Update:
Well, as it turns out, someone gummed up the hub with sewing machine oil years ago. So the mechanic cleaned all of that out, and found that the pawl spring on the 1st gear was wrecked, however the hub has very little wear otherwise. Infact he said I have the most complete and unworn Raleigh he's seen. (WOO!) He thinks someone tried to service the hub and broke the pawl spring then because there are few signs of wear.
NOW! To find a pawl spring...
He doesn't have any on hand, but if I can get one, he'll install it cheap.
I looked on Sheldon's site but you have to order $50 to get shipping to Canada... sigh...
So, if I go looking on ebay or something of the likes, is it likely that any sturmey archer pawl spring will fit? Or do I need to look for something specific?
Thanks all!
So glad I didn't run out and buy a new hub on the recommendation of the 1st two shops I tried.
