Lubricating the DNP Epoch freewheels

motomech

motomech

10 MW
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Sep 10, 2010
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Yuma and Punta Cana Baja Mexico
At least one vendor[that I know of] uses a special tool to inject the freewheel mechanism with grease[full, I presume]before sending out to end users.
Questions,
Do all vendors do this, is it even the best way[[reports here of grease-filled DNP freewheels being very sluggish in cold weather]?
Does anyone use the injector pictured below?
It's been recommended to soak it in oil[I presume that good ole smelly 90 wt., gear oil would be best].
I've also read about a sm. hole in the body where a straw from a spray can can be inserted.
And lastly, the way Sheldon Brown recommends,

QUOTE-"Lubricating Freewheels
Freewheels should be oiled from time to time with a medium-weight oil. This is easy to do, and generally requires no disassembly.

The bike should be held with the rear wheel off the ground, and leaning to the left at about a 45 degree angle. An assistant may be helpful for this. Turn the pedals around a couple of times to get the wheel spinning fast, then let it coast (helps to be in high gear for this.)

Look inside the smallest sprocket. The sprocket will be stationary, since the wheel is coasting, but you'll see an inner part of the freewheel that is spinning with the wheel. Drip oil onto the crack between the turning part and the stationary part. Gravity and capillary action will help work oil into the freewheel.

Repeat this a few times, until you hear a change in the sound of the clicking pawls (they'll generally get quieter when the oil reaches them.)

This should be done every year or so, or any time that coasting sounds loud and gritty."END OF QUOTE

What are the ES members running these units doing in term of lubricating[if anything]?

Asides from quieting them down, one would think the service life could be extended as well.
 
My DNP freewheel is very loud while coasting. It's not gritty or terrible sounding, but just loud and i'd rather not hear it. I'll have to give this oiling a try.

Anybody have a technique that has really quieted down their DNP?

I'm particularly interested right now because i'm getting ready to order a new hub motor or two and now there are options that are cassette compatible. My preferred motor choices right now (Q128H) is not available with cassette though, so i'd prefer to get the DNP freewheel working well.
 
Before I ditched them, I would soak my DNPs in 90 wt. gear oil. In a bucket in the sun for a couple days.
Was almost smooth afterwards, but it forever slung oil afterwards.
The chain liked it :lol:
The Q128 takes a cassette.
 
If you have the DNP 4 ratchet, they are just loud. Twice the pawls make twice the noise. Fresh Grease can help keep the pawls floating over the teeth, but too much grease can cause the pawls to fail to grab the teeth. Ideally you want the pawls to be able to move free, but the teeth to be packed full of grease. it isn't that vital unless you're setting up a race bike.
Oil helps if the grease is getting dry, but all oil and no grease would be noisier.

The Q128 is a Freewheel hub. They make a Q128C that uses a Cassette.
Q128
Q128C
 
I avoid any kind of grease lubrication on freewheels, because sooner or later it will become sticky and present the risk of holding down the pawls.

When I service a freewheel, I just flood it with light oil, like Triflow. If it's noisy, I flush out out with solvent first to remove grit. Lately, I've been trying out Drislide Bike Aid moly fortified light oil. It's expensive, but it seems pretty ideal for the job.

Keep in mind that a freewheel only runs when it's not under load. The job of the lubricant isn't to help carry heavy forces, or to keep the mechanism quiet. It's only to keep everything moving as freely as possible. Any lubricant that could interfere with the pawls' ability to fully engage the ratchet teeth is contrary to the proper function of the freewheel.
 
I think they get a light misting at the factory. I just fitted them, oiling the chain to transfer a little to the outside.
 
Mobil 1 5W30 motor oil worked well for me . Freewheel was sounding gritty while coasting. Kept adding oil using the method quoted above from Sheldon Brown , until the sound was normal . A bit of a flush and fill, because the extra oil weeped out overnight.
 
to be clear, the sound that's loud on mine isn't ratcheting of the pawls, like the clicking/buzzing that is particularly loud on some high end hubs like Chris King. What i'm hearing is a loud whirring noise, like that of a slightly rough or poor quality bearing. Not gritty, not clicky, just whirring, but in a loud and somewhat unpleasant way.

I don't think it has anything to do with the pawls, in my case. Quite possibly it is simply a poor quality bearing, just as it seems. Maybe even the sound is from my motor and not from the freewheel. Or a combination.
 
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