Ranko Kohime

I have the Sturmey-Archer QS-RC5 mounted on my Worksman trike.

On the website, it claims "Special use hub, includes a reverse gear".

I for the life of me cannot find said reverse. There is no selection for it on the shifter, and the only mention I've seen online (which may be referencing a different hub) is to "pedal backwards". This does not work, as the coaster brake activates, and I can stand with all of my weight on the pedal in the reverse direction, with the nose pointed uphill, and it still will not go backwards.

So does anyone know the secret, or is there one?

FBinNY 

I don't know, but I suspect, that it's an either/or deal for coaster brake or reverse. Like you I can't see how it could be both. I suggest you the US Agent in Napa, California and see what they have to say. (the number is listed on their site.)

FBinNY 

BTW- it might be as simple as not connecting the reaction arm on the brake, in which case the entire hub would turn backward when you backpedaled.

fietsbob

Did you go back up the supply chain where you got he thing, and ask any of them.

Im just blind guessing until i have things in my hands.

FMB42

Ya, I too figured that you can't have a coaster brake and reverse.

But the SA site says that it has a coaster brake and that it's equipped with a reverse.

One review on a trike equipped with this hub (it's actually a gearbox) simply states that you "pedal backwards" to engage reverse. I wanted to think that you somehow engage/select reverse followed by pedaling in a forward motion. But who knows? If that were the case, then surely the gear selector would have a "Rev" postion right? I'd also think that you'd need to be able to brake while in reverse right?

Maybe you need to come to a complete stop followed by initially pedaling softly/slowly in a backwards motion. Kind of a "heavy/quick pedal pressure" = brake and "light pressure" = reverse sort of thing.

Couldn't find any useful info on the SA site. No owner's manual. No guide. Zip, nada, nothing. An Internet search came up with the same. I even looked around on the Worksman site and found nothing. Maybe the guide/owner's manual is available through the Worksman parts list?

The whole thing is very odd. I mean, when was the last time you couldn't find what you needed to know on the Internet?

Anyway, I'd contact the seller and/or SA (like fietsbob says).

Ranko Kohime

I'm not surprised. Worksman only uses Shimano parts exclusively in their stock drivetrains. I neglected to mention that I upgraded to this hub myself from the stock coaster brake.

I know... It's just not right.

fietsbob

Did you keep the print, typically included, hub owner's manual?

Dan Burkhart 

I have never laid eyes on one of these myself, although I do have a back burner project I've been thinking about getting one for.
I did find an instruction leaflet for the 3 speed version, although it is badly translated, and not much help I think.
https://www.sturmey-archer.com/userfi...n_20090327.pdf
I would send an e-mail to David at info@sunraceusa.com It might take him a while to get back to you, because he is a one man show and pretty busy, but he is very helpful.

FMB42

I just gave Sturmey Archer of North America a ring (more or less a local call for me).

Recording said that their office is "closed for the winter break" until Jan. 3rd.

FBinNY 

Common enough. After all they're a bicycle company not running the local ER.

Ranko Kohime

The hub came with an installation SHEET, but no manual to speak of.

pierce

hahahah. "Avoid reversing gear in sudden while dashing or the internal parts may result in damage or reduced life expectancy"


it does look like the gear has to be assembled just so for the reverse function to work right. step #3 specifically.

Airburst

That's one of the better garbled translations I've seen!

Strange that the manual's so badly translated, Sturmey-Archer stuff's usually done pretty well....

Jeff Wills

Wandering off-topic, but I had this pinned to my wall way back when: "What's matter? Why fork stem come shortage?"

One dish of leftovers to the first person who guesses what kind of bike part they were advertising.

FBinNY 

Sounds like the SR tall stems.

pierce

The old Sturmey Archer is gone. the new 'sturmey-archer' is SunRace/SR/Sakae/whatever chinese merge of old brands..

Airburst

Even so, all the instructions I've seen for their new stuff, like the 8-speed and the 2-speed kickback hubs, are in pretty coherent english.

Ranko Kohime

Well, even though I sent an e-mail on New Year's day, I got a reply the same day. And yes, you're supposed to pedal backwards after you stop. Which means my hub is in need of adjustment.

The PDF posted by Dan is approximately what I got.

FMB42

Try coming to a complete stop.

Next apply light forward pressure on the pedals (you may, or may not, need to actually move forward).

Then begin pedaling backwards softly/slowly until you start moving in reverse.

You've probably tried doing this, but I thought I'd mention it anyway.

Ranko Kohime

Tried this the other day, and no combination of pedalling forward, or pedalling gently managed to do it. The brake consistently locked every single time I reversed.

FMB42

Well, I tried calling SA's North American headquarters in Napa a couple of times earlier this week and only got an answering machine.

Called a bike shop in Chicago (that carries other SA hubs) and the (service manager/owner?) couldn't find any instructions and/or owner/operator guides on the product in question (he really tried to help tho). He suggested that I email SA's Napa headquarters which I then did: all I got back was a sales pitch and SA product list. Not one part of the email answered and/or gave any info on the installation and operation on this unit. None, nada, nothing (even though I specifically requested said info).

I again find it odd that SA has been selling this hub since what 2009? And yet, after all this time, they still haven't managed to update their website with any meaningful info on the operation of this particular unit.

All-in-all not a very good impression on SA and their "customer support" in regards to their QS-RC5 gearbox.

Anyway, I'm sorry that I was unable to be of much help on this.

Dan Burkhart 

I wonder if any OEMs are using this hub, or if it's primarily aimed at the after market. Have you tried looking at places other than this forum for feedback?
I wonder how many of these things actually exist in the wild.

fietsbob

the California office as I Understand is a one man shop.. try Emailing the manufacturer in Taiwan .

FMB42

Ok, I spoke too soon. My apologies to the Sturmey Archer North American headquarters in Napa CA.

Here's what SA emailed me:

"To engage reverse it is as simple as coming to a complete stop with the vehicle and pedaling backwards. There is no gear to select reverse from. To engage the coaster brake you simply apply rearward pressure to the pedals to brake. Then again to reverse the vehicle when at a stop continue applying pressure rearward to reverse the vehicle. Please let me know if you have any further questions."

info@sunraceusa.com

Again, my apologies to Sturmey Archer.

fietsbob

Ok , so if you are moving forward and back pedal, the coaster brake engages..
but if you are at a dead stop, and pedal backwards , the trike moves backwards.

Have to look into those for some of the more handicapped customers..