Sturney Archer cable adjustment-my classic DaHon 3 speed

[locostbamboo]

OK, after installing new tires, I have found that I don't have the cable adjusted right for the Sturmey Archer 3 speed. I have 2nd gear, but no first gear, and trouble with third slipping. I am thinking the cable is too loose. I have looked at Sheldon Brown's link. I am still having issues adjusting. Any tricks to this? Should I post to the mechanical forum? All this and I got caught in a rain storm coming home. At some point, more rain doesn't matter.
:rolleyes:

BTW, my wife bought me a pannier today for it, a very nice one from Performance. I need to adjust my rear rack so my feet clear, but it will be cool when done. She is a good wife!

Thanks.

Rob

[kgibbs51]

I think you have to have it in a certain gear like 1st or so and then make sure the end of the rod that is connected by the chain and goes into the hub is flat with the tube it goes into.

I had to loosen and reposition my rear axel to get all the gears to engage.

[jur]

Download this

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hadland/aw.pdf

there is a good picture of exactly how to adjust the gears.

[bangkok]

And this link for instructions ... from the great CH Wasson site for Brompton bikes.

http://www.foldabikes.com/Talk/Docs/gear_manual.pdf

And download the manual, then see page 15 for adjustment tips ... while written for Brompton, 95% of it fits your bike.

http://www.foldabikes.com/Talk/Docs/manualnew.pdf

These two docs got my SA set correctly. Smooth shifting.

[locostbamboo]

Thank you all. Jur, your the man. Those instructions did the trick. Thank you all again!

:)

Rob

[EvilV]

I just reassemble the cable with the twistgrip set in high gear. I simply adjust it up so that the slack has gone out of the small chain, but that it hasn't gone tight when I fiddle with it. Then with the bike upside down on a picnic table in the yard, I work the pedals and gear change. You can tell by the feel whether you have low, mid and high gear. It is usually bang on, and then I do a road test.

I know you are supposed to be able to see an indicator rod through the end of the nut, but on my Merc you can't - at least I'm damned if I can. Maybe I should wear my reading glasses.

As a rule of thumb, if you can't get low gear, the cable is too lose, and if you can't get high gear the cable is too tight.