Sturmey 3-speed adjustment
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Eugene, OR
Posts: 23
Bikes: Motobecane "Nobly"
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Sturmey 3-speed adjustment
I've read over, and over that the cable should appear slack in 3rd gear. Mine does, but the chain is still drawn pretty snug.
I can shift through all three gears. There is no jamming up, or freewheeling. So...
Is it possible to have a well adjusted cable, but still observe tension at the chain in 3rd? Or would proper adjustment have to absolutely result in a slack chain?
I can shift through all three gears. There is no jamming up, or freewheeling. So...
Is it possible to have a well adjusted cable, but still observe tension at the chain in 3rd? Or would proper adjustment have to absolutely result in a slack chain?
#2
Senior member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Oakville Ontario
Posts: 8,117
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 943 Post(s)
Liked 658 Times
in
371 Posts
I've read over, and over that the cable should appear slack in 3rd gear. Mine does, but the chain is still drawn pretty snug.
I can shift through all three gears. There is no jamming up, or freewheeling. So...
Is it possible to have a well adjusted cable, but still observe tension at the chain in 3rd? Or would proper adjustment have to absolutely result in a slack chain?
I can shift through all three gears. There is no jamming up, or freewheeling. So...
Is it possible to have a well adjusted cable, but still observe tension at the chain in 3rd? Or would proper adjustment have to absolutely result in a slack chain?
This should leave the cable relaxed in third.
#3
Mechanic/Tourist
What you've read is absurd or you are misinterpreting it. "Slack" in this case pretty much just means no significant tension, not necessarily sagging. Adjust using the standard procedure. If everything works properly quit worrying.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,084
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
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4205 Post(s)
Liked 3,863 Times
in
2,311 Posts
When in doubt in adjusting SA AWs I use the actual range of the indicator chain (not to be confused with the drive chain, both have no tension moments) referenced against what the hub is actually doing. It's easy to use the adjusting barrel at the shift cable's end to find the start and the end of second gear's range of functional use. Then I center the barrel within this range so now the hub is "set" at the middle of the cable adjustment ability. I confirm by both shifting and using the first gear adjustment as Dan said. Andy
#5
Banned
Its the axle fixing nits gripping the dropout that determine the drive train chain tension ..
the little pull chain that shifts the gears .. If you have the original one,(proper length) in 2nd the end of the rod,
where the little chain is riveted on , the shoulder of that piece is even with the end of the axle,
as viewed thru the hole in the side of the guide nut.
1st is tighter 3rd is slacker, but 2nd is where you get the adjustment, the middle gear..
....
the little pull chain that shifts the gears .. If you have the original one,(proper length) in 2nd the end of the rod,
where the little chain is riveted on , the shoulder of that piece is even with the end of the axle,
as viewed thru the hole in the side of the guide nut.
1st is tighter 3rd is slacker, but 2nd is where you get the adjustment, the middle gear..
....
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Eugene, OR
Posts: 23
Bikes: Motobecane "Nobly"
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks everyone. It was a new cable and indicator installation. The indicator was shorter than the axel so I could not reference it to 2nd gear. I had it working... sorta!
I readjusted everything from scratch based off of first gear as recommended here. There is a noticeable looseness among the cable and chain in third now compared to how I had previously set it.... But the main point is that it's shifting nicely up and down through all three gears now!
The first gear trick worked for me. Thanks again!
I readjusted everything from scratch based off of first gear as recommended here. There is a noticeable looseness among the cable and chain in third now compared to how I had previously set it.... But the main point is that it's shifting nicely up and down through all three gears now!
The first gear trick worked for me. Thanks again!
#7
Senior member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Oakville Ontario
Posts: 8,117
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 943 Post(s)
Liked 658 Times
in
371 Posts
Its the axle fixing nits gripping the dropout that determine the drive train chain tension ..
the little pull chain that shifts the gears .. If you have the original one,(proper length) in 2nd the end of the rod,
where the little chain is riveted on , the shoulder of that piece is even with the end of the axle,
as viewed thru the hole in the side of the guide nut.
1st is tighter 3rd is slacker, but 2nd is where you get the adjustment, the middle gear..
....
the little pull chain that shifts the gears .. If you have the original one,(proper length) in 2nd the end of the rod,
where the little chain is riveted on , the shoulder of that piece is even with the end of the axle,
as viewed thru the hole in the side of the guide nut.
1st is tighter 3rd is slacker, but 2nd is where you get the adjustment, the middle gear..
....
Yeah, that's the official "correct" way to do it, but I find the first gear method 100% reliable.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 135
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 51 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
SA AW troubleshooting.
