Hello All,
I have a perplexing SA adjustment problem that is driving me up the wall. I have posted this problem earlier, and I just cannot get this bike adjusted properly. So, help is still needed.I have an early 70's Humber Ladies SA 3 speed. No matter how I adjust the SA cable tension, it either skips in 2nd or 1rst gear. I have had to install a replacement Japanese copy SA trigger, along with a new cable. I have tried a couple of different indicator spindles, with no difference in the problem. If I set up the cable tension correctly, it skips in 2nd. If I set it up with the cable super loose, 2nd is ok, then it skips in 1rst. Am going out of mind in this one, because I truly feel that it is something external, and not something wrong with the hub inside. The shifter moves fine, the fulcrum is tight, the pulley is moving. I have put the bike on a work stand, disconnected the cable, and checked that there is correct differences in the rotation of the gear on the hub, to show that there actually is a first, second and third gear . I am open to all advice and suggestions from any and all Sturmey Archer gurus, because this one is driving me nuts. Help !

What makes you sure that the internals are fine? Sounds like you have a bad clutch or pawls.

It should have an oil port in the rear hub. Spray a good bit of WD-40, or similar, in it & ride it awhile. I have seen the same prooblem with other 3 spd S/A hubs that have sat awhile & had gotten gummy inside.

When it skips in 1st or 2nd, what position is the trigger in?

There are a few confusing matters here. Are the hub nuts and spacers put back on the way they came off? Is the drive side nut the one with the little window? Is the original little spindle with chain still available to you? If it's not available to you, I'd think you need one that was made for a Raleigh Sport or Raleigh Superbe 3-speed. These details all affect teh position of the shoulder on the adjuster spindle.

If you slowly adjust the cable tension, i.e. length, you really should find a position where the hub will shift into all three gears and stay in each one, since all three gears are present. It's possible something is messed up inside, but probably the best way to determine that is to make sure it's lubed and try to adjust it the right way and confirm that it is not possible to do so.

Another thing is to drip maybe three drops of motor oil into the little oil hole, just to make sure some lube is in there. That should make sure everything is moving freely inside the hub.

The original Sturmey Archer information is on Sheldon Brown's site: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/sturmey-archer/service.html.

Before spraying any WD-40 inside, I'd suggest checking how Sheldon recommended un-gumming the internals. WD-40 is a cleaner that contains a mild lube, but one that doesn't last long. Soon you'll have bare metal on metal inside the hub. The hubs like certain types of oil, and not grease. The Sturmey service instructions in the link should explain what oils are good ane which ones are not. Caveat: If Sheldon says WD-40 is ok, it probably is, but my opinion is still that if you happen to have the kind of oil Sturmey recommended, that's a better choice. These are old ladies that you're dealing with.

Does it skip on the bike stand or only under a load? If the latter, that's characteristic of a worn clutch.

Neal

Well, from all the advice, it sounds like there may be something wrong inside. The thing that throws me is that by adjusting the cable tension, I can affect if the bike slips in 2nd or 1rst.
Yes I have oiled the hub. I am quite certain that the spacers , etc. are on correctly. I have worked on SA and Shimano 3 speed hubs , but it has been many years since I took the internals apart. The SA indicator is the original. I have only replaced the trigger, cable and pulley assembly. It skips both on the bike stand, and while riding it.
If the cluthc or pawls are worn inside, will those affect how I adjust the exterior cable adjustment ?

An AW hub should never slip in first. This is not an adjustment problem.

To answer your question, no, this wear doesn't affect adjustment.

If it slips on the stand, you have a seriously worn clutch. Pop a new one in, and it will be like magic.

Neal, do you ever see weak pawl springs? I think I have, but it's been a long time for me.

When I put the bike on the stand, disconnect the cable, and pull the indicator out all the way, the bike slips in 1rst. So, it seems like worn out internals. Where in heavens name does one order internal SA parts in today's world ? These are specialized parts and I wonder who stocks them ?

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/s...her-parts.html
https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi (search for "Sturmey Archer")
https://www.oldbiketrader.co.uk/displ...ternalhubparts

If you're just looking for a spare clutch, send me a PM; I'd be glad to pop one in an envelope.

Neal

https://bikesmithdesign.com/

Download his SA tips, too.

Harris Cyclery (Sheldon Brown's shop) stocks SA parts: https://sheldonbrown.com/harris/sturm...her-parts.html