Hi Dan,
Saw your post for the hub problem, and just wanted to know if you have any experience with an automatic 3 speed version of this Nexus hub. It is mounted on a Bianchi "Auto-Milano" cruiser style bike. Asian made with all shimano, but cheap, except for this transmission which has a digital controller for opting "automatic or manual" shifting. I've yet to ride since I'm not that type of rider. Bought for $45 as a "guest" bike figuring it would be easy for a novice rider with the auto-shifting. Anyways, I'm curious if they had any problems; can't figure why they got rid of a fairly expensive bike that was barely ridden, and I don't want to cause more damage if hub is faulty; priced hub at $400 NOS. I figure if the hub is faulty for some reason I can make it into a basic 3 speed, or single speed. Has odd shimano rear drum/disc brake in the rear. I'm a road bike guy so this is all foreign (no pun!) to me. I just don't want to have problems on a ride with some one if this unit tends to have problems. Thanks for your time. Bike is somewhat buried behind other frames so I haven't a photo yet, but will get one posted in the next day.