SpokesInMyPoop

Alright, so here goes:

I have a 3 speed tank that I use for my grocery runs (it has pannier baskets and a front basket i wuv it). I was coming home from the grocery store the other day on the bike, riding in my highest gear, when I noticed that the coasting didn't sound correct (basically sounded like a weird loud freewheel instead of steady ticking). I jumped it down to the middle gear, and it worked fine. I went to the highest gear again, and... nothing. It doesn't work!

anybody have any ideas what could've gone wrong and wtf I could do to fix this? I've never worked on a 3 speed hub before...-

Re-Cycle

you are talking about a internally geared hub like a strummy archer right? First step would be to make sure the cable is moving in and out of the center of the hub when you shift. Also you should be adding a few drops of oil to the lube port once in a while. Have you?

_dhan_

yup. try the easy things first. make sure that the cable is set correctly. I don't know anything about sturmey archer hubs, but I've got a bike w/ a shimano 3-speed internal. it's really easy to adjust. pop the shifter in 2nd gear and adjust the cable (there's basically some type of barrel adjuster on mine near the hub) until you center the circle in the pivot thing attached to the hub. I know I'm not describing this very well.... where's my digital camera?

古強者死神

Ha Ha! A broken shifter.

Sorry just had to do that.

SpokesInMyPoop

so it's never happened to any of you? it's not the shifter that's broken, that's for sure. the highest gear doesn't work. for example, when i faux-shift into the highest gear, the pedals move but there's no resistance in the pedals.

i'm desperate

Landgolier

Have you tried what people suggested? The cure for about 90% of 3 speed problems is oil, pedal the sucker on a stand or with someone holding the seat and shift to work the oil in, and then adjust the cable.

jcm

Oil is often the only thing you have to do on a Sturmey-Archer hub, assuming that is what you have. Do you know how to adjust the cable? Takes about fifteen seconds.
https://www.karrot.org/ascotto/three_...justments.html

Oil with a medium weight oil if you don't have 'bicycle oil.' A few drops of gun oil is good. I consider 30 weight automotive a little heavy, but if that's what you have on hand, put some in. 10 weight would be better. Sewing machine or 3in1 household is too light, but it, too, will work. I give you these as comparisons.

cudak888 is very knowledgeable about those 3-speed tanks. He usually hangs around over at Vintage/Classic. There is another reason Euro 3-speeds are called tanks - they can take incredible neglect and punishment.

San Rensho 

As other have said, put some oil in it. Backpedal and pedal forward a bit. Put it in 3rd gear, be sure the cable is competely slack, no tension at all. Pull the cable in and out, by hand, at the hub, it should slide in and out easily.

With the wheel off the ground, turn the cranks, you should be in high gear. Now start pulling the cable out of the hub while you turn the cranks by hand. As you pull, you should first get a nuetral (free spin), then as you progressively pull, you should get second and then 1st.

If not, the hub bearing adjustment may be off. Check the bearing play, you should have a slight amount of bearing play, if not, go to Sheldon Brown's site for instructions on how to adjust.