Ariel Owners Motorcycle Club

Do the drive gears run dry, I cannot find any reference to lubrication of these gears ?

I don't know what the 'official' answer is but I lightly grease them and the
slipping clutch mechanism when I have the end cover off.

Practically, it doesn't take many miles for oil from the timing case to
make its way onto the drive gears - at least in my experience.

Thanks Will

Just loosen the generator and ease it out of the way and lubricate the fibre gear with a bit of tacky grease. The clutch should slip a tiny amount occasionally not for any extended period. Nev

Thank you Nev

Michael, like you I couldn't find any reference in the Lucas service sheets or anywhere else (including Waller) regarding using grease on the fibre wheel assembly. As a result I run it dry with no issues over the last 12 years. To my mind Lucas would have covered this point in their servicing information so if it doesn't say grease it then I haven't. Each to his own mate !
Regards, Keith.

hi i do not think dynamo gears use grease , but i use a little bit on the gears i do not think it can hurt using a bit of grease

Fibre gears run in oil in the timing case and fibre timing gears in cars have an oil jet directed on them . If it blocks up it's not long before they strip. I can't see how running them dry can be the best way. IF those references make no mention of it, it may be because it's taken for granted. The tacky grease is by far the best. For what it's worth I've been servicing and riding Brit bikes with Lucas electrics since the Mid 50's and have never had a magdyno gear fail. Often a 48 RE 350 Bullet was my only transport and I didn't spare it. Nev

As Will noted a few posts back, I think you'd have to work hard to keep the gears oil-free for very long!

SG