Sturmey AWC (II) brake 'clank'
06-10-09, 04:23 AM
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Sturmey AWC (II) brake 'clank'
I obtained a brand-new Sturmey-Archer AWC (II) hub, built up a wheel, and put it into service. This hub is the wide-ratio 3-speed with a coaster brake. The shell profile is about the same as the time-tested AW, with extra fittings on the left side associated with the coaster brake.
It shifts pretty well, requires a bit of backpedal when going from 2nd to 1st. The brake seems powerful enough.
The problem is, the brake after application 'clanks' once per revolution of the wheel, with judder transmitted back to the pedal associated with the sound. Sounds like (I imagine) one stationary brake shoe is catching an edge of something that's rotating with the wheel.
Hoping someone has knowledge of this. Will it 'break in' and work better after some use? Is there a simple adjustment or repair I can do without tearing down the wheel? Or, should I tear the wheel down & return it to the dealer?
Don't want to just wait & see because the bike is a refurb of a cousin's childhood ride and is destined for her daughter or niece. They're far away, and once delivered it has to work and continue working, else the bike will probably be discarded.
Thanks in advance - Richard in Milwaukee
It shifts pretty well, requires a bit of backpedal when going from 2nd to 1st. The brake seems powerful enough.
The problem is, the brake after application 'clanks' once per revolution of the wheel, with judder transmitted back to the pedal associated with the sound. Sounds like (I imagine) one stationary brake shoe is catching an edge of something that's rotating with the wheel.
Hoping someone has knowledge of this. Will it 'break in' and work better after some use? Is there a simple adjustment or repair I can do without tearing down the wheel? Or, should I tear the wheel down & return it to the dealer?
Don't want to just wait & see because the bike is a refurb of a cousin's childhood ride and is destined for her daughter or niece. They're far away, and once delivered it has to work and continue working, else the bike will probably be discarded.
Thanks in advance - Richard in Milwaukee
06-13-09, 01:55 PM
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Got an answer from the US office of Sturmey-Archer. It may be an earlier version of the AWC. The brake parts have been revised. I have the option to disassemble the brake and install the revised parts which they will send. Sounds good so far; I will update when there's more.
06-20-09, 08:35 AM
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Status: Unresolved, but probably not serious.
I opened the brake side & found a two-segment shoe held together with a ring, so it isn't the troublesome three-segment shoe. The hub shell seemed fine. Everything inside looked like good stuff well made, no signs of anything grinding itself against anything else.
Dropped a piece on my dirty floor and had to clean it up & order some replacment grease. Got MSC (mscdirect.com) p/n 00328286, bentone-moly disulfide grease. It appears to be the same as what's inside the hub - exact same color and consistency.
Needed the local bike shop's assistance to put the cone back. The adjusting nut would not quite accept my 22 mm Park cone wrench. While there, the shop owner said they'd noticed the same problem with AWC hubs - they'd built some bikes with the AWC for a special order, and each one had this same sound. The customer accepted the bikes even with the flaw. The mechanic helping me opined that it might be better once broken in.
I opened the brake side & found a two-segment shoe held together with a ring, so it isn't the troublesome three-segment shoe. The hub shell seemed fine. Everything inside looked like good stuff well made, no signs of anything grinding itself against anything else.
Dropped a piece on my dirty floor and had to clean it up & order some replacment grease. Got MSC (mscdirect.com) p/n 00328286, bentone-moly disulfide grease. It appears to be the same as what's inside the hub - exact same color and consistency.
Needed the local bike shop's assistance to put the cone back. The adjusting nut would not quite accept my 22 mm Park cone wrench. While there, the shop owner said they'd noticed the same problem with AWC hubs - they'd built some bikes with the AWC for a special order, and each one had this same sound. The customer accepted the bikes even with the flaw. The mechanic helping me opined that it might be better once broken in.
Last edited by duffer1960; 06-20-09 at 08:39 AM.
