Classic & Vintage - 3-Speed Shifter Replacement!

Would it be a bad idea to use a lever shifter instead of a trigger shifter on a 3 speed bicycle? The trigger shifter it had broke while on a trip.


Thanks!
Daniel.

It's not a good idea. Are you unable to find another shifter? I suggest replacing it with another trigger shifter since the indexing won't work properly otherwise. There are also some newer DT, bar-end, trigger and thumb shifters that will work if you're looking for something different.

What do you mean, a lever shifter? If you mean a friction shifter, then yes, you can do that, but the old trigger shifter is a lot more reliable. Sturmey-Archer makes several different shifters for their old three speed hubs now, and there are also generic trigger shifters and cables.

Maybe you mean a quadrant shifter?
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff229/ej599/quadrant.gif
They work just fine but only vintage ones are available.

If you're talking about using a normal friction shift lever (like those used on derailleurs) and you have a Sturmey Archer AW, I would recommend against it because there is a neutral between second and third gears. I would think it would be a pain in the but to slip into the neutral unexpectedly.

There are beautiful new ones on ebay for around 30$ shipped from the UK, I don't remember the seller but they are the way to go... they work on the old hubs and don't look obnoxiously modern, to me at least. Sturmey also makes mtb style trigger shifters that look nice. I'm not a grip-shift fan myself so I'll stop short of recommending them but they are out there if you like them (not that there's anything wrong with grip-shifters per se)

As a starving grad student, I commuted on a Sturmey AW3 with a Huret friction downtube shift lever for several years. I never had a problem finding 2nd, and the neutral came in handy at stops for pedal positioning, since this hub had a coaster brake. First is all the way down, second is just barely above first, and third is all the way up. It's easy and reliable.

There are a bunch of Strumey Archer 3 speed shifters including twist, thumb and classic trigger. The re-production originals run about $12.00 http://www.niagaracycle.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=sturmey+shifter&x=11&y=9

+1 they are super cheap and look just right for the old 3 speeds. they come with cable, housing, cable anchor/adjuster, and an adjuster barrel too. careful when assembling though all the metal they use is a little cheap.

+1 they are super cheap and look just right for the old 3 speeds. they come with cable, housing, cable anchor/adjuster, and an adjuster barrel too. careful when assembling though all the metal they use is a little cheap.

?? Really this
291663

Is a good substitute for this
291665

I think I'd rather pay a bit more for a period correct shifter or one that comes close.

I do not think the shifter mentioned here from Niagra comes with cables. It is just the shifter.

I agree with Velognome.

I've had good luck buying used vintage trigger shifters. The only defective one I ever bought was NOS in a sealed package.

?? Really this
291663

Is a good substitute for this
291665

I think I'd rather pay a bit more for a period correct shifter or one that comes close.

Isn't it possible that the shifter at the top is what Daniel already has?

Yeah it is a re-production trigger shifter, I'm still gonna try to use a friction shifter on my 3 speed. I read a different forum here where Sheldon brown says its possible, I guess the challenging part is feeling out 2nd and neutral but I'll give it a shot!

Thanks guys for sharing your knowledge and concerns!

?? Really this
291663

Is a good substitute for this
291665

I think I'd rather pay a bit more for a period correct shifter or one that comes close.

The 3 speed Sturmey Archer trigger with the black plastic cover has been in use since at least the mid 1970s, so that is a correct vintage replacement for many bikes. If you have issues with the black plastic look, it's still chrome beneath that cover just like the old ones, except without the lettering. Also somewhat ironically, the shifter in the second picture is a third party aftermarket replacement, not an original Sturmey Archer trigger.

To the OP, if you have a local bike co-op, you may consider looking there for a replacement trigger. I've bought a few from mine for 50 cents a piece.

http://genetics.mgh.harvard.edu/hanczyc/pdfs/satriggers.pdf

Also somewhat ironically, the shifter in the second picture is a third party aftermarket replacement, not an original Sturmey Archer trigger.



Didn't even notice that when I grabbed the picture :o Third party aftermarket or not...it's still much better looking that the plastic encased version...unless that was OEM on your bike..but still :(

i agree too, the modern replacement is not as good looking. but it works pretty good and looks better than a friction shifter lever i think.

I like the newish bar-end ones. Depends on the bike, of course.


http://www.niagaracycle.com/images/qbpimages/LD1254.jpg

+1 I use a bar-end to shift a s3x hub...very satisfying indeed

As a starving grad student, I commuted on a Sturmey AW3 with a Huret friction downtube shift lever for several years. I never had a problem finding 2nd, and the neutral came in handy at stops for pedal positioning, since this hub had a coaster brake. First is all the way down, second is just barely above first, and third is all the way up. It's easy and reliable.

Agree. I've used downtube friction shifters clamped to the seat tube instead of the downtube. It's clean and out of the way. But I don't shift a lot.

Sort of along these lines:
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p255/GhostRocket/Traveler75_project/RedTraveler_Shifter_Detail1.jpg

These off brands aren't common but equal to the task. There was a version of this also called a Speedy.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eAF_KZsIhNA/UOd0OykUKSI/AAAAAAAAC0s/1actSns-tqs/s800/brampton3.jpg

The Herailleur Synchro apparently functions as either IGH or derailleur shifter but I haven't tested it. It appears to be identical to above.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y5svMlbILQs/TVsWvo3WMyI/AAAAAAAABGg/MAGSWWoXiM4/s800/herailleur1.jpg

Howard's setup is what I had in mind, but I wanted to place it on the top tube. But that setup looks clean!