Originally Posted by
noglider
Sturmey Archer and ATF: a match made in ______________(fill in the blank).
I don't know if ATF is the ideal lubricant for these hubs or not, but it seems to work fine. I know that it's supposed to be for automatic transmissions (duh), but it is also the fluid that Mercedes specified for the transmission in the 190SL (Dexron, as I recall). Volvo 240s with manual overdrive transmissions also use ATF (Mercon, which may be the same as Dexron, I don't know). I've sort of taken a liking to ATF, probably because I have a supply left over from a Volvo 245 station wagon fetish that required serious intervention to overcome. I'm thinking of using it as chain lube.
My suspicion is that the lubrication requirements of the SA 3 speed hubs are pretty easily met by any low viscosity oil that doesn't turn to tar like linseed oil or WD40 would or easily evaporate.