Rohloff Speedhub 14 Service/Oil Change Question & Advice?

[nogoodnamesleft]

Speedhub purchased new and previous service done by LBS. But looking at what's involved looks fairly straightforward (I'm no bike mechanic but moderately capable with such stuff) so hoping to DIY it.
Looks like a "service" is just an oil change". Plenty of online guidance but I've 3 questions:

1. The quantity of new oil to put in. Manual shop gave me when purchased says 12.5 ml BUT online (SJS publishing Rohloff's instruction sheet) says 25 ml oil back in. What quantity do people use. Or put back what I take out (allowing for cleaning fluid, etc.) to min 12.5 ml. 1st time I'm doing it so don't know?

2. From what I can see the drain screw appears not to "stop" or tighten and mustn't be screwed in too far. It there no "tighten" and just screw it in until flush rather than until ant "stop"?

3. Anything else I should be aware of or take special care of?

Many thanks

 

[wakemalcolm]

I remember reading somewhere that the advice has changed from 25ml to 12.5ml. I think the hub is robust enough to cope with anything in between. Mine 'farted' out some oil at the top of the Gavia but it's functioned ok for the 19 years since.

Regarding the drain screw, I just turn it until it's tight without forcing. The replacement screw comes with a thread lock type coating so is unlikely to pop out.

Anything else? Be careful with catching the old oil when you take it out: it's pretty manky.

There's a Rohloff group on Facebook if you want more bees in your hive mind.

 

[JonBuoy]

This should provide the answer to your item 1: https://www.rohloff.de/en/company/news/news/reduzierte-oelmenge-fuer-oelwechsel-ab-10-2023

 

[Mike Ayling]

Replacement Drain screw has something on the thread to make an oll tight seal which also makes it quite hard to screw it in so it does not go past level with the surface of the hub.
They are fiddly little things and easy to drop onto the floor and hard to find after you have done so!

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

They are fiddly little things and easy to drop onto the floor and hard to find after you have done so!

When I ordered the oil change kit (the Rohloff one) the retailer also had additional drain screws for a couple of £ so ordered as well.3000 miles is not a vast distance when on several months touring and whilst I'd expect the Rohloff to continue after that without issues, given it's cost, etc. I can see myself having to do an oil change at some campsite, on grass ...

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Many thanks for tips and advice. Much appreciated and expect no issues. Drain screw was a concern given my tendency to over tighten things "just to make absolutely sure they don't fall out ...".

 

[ktmbiker58]

Many thanks for tips and advice. Much appreciated and expect no issues. Drain screw was a concern given my tendency to over tighten things "just to make absolutely sure they don't fall out ...".

A standard L shape Allen key and tighten by holding the short bit of the L betwixt thumb and forefinger is the way!

 

[rogerzilla]

I'm surprised the oil is manky. The stuff that seeps out* of a traditional SA hub, assuming it was clean inside to start with, tends to be barely discoloured. There is, admittedly, a lot less going on inside an AW or AM.

*SA hubs don't really leak in daily use, as the oil film stays spread around the internals, but they seep when left standing for a few days. Best to have the bike leaning slightly left and a rag in the spokes under the LH flange!

 

[ktmbiker58]

I'm surprised the oil is manky. The stuff that seeps out* of a traditional SA hub, assuming it was clean inside to start with, tends to be barely discoloured. There is, admittedly, a lot less going on inside an AW or AM.

*SA hubs don't really leak in daily use, as the oil film stays spread around the internals, but they seep when left standing for a few days. Best to have the bike leaning slightly left and a rag in the spokes under the LH flange!

I suspect Rohloff have some antifriction compound in the oil that the hub is supplied with as the oil is usually black at the first oil change. As you say a SA hub runs more of a 'total loss' lubrication system - only jesting - they run almost on a mist of 3 IN ONE,

 

[rogerzilla]

3 in 1 goes gummy, apparently. I wonder what the Rohloff oil is - it's bound to be something repackaged. I use 75W90 synthetic GL4 gear oil in SA hubs, which seems to work very well. GL5 stinks and engine oil (10W30 would be similar to 75W90 gear oil - they're on different scales) has unnecessary stuff in it, like detergents.