Bendix 2-speed Kickback Hub Servicing
 

I just picked up a 24"-wheeled Schwinn Co-Ed model equipped with a Bendix 2-speed kickback hub. The problem is that the hub won't shift as it is supposed to - it is stuck in high gear. The bike appears to be a late 60's model, the hub color coding is red (three stripes). My older Glenn's repair manual has instructions for the 'blue' and 'yellow' versions of this hub only; I'm planning on overhauling it, I don't see any other way to diagnose and repair w/o dissassembly - it would be a first for me w/ this make and model hub - and I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with or advice for me regarding servicing these hubs?

Thanks!

-Randy

I think the yellow band breakdown will show you what you need. The difference between the two is the type brake. If you have a digital camera take pictures as you pull it apart.

Its not to bad to do. Chances are its 'gummed up' on the inside. If you choose not to overhaul it out of fear of not having the proper instructions run some light oil in it to loosen it up.

miamijim, what do you do now? And do you know Dan Saraseni? He is a long time bike mech. and lives around there somewhere.

Rev....8 years ago I moved to Miami for school. Thats when when my 'professional' bike career ended. I have a degree in Cardiovascular Perfusion. I operate the heart-lung machine during open heart surgery. No, I dont know dan. I was out of touch with the bike community for several years. Lack of motivation in Miami. I've been getting it in pretty hard for the last 2 years.

Sounds like good motivation for keeping you own heart healthy.

Thanks for the advice. I've oiled it a bit but it hasn't loosened up yet. I'm not really too worried about tearing it down but I'll probably wait until the Memorial Day weekend to do it. I'll let y'all know how it goes...

OK, so yesterday I tore this hub down, cleaned it up, lubed and reassembled it. Still no low gear. Everything looked good on the inside of the hub except that the index spring appeared to be missing three short pawls that look like they might engage the shifting clutch. It's kind of hard to tell what an index spring in good condition should look like, 'cause the pictures in my Glenn's book aren't that good. The bottom line is that the shifting clutch isn't engaging, the hub is stuck in high gear, and I think it's 'cause it's got a bad index spring.

I suppose this is going to be one of those impossible to find parts... :( ...so any leads on a working index spring for this hub would be appreciated! (the index spring should be interchangeable on all three models of this hub, I think)

Also, the red Bendix 2-speed is the same as the yellow hub except that the red hub has a multi disc type coaster brake rather than the four shoe drum brake that the yellow hub is equipped with.

Okay,

I just overhauled mine and didn't have a low gear at first either. A little mech rigging and I got it going. Here's what I would recommend to help get you moving.

First of all, to help you better understand the mechanism, assemble the hub guts without the shell. This way you get to play with it and see how it works (or should work) and see what's not working.

I would be willing to bet that the little "cogs" (not really cogs, more like a sliver bent out at a 90 degree angle) on the index spring are crushed/broken. What those cogs do, are spin into place and block out the 1:1 gear, thus allowing the low gear to function. When the cogs are broken, they don't kick the gear out enough to disengage it.

Now if the spring is broken, that doesn't mean that you necessarily have to replace it. What I did was take a pair of tough, sharp scissors and extend the cut on the cogs, essentially extending the length of metal that the cogs are made of. Then, very carefully, maybe with some needle nosed pliars, (I used two to get it right) bend the cog out.

This is really hard to explain via writing. Now I saw that you are in Portland which is where I am, so I would be glad to meet with you and show you what the hell I'm talking about.

Maybe bring along a six-pack of Bridgeport IPA and we can work on it. No guarantees that I can fix it though.

Let me know,

Tony

I called them pawls, you called them cogs, I'm pretty sure we're talking about the same thing. All three on my index spring are completely gone. I hadn't thought about cutting 'new' ones as you say you were able to do, but I understand exactly what you're talking about...I may have a source for new index springs, too. I'll be checking into it this weekend...

PS - Sorry I didn't respond to your PM, I've been busy playing catchup at work after being out of town for a week, and helping to organize and participating in Pedalpalooza events. I'll be providing support for the ZooBomb Century this Sunday, come by if you can make it: http://www.shift2bikes.org/summercalendar.html