12.5 ML... THE NEW ROHLOFF OIL REFILL RECOMMENDATIONS

We strongly recommend filling (or refilling) your Rohloff Speedhub with a maximum of 12.5ml of Rohloff All-Seasons Oil.

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Due to the sealed design of the Speedhub, a number of factors can cause the air inside the hub to expand and be expelled (forced out) through the main shell seals, or through the internal seals into the hollow quick release axle. That expelled oil can then be forced into the external gear mech, into the cable box and even into the cables. This can happen when riding on a cold day and then storing your bike back in a warm heated environment at night, laying your bike down, carrying your bike in a vehicle or air travel, or with significant changes of altitude. Normally, these events would not cause an oil leak unless the oil level was too high or the bike was laid on its side so that oil was covering the seal area - then if the pressure inside the hub increased trying to equalise (warm air expands), the air inside the hub will force itself out through the seals... and if your oil is at that height of the seals, or on its side covering the seal... a one-off event may happen whereby the oil is forced out passed the seals.

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The Speedhub is completely sealed and can only release pressure through the shell seals. If there is too much oil because the oil has not been drained fully or it has been overfilled by mistake, the oil level can be high enough to be expelled out through the seals. Again, this is typically a one-off event, and there is no need to be concerned, as any free oil inside the Speedhub is for sound suppression only. To prevent an oil leak, we recommend only refilling with 12.5ml of oil... and if this type of event happens, refer to the procedure below "Oil Leak Reporting Procedure", and pay special attention to any residual oil that may still be in the gear mech, or cable box or in the cables. Call or email us if you would like more information on this subject.

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MORE OIL LEAK INFORMATION
It is not necessarily normal for a SPEEDHUB to lose oil, but this is absolutely nothing to worry about. As opposed to a regular automotive gear unit, the SPEEDHUB has no top or bottom and so any irregularities in air pressure (caused by – e.g. after taking the bicycle out of a cold cellar and out to ride in a 35° heat or by extreme altitude changes as when transporting the SPEEDHUB in an airplane) must balance out through either the hollow CC axle or through the specially designed hub seals which act identically to engine breathers. This is sweat oil and is completely normal for this type of construction.

The way that the bicycle is stored may help ease the oils escape in certain circumstances. If the bicycle leans to one side, the entire oil weight can collect over one seal and then, depending upon temperature and machine tolerances, force its way out of the hub. In addition, if a bicycle is transported in a lying position, the oil could escape through this same process. It is also quite possible for oil to get caught between the two lips of the hub seal and then easily escape many hours after the bicycle has been righted again.

What is important to remember here is that although the SPEEDHUB should have a maximum of 12.5ml of 'free oil' internally, the hub only requires approximately 7ml for lubrication - which is always on the internal surfaces (Note... the 7ml of oil coating the internal components will never be lost). The 12.5ml of free oil is only added for noise damping... and even after extracting all the free oil with the syringe, 7ml of oil can still be found within the gear-unit. For this reason "The gear unit can definitely not be damaged from riding with too little oil". As long as the SPEEDHUB was originally filled with 15ml of oil (i.e. not dry) and an oil change has made at least every 5000km (to guarantee that any penetrated moisture is rinsed out), then the gear-unit will continue to run flawlessly.

If you are unsure as to whether the oil is an actual abnormal leak or just sweat oil, contact your local Rohloff Dealer (bike shop) or Puresports (distributor), by emailing a few photographs to illustrate better where the oil leak appears to be originating from and we can then advise how best to proceed.

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OIL LEAK REPORTING PROCEDURE

Firstly, read and understand the above information (oil weeping can be normal, oil leaks after travel are common

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Quick Release Axle Speedhub

1. Wipe clean all areas around and at the oil leak and remove the quick release axle/skewer and wipe dry from oil if any oil is present (take note if the oil is on the non-drive side of the axle/skewer or the other or the full length). If there is oil on the QR axle/skewer, clean and wipe oil from the internal shaft where the QR axle/skewer is inserted.

2. If you have an external gear mech, undo the cable box and wipe any oil dry from inside the box if present (let the cable box drain if necessary)

3. Take the bike for a 15-30 min ride and see if you can see exactly where the oil is coming from? It is important to try and determine exactly where the leak maybe originating from (from one of the external shell/end cover seals? leaking onto the axle/skewer? from an internal gear mech? leaking into the cable box with an external gear mech? other?)

4. Take a clear photograph to send with the completed Returns Form below.

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Threaded Axle Speedhub

1. Wipe clean all the oily areas so you can try and see better after a ride where the oil leak originates from

2. If you have an external gear mech, undo the cable box and wipe any oil dry from inside the box if present (let the cable box drain if necessary)

3. Take the bike for a 15-30 min ride and see if you can see exactly where the oil is coming from? It is important to try and determine exactly where the leak maybe originating from (from one of the external shell/end cover seals? from an internal gear mech? leaking into the cable box with an external gear mech? other?)

4. Take a clear photograph to send with the completed Returns Form below.