Hi! New guy here. I recently bought a 71 Hercules three speed (beautiful bike) that was equipped with a Sturmey Archer AW hub. After I overhauled the hub (correctly) and followed the required procedure to set the gears (thanks Sheldon!), it now won't engage into first gear. Third gear? Check. Second gear? Check. First gear? Uh, no. All the other gears work great, the shifter works fine, and the indicator spindle is as smooth as a newly saddle soaped Brooks saddle. I've even pulled the indicator spindle out to where it's supposed to be in first gear and again, it doesn't engage. So what does this all mean? Are the pawl springs broken? Oh wait, they couldn't be. I checked them when I overhauled the hub and they were fine. Could the pawls be worn? Maybe. They looked fine to me! In any case, my hub is getting disassembled. Which is fine. 😎
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,084
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
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4205 Post(s)
Liked 3,863 Times
in
2,311 Posts
Hi! New guy here. I recently bought a 71 Hercules three speed (beautiful bike) that was equipped with a Sturmey Archer AW hub. After I overhauled the hub (correctly) and followed the required procedure to set the gears (thanks Sheldon!), it now won't engage into first gear. Third gear? Check. Second gear? Check. First gear? Uh, no. All the other gears work great, the shifter works fine, and the indicator spindle is as smooth as a newly saddle soaped Brooks saddle. I've even pulled the indicator spindle out to where it's supposed to be in first gear and again, it doesn't engage. So what does this all mean? Are the pawl springs broken? Oh wait, they couldn't be. I checked them when I overhauled the hub and they were fine. Could the pawls be worn? Maybe. They looked fine to me! In any case, my hub is getting disassembled. Which is fine. 😎
Well, the obvious possibility is your claim of assembling the hub correctly is wrong. My Sutherlands manual has a few possible causes of no 1st gear. Some internal reasons are pawls not correctly fitted, pawl springs bad/bent/missing/backwards, thrust ring not seated on axle key. What is really going on? We hope for a follow up after the fix is made. Andy
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 135
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 51 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Well, the obvious possibility is your claim of assembling the hub correctly is wrong. My Sutherlands manual has a few possible causes of no 1st gear. Some internal reasons are pawls not correctly fitted, pawl springs bad/bent/missing/backwards, thrust ring not seated on axle key. What is really going on? We hope for a follow up after the fix is made. Andy
If so, than that's a surprise because as previously mentioned the third and second gears worked perfectly fine. But anyway everything is working fine now, except I have to replace one of my cone axle locknuts (Hmn132) because the previous owner must have partially stripped the part.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,716
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5786 Post(s)
Liked 2,579 Times
in
1,430 Posts
It's interesting that nobody suggested the actual SA method for properly adjusting the "indicator" rod.
It's called an indicator for a reason, and the extended nut has a window for the same reason.
The adjustment is made in 2nd gear and the cable adjusted until the shoulder on the indicator lines up flush with the end of the axle like in the picture below. Apparently this is a lost art.
Maybe because it only works if the hub is assembled to spec. and an genuine SA indicator is used. Over the years with so many non-SA indicators mixed in the market, many mechanics have moved away from this method. Add that it's been 2 generations since AW hubs were at their peak, and many mechanic today weren't even born yet.
Anyway, the method works very reliably on vintage hubs with original parts. Otherwise, I prefer dropping to 3rd, and taking up the slack, but not lifting the indicator.
It's called an indicator for a reason, and the extended nut has a window for the same reason.
The adjustment is made in 2nd gear and the cable adjusted until the shoulder on the indicator lines up flush with the end of the axle like in the picture below. Apparently this is a lost art.
Maybe because it only works if the hub is assembled to spec. and an genuine SA indicator is used. Over the years with so many non-SA indicators mixed in the market, many mechanics have moved away from this method. Add that it's been 2 generations since AW hubs were at their peak, and many mechanic today weren't even born yet.
Anyway, the method works very reliably on vintage hubs with original parts. Otherwise, I prefer dropping to 3rd, and taking up the slack, but not lifting the indicator.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#12
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,786
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3588 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
It's interesting that nobody suggested the actual SA method for properly adjusting the "indicator" rod.
It's called an indicator for a reason, and the extended nut has a window for the same reason.
The adjustment is made in 2nd gear and the cable adjusted until the shoulder on the indicator lines up flush with the end of the axle like in the picture below. Apparently this is a lost art.
It's called an indicator for a reason, and the extended nut has a window for the same reason.
The adjustment is made in 2nd gear and the cable adjusted until the shoulder on the indicator lines up flush with the end of the axle like in the picture below. Apparently this is a lost art.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,716
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5786 Post(s)
Liked 2,579 Times
in
1,430 Posts
Yes, but that was after 3 replies. In any case, I felt it was worth mentioning because it's become something of a lost art, and people working with these hubs should know.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.