Originally Posted by
Kuupola
Is it normal to feel and hear the pawls disengage? I got a wheel built with a rigida chrina rim and an 1980 AW and I can feel the disengagement very prominently. Also, the hub seems tobhave sort of eccentric rubbing to the driver when freewheeling, as the pedals want to move forward at a single position of the hub. No shifter installed, as it hasn't arrived yet, but I am testing the hub on flat ground.
By the 80's the quality of the AW hubs were less then perfect but functioning. From your description I would say two things might be going on. One your chain might be too tight. Second would be a possible need to clean and replace the lubricating oil and grease the non drive side bearings.
Does your hub have an oiling hole?