okay on just the oil attached to the internal gears for the remaining month of a typical tour, after which I perform an oil change. Moisture should be a minor problem since the areas I tour in are very dry.

[Danneaux]

This is related to this topic. I rest my bike on the right side each night...

Just curious -- have you tried resting it on the left side to see if it leaks out there as well?

Best,

Dan.

[revelo]

I have a mirror on the left side handlebar, which is why I don't want to rest on that side. I would assume there are seals on both sides, since the axle has to pass through both sides. Also, the left side has the external gear mech. I'd rather get the sprocket dirty that the EX box.  (Dan and I are Americans, BTW, and Americans drive on the right so mirrors on the left.)