tyranno

Hey all, I'm new to these forums. I just picked up my first project bike, and I'm hoping to use it to learn. I'm good with tools, but I'm a total newbie when it comes to bike repair.

A few bucks netted me a very sweet '71 Schwinn Breeze, 3-speed. I think this is going to be a great bike when it's done. It's in decent shape overall: the chrome is somewhat pitted--nothing a bit of elbow grease can't take care of--and there are a few nicks and scratches in the paint (not to mention the reflective tape...) but there is no rust on the frame, and it seems to ride smoothly. Also, I just friggin' love this bike.

I have two questions.

1. The Sturmey-Archer hub slips out of third gear. I'm willing to take it to my local bike shop rather than risk screwing the whole thing up. Since I'm such a novice, is that the smart choice? Should I just go for it and see what happens? (I assume there's a lot more to it than just taking the thing apart and putting it back together, which is my usual way of approaching new toys.)

2. Even if I'm not the one to fix the hub I would like to work on the rest of the bike--eliminating squeaks, polishing up the paint and the rust, adjusting the brakes, etc. Are there any good resources for information on this type of bike? I've found a few (bunch o' bikes.com, oldroads), but most of the online guides seem geared toward new bikes.

Any help would be most appreciated. I can see this quickly becoming an addiction....

nlerner

When it slips, does it suddenly freewheel or go back to second gear? In both cases, it might just be a case of adjusting the indicator pull a bit. If you haven't already found it, Sheldon Brown has lots of valuable info on care and feeding of Sturmey Archer 3-speed hubs: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/sturmey-archer.html

Overhauling the hub can often mean just pulling out the internals, cleaning them off, and them reassembling. Worst case, you have a worn clutch, a very replaceable part.

As far as your LBS, unless they've been around for a long, long time, I'd be surprised if they knew what to do with a 3-speed hub. Hopefully, I'm wrong if you decide to go that route.

Neal

localtalent

An addiction it is, and welcome to it.

Read Sheldon's website thoroughly, but also check Park Tool's website - they manufacture quality tools and have some pretty decent how-tos as well.