Originally Posted by
Airburst
Either buy the Sturmey-Archer tool for the job if you can get hold of it (it's a big hook spanner) or just hammer it harder. The drive force in first and second gears is transferred to the shell through the threads on the ball ring, so obviously it'll be damn tight.
Almost correct. It's the drive torque from 2nd and third that is transmitted to the ball ring. The ring gear pawls are retracted in 1st.
I've found the best tool for driving out the ball ring in the newer model hubs with the scalloped notches is a large brass drift punch and a hammer. the tip of the punch deforms just enough to get a really good purchase on it.
Maybe the specific spanner would work too, but I don't expect to buy one as my method serves me well.