Classic & Vintage - Sturmey Archer

I've always had this vintage bike in my basement and only just started checking it out. The gearing system is kinda weird. A cable goes in the the hub and a shifter is attatched to the other side of the cable. The hub says Sturmey Archer on it. When i shift it doesnt seem to work. Does anyone know anything about this hub?

There are lots of articles around. Start with Sheldon Brown at www.harriscyclery.com.

Start by reading the Sheldon Brown material then thoroughly clean the bike, add a few drops of light oil into the oil hole on the hub. If you can move the shaft in & out of the hub, adjust the cable tension, pump the tires, hop on & give it a ride. If you still can't get it to shift & the pedals free wheel, take it to your local bike shop for help. Don

Ok thanks. Also the bottom brakket is shot and i dont know where i can get a new one that will fit this old of a bike.

if the bikes's been sitting for a very long time, sometimes the oil in the hub gums up and the pawls do not work properly. you might want to pump some WD40 or carb cleaner in it and let it soak overnight, then follow up with lightweight motor oil. keep in mind this is not a sealed hub, crud WILL spill all over the rim & tire and your freshly shampooed carbet. lube the cable and make sure the pulley (assuming you have one) and "fulcrum" (housing stop) are secure, then try adjusting (see sheldon article). also a good idea to get make you have good chain tension before you try an adjustment, it can save you from doing the job twice.

what brand of bike is it?

It says it says on it HOW California. I googled it but couldnt find anything on the bike.

is it a folding bike? there's a DAhoN in california that makes folding bikes with sturmey hubs.