Hub Lubrication

[velohomme]

I'm talking about mid 1970's shimano hubs. The ones with a hole in the centre covered by a clip. My LBS tells me it should be grease in there not oil. The hole is only about 1mm dia. Anybody got any thoughts? If it is grease how do you get it in?

 

[fossyant]

Cycle grease gun !

My Dura Ace 7400 (late 80's), have grease ports where the seals are, turn them open, squirt grease in, close. Great idea.

 

[velohomme]

This a dura ace 1st series. Is the hole the same size. I have to admit to never having seen a grease gun that small. Looks a a Google search

 

[fossyant]

0.9mm nozzle here

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alloy-Gr...m=254102288812&_trksid=p2047675.c100008.m2219

 

[velohomme]

Great. Thanks a lot.

 

[fossyant]

Great. Thanks a lot.

That's an overseas seller, but I'm sure there will be others.

 

[fossyant]

Even if not an exact fit, you'll need something to get the grease in, and this is the only way without stripping the hub the 'usual' way.

 

[velohomme]

It's a good starting point. I know a lot more how to proceed than an hour ago.

 

[Tenkaykev]

Is there a second hole for the old grease to be pushed out?
(genuine question from my days overhauling electric motors)

 

[davidphilips]

Just my view , better to strip clean and grease hubs, that way you know not only condition of bearings but that very old grease that may seem like dirty soap etc has been cleaned out also theres not a mis match with two different greases and all the bearings are well lubricated.

 

[gbb]

If I think back to the 70s, we had those holes with covers, we just used to put oil in, never had any problems...mind I suspect it must dribble out so not a great solution if your bikes kept In the house. I still remember how freely wheels would spin with oil in the bearings.
It never occurred to us to put grease in...does the grease have to be quite runny to get out to the bearings or does centrifugal force force the grease out to the bearings perhaps.?

 

[MichaelW2]

Probably best to strip, clean and check before reverting to quick and easy grease injection. I would love that on my dynamo hub.

 

[ChrisEyles]

My old 1950s Raleigh has these on the hubs - I use thickish oil, little and often. Modern grease is much better than older stuff (emulsifies less quickly) so either oil/grease should be fine.

Never had the oil dribble out noticeably. I do lean the bike side to side to make sure the oil gets to the bearings, not sure how you'd accomplish that with grease.

 

[velohomme]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I'll just just grease the hubs. At least I'll know where the grease is.

 

[rogerzilla]

You can inject grease but it has to fill the whole shell before it pushes the old grease out, and will add a lot of drag. Better to strip as normal.