Sram Imotion 3 speed hub
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Sram Imotion 3 speed hub
Anyone built a wheel, or at least ridden a wheel with one of these?
I'm wondering if they've improved on the breed? Or just repackaged it?
DanO
I'm wondering if they've improved on the breed? Or just repackaged it?
DanO
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The main improvement of the iMotion-3 over the T3 is the quick-release cable shared with the i-Motion 9. Also, there is now a kids-specific shifter available.
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Internals are slightly different, no longer interchangeable with the old T3
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Exploded diagrams indicate this is completely different from the T3. It has an in-board shift cable (does not go out the end of the axle) and shifts "backwards" (a broken cable would put the hub in LOW gear like the old Sturmey "X" hub, not high gear like the S-A AW, Shimano and SRAM's own T3). OLDs are 130 for freewheel and coaster, 135 for the disc brake version, and from the diagrams (I've not seen a real one, sorry) it appears there is not much scope for narrowing the OLD on these. The iM3 design doesn't not require any special tools for dis/re-assembly. The iMotion3 coaster version uses the historic Sachs Torpedo roller actuation brake.
tcs
tcs
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Exploded diagrams indicate this is completely different from the T3. It has an in-board shift cable (does not go out the end of the axle) and shifts "backwards" (a broken cable would put the hub in LOW gear like the old Sturmey "X" hub, not high gear like the S-A AW, Shimano and SRAM's own T3). OLDs are 130 for freewheel and coaster, 135 for the disc brake version, and from the diagrams (I've not seen a real one, sorry) it appears there is not much scope for narrowing the OLD on these. The iM3 design doesn't not require any special tools for dis/re-assembly. The iMotion3 coaster version uses the historic Sachs Torpedo roller actuation brake.
tcs
tcs
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Nope, a broken cable will leave a Sturmey X in low, and a Sturmey AW and SRAM T3 in high, just as I said.
Shimano? OK, I admit I haven't messed with one that was built in the last 30 years, and like Sheldon said, "Over the years the 333 hub was in production, Shimano made a number of revisions to the design in an attempt to make it more reliable. These revisions are not well documented..". I've even seen 'em with LH bell cranks.
Best,
tcs
Shimano? OK, I admit I haven't messed with one that was built in the last 30 years, and like Sheldon said, "Over the years the 333 hub was in production, Shimano made a number of revisions to the design in an attempt to make it more reliable. These revisions are not well documented..". I've even seen 'em with LH bell cranks.
Best,
tcs
Last edited by tcs; 11-13-08 at 12:08 PM.
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Nope, a broken cable will leave a Sturmey X in low, and a Sturmey AW and SRAM T3 in high, just as I said.
Shimano? OK, I admit I haven't messed with one that was built in the last 30 years, and like Sheldon said, "Over the years the 333 hub was in production, Shimano made a number of revisions to the design in an attempt to make it more reliable. These revisions are not well documented..". I've even seen 'em with LH bell cranks.
Best,
tcs
Shimano? OK, I admit I haven't messed with one that was built in the last 30 years, and like Sheldon said, "Over the years the 333 hub was in production, Shimano made a number of revisions to the design in an attempt to make it more reliable. These revisions are not well documented..". I've even seen 'em with LH bell cranks.
Best,
tcs
Havn't run into a left side shifting one yet.
And re-reading the post to which I responded, I see I missed part of what you said. Sorry about that.
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I selected the i-MOTION T3 for my new bike after the old frame broke (fatally). I judged it to be the legitimate successor of the "Torpedo Dreigang", which has served me for over 30 years.
I am now through 2 of these hubs. The first broke after 4 days. The second after a replacement from the dealer after 2 weeks of use - I became a little more careful. Contacted SRAM - the old facility in Germany - got immediate feedback and the request to return the bike though the dealer to them.
Fixed after 3 weeks. Comment from SRAM: the axle broke because one bit of it was machined out of spec and not according to the drawing.
Watch out - I would suspect that there are many more of these out there, waiting to break. Manufacture date around end of 2008, early 2009.
I am now through 2 of these hubs. The first broke after 4 days. The second after a replacement from the dealer after 2 weeks of use - I became a little more careful. Contacted SRAM - the old facility in Germany - got immediate feedback and the request to return the bike though the dealer to them.
Fixed after 3 weeks. Comment from SRAM: the axle broke because one bit of it was machined out of spec and not according to the drawing.
Watch out - I would suspect that there are many more of these out there, waiting to break. Manufacture date around end of 2008, early 2009.