had me wondering if there wasn't enough oil to keep all the pawls properly lubricated.
Rohloff have repeatedly said that even if all your oil was to drain out, there'd be enough left coating the parts to provide lubrication until the next due oil change. I find in inconceivable that wouldn't include the pawls.
They've also said the disadvantage with running less oil is the hubs sound noisier. The oil not needed for lubrication is simple acting as a sound damper (As any dodgy used care salesman will tell you) My suspicion would be the ticking is always there, what you're doing by adding or subtracting fluids is making no difference to the function, only how loudly you here it working.
add some cleaning oil a week or two before a planned oil change to help flush the muck from the nooks and crannies.
I doubt there's ever anything of a particle size that need dislodging, whatever contamination is in the hub is going to be suspended in the oil. Once you've mixed the cleaning fluid and oil together, there seems little point in continuing it, though I also doubt it'd do any harm. I suspect it needs even less mixing than Rohloff dictate, it's common practice if you want the end used to do something for X time, them them it needs doing for 2X, that probably holds equally true for service intervals.
I double flush, ever since the fist time I've not liked the colour of the cleaning fluid after the first one. Rohloff also say it isn't needed, I'm sure they're right, but it keeps me happy.
And that's the point, whatever keeps you happy, if you dislike the ticking and 25ml of oil cures it, problem solved. I just think from everything I've seen and heard, the experience with my own hubs, plus what Rohloff themselves say, that you're not doing any harm running on less oil.
