Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 19,362
Likes: 5,502
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
There does usually need to be relative rotational movement between the shell and cog for the internals to shift. This is why it's best to coast while shifting. If when test fitted the shell didn't stop when the pedals were stopped then no rotational difference happened and the internals might not shift.
I don't have much experience with the current crop of SA offerings but this was the case for the iconic AW. Andy.