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 however is that although the SPEEDHUB has 25ml of oil within it, the hubs only actually require approximately 7ml for lubrication. The remaining 18ml is only included to help with noise damping. This 7ml of oil that the SPEEDHUB requires will never be lost completely because the oil properties allow it to cling highly to the surface areas of all components within the SPEEDHUB. Even after extracting the oil with the syringe, this amount 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 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. If possible, take a clear photograph with your phone or camera 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. If possible, take a clear photograph with your phone or camera to send with the completed Returns Form below.