Shimano Alfine 11 - Longer term reliability

[rofan]

does anbody know news about the A11?
I saw some pictures on shimano`s and am wondering, where is the adapter for center lock?
And the left lock nut is thicker than in the EVs

is it a new one?

[Brucey]

yes that is a bit odd. I also note that there is a 'new' Alfine 8 hub, the SG-S7000 model. This appears to have a restyled hubshell, and (like the A11) now has 'top normal' shifting.

cheers

[rofan]

that there is a 'new' Alfine 8 hub, the SG-S7000 model.

that is what I already know.also N8: SG-C6010. Rose offers it, but does not yet deliver.
But nothing about the A11.
Maybe 6 H brake disc??? Just an idea

Or just a new cover for the adapter?

[nippynoo]

new Alfine 8

new A8 will be "oil bath" same as A-11, also higher efficiency, shipping in 5 weeks or so

[squeaker]

new Alfine 8

new A8 will be "oil bath" same as A-11, also higher efficiency, shipping in 5 weeks or so

....discounts probable on old-style greasy ones?....

[rofan]

new A8 will be "oil bath" same as A-11

really??? where did you read this?
Imho just WB Oil

[nippynoo]

new A8 will be "oil bath" same as A-11

really??? where did you read this?
Imho just WB Oil

..dealer manual for SG-S7000 published 24/june/14 says internal unit needs dipping into mineral oil - shimano part number Y00298010. So defintely not grease.

[Brucey]

hang on though, that sounds the same as the 'oil dip service' for older Nexus and Alfine 8s hubs which come out of the factory lubed with grease....?

cheers

[nippynoo]

this is what i read http://si.shimano.com/#seriesList/26/92

so have the internals changed from the old Alfine 8?

[rofan]

so have the internals changed from the old Alfine 8?

mechanism: yes
lubrication: no

"dipping"

Oil maintenance for S7000 is the same like for A8, N8

[nippynoo]

lubrication: no

Now I'm a bit confused. The old A8 was filled with grease during manufacture and only dipped in oil at maintenance time. The new A8 is designed to run in oil from day 1, as per the current A11, and doesnt use any grease at all. Hence the claimed efficiency improvment for the forthcoming A8. Seals have also been improved. So lubrication has changed... there is no grease... just oil.

[rofan]

lubrication: no

The new A8 is designed to run in oil from day 1, as per the current A11, and isn't filled with any grease at all.

Where did yot read this?
That is not said in the DM

[nippynoo]

Where did yot read this?

I read several other sites and blogs over past month.. since DM was published in June,, and I read there have been many other internal changes apart from lubrication, for example changed/smoother gear changing, internal springs, reversed operation... so looks like a major redesign. I'll search my history and try and find them, but just try googling the technical blogs and you'll find them

[interestedcp]

I think the S7000's probably comes with factory grease, simply because it last longer, but that it is designed to work with oil baths. The Dealer Manual suggest that Shimano grease can be used for maintenance, but the oil dip is now the official way to service the hub.
Shimano have recently changed all their IGH dealer/service manuals to only show the oil bath procedure.

IMHO, the original 8 spd. Shimano Nexus IGH had several design flaws initially. When it was introduced in Denmark where IGH's are common, it turned into a right disaster the first couple of winters; bike shops collected whole crates of dead Nexus 8 hubs during each winter. Costumers where furious and bike sellers and manufacturers lost a lot of money and goodwill. To this day most Danish bicycle brands still boycott the Nexus 8.

Besides the inadequate sealing, the easily pitted bearing races, the tendency to break from over-torquing from strong riders, it also turned out that servicing the hub according to Shimano's dealer manual, was almost impossible to do at a price the costumers found reasonable because the procedure required both skill and time. Hence the oil bath procedure for a hub designed for grease.

The oil dipping procedure seems to be the only official maintenance procedure for all Shimano IGH's from now on.

[jb]

I would be surprised if shimano were not heading towards oil lubrication. It is a far better system than grease especially now seals have improved