GreenWheels

How would I do this. Just dunk the hub in some solvent or kerosene? Or do I pour it in the little tap hole then pour it out and fill it with machine oil?

brianinc-ville

The easiest way: just squirt the solvent in through the little oil filler tap hole. Turn the wheel a bit. Squirt some more solvent in. Let it sit for a couple of days. Turn again, pour the remaining solvent out through the right-hand end of the hollow axle, and refill with light motor oil. Keep refilling it and riding it, refilling it and riding it, 'til you're pretty sure that the oil coming out is fairly clean.

The more thorough way: disassemble the hub and clean all the internal parts by hand (being very careful not to lose the little pawls, springs, and pawl pins). With a 70+ -year-old hub, that's not a bad idea -- there's probably some ancient, varnished-up oil in there. The hub internals are less complicated than the diagrams might lead you to think. Really, I'm not a mechanical genius, but I pulled it off. Here's a guy with some good photos of the process, and here are some links to the Sturmey-Archer shop manuals. If you're patient and methodical, you'll have no trouble. Good luck!

GreenWheels

Wow those are great instructions. It really doesn't look so bad after seeing that. I think I might just go for the solvent method for now since I lost the ebay bid and wont be taking the wheels apart until a another set of rims show up. The only alternative are these Indian made steel rims https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-BI...item4ab32087a8 and I'd rather put on some 60 year old British made stainless steel rims or look for an alloy 40 hole 26x1 3/8. For now I'll just sand down the ones I have and give them a wipe down after each ride. Although considering how rough they are, I might try a dab of oil to keep the rust away and rely on the rough surface to provide friction for breaking.

Roll-Monroe-Co

Good show!

Don't put any oil on the braking surface itself. The brake pads will keep the rust down on those surfaces if you use the bike regularly. I saw you were worried about stopping power. Modern brake pads make a big difference. Kool Stops are probably the thing. They even make them in unobtrusive shapes for elder bikes. You probably want the Continental.

Schwinnsta

Be carefull not to misplace bolts, because Raleigh threading is all Whitworth which is hard to find.

As for freeing the stem, spray some sovent on bolt going vertically into the the stem and on the stem where it penetrates the down tube. Wait a day or so and see if it will loosen. Unscrew the bolt about 1/2" and wack it will a hard rubber mallet or a hammer with a hard wood block so you dont damage the bolt. It should move down. if this works then try to move the stem using the handle bars for leverage. If you are lucky it will come loose. If not report back to us.