Bicycle Mechanics - Sturmey archer wheel build

I have a SA AW 3 speed hub that I would like to install on a 26X2.125 wheel so I could use it on a beach cruiser/road bike. Where can I get the wheel rim and spokes to try to undertake this project? This will be my first shot at anything like this. I know the shifters and cables are readily available on E Bay but I wouldn't know what size spokes or what type would be used for this project. I am not looking to spend a lot of dough, this would be just a fun project that I would like to attempt. I have a junk single speed bike that I could use. I live in South Florida. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I had success purchasing spokes with these guys.

http://www.icyclesusa.com/

You can find rims just about anywhere. Here is one to get you started ...

http://www.universalcycles.com/

Of course, you could just go to a local shop.

Check out spocalc on the web for the spoke length. Pretty sure the AWs on there. You could also talk to the Harris Cyclery guys as they supply SA stuff and are familiar. I've thought of doing the same thing with the AW in my parts box, but haven't gotten around to it.

Oh, I also remember seeing that someone who has done it needed spoke washers at the hub. Check out this thread:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=282289

Thanks for the info guys. I was wondering if anyone actually did this build ,what components they used and where they got them. Would have saved a lot of time.

I used discarded mountain bike rims, and old sturmey hub, and bought spokes from my lbs, they measured my hub and rim and cut some spokes for it. I bought a park truing stand, dish tool, tesion guage and a wheel building book. This was my first schooled attempt at wheel building and it came out perfect.

I did this once before, I laced a sturmey hub into a 27" schwinn front wheel that had the same sized hub as the sturmey, I knew nothing of crossing spokes and wheel dish, it came out awful, but it's all a part of the learning curve.


My Schwinn Speedster, 3 speed coaster riding on moby bites with a big shifter.

http://homepage.mac.com/unsavorycharacter/1.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/unsavorycharacter/4.jpg

Now that's what I'm talkin' about!!! NEAT!!!

How many spoke holes does your hub have?

I always advise people to get a brand new, medium priced rim for their first wheelbuild. It'll save you a lot of bother and worry during the tensioning and trueing stage and you're much more likely to produce a good result on your first attempt.

For your project you might want to try Sun Rhyno Lites. They are very sturdy rims that are much easier than average to build up. They come in 32, 36, 40, and 48 hole drillings so you won't have any trouble matching your hub. They're reasonably priced too.

The hub is 40 hole. I would guess that the supplier could hook me up with the correct spokes etc.

Dumb question #1 Why can't you use the bike frame itself as a truing machine?

You can, I used to, but it isn't as accurate using a stand, at least for me it isn't.

For your first wheel, why don't you take something out of the junk pile and tear it down then reassemble it.

Read up on wheel building also. See if your library has any books on it.

For your first wheel, why don't you take something out of the junk pile and tear it down then reassemble it.

That's fine for figuring out which spoke goes into which hole but, if you're working with a rim that's already warped or out-of-round, it's pretty hard to learn to build even tension, roundness and trueness into the wheel.

The tensioning and trueing process is what separates a superior wheel from the rest. All of the stories about broken spokes involved wheels that were adequately laced. They weren't properly tensioned and trued.

I have a Glenn's book and there is always Sheldon for instructions. I don't think lacing would be a problem. There will be no coaster brake so the wheel would not encounter that stress.

You guys are giving up some great info and ideas. Thanks a million and keep it coming.

Check the link I gave you. The guy there has a whole website of his SA wheelbuild.