Raleigh sports 3 speed shifting question
11-24-12, 09:45 AM
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Raleigh sports 3 speed shifting question
I have a 70's model that is not shifting properly. The hub internals seem to shift ok, but the lever is vert stiff and you have to hold it with great pressure to get it into the easiest gear. If you let go of the lever and keep riding it will gradually shift back to the hardest gear. I have tried adjusting the threaded adjuster but I am having no luck getting the stiffness out of the lever or getting it to hold the first two gears. Suggestions for proper diognosis and repair? Thanks!
11-24-12, 10:04 AM
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It could be the trigger shifter is worn out, but before jumping to that conclusion make sure the trigger is well lubricated and clean inside. There is a spring in there, which should be visible to you, that pushes something like a pawl down into a notch. Something is keeping the pawl-like-thing from holding firmly in the notch.
Also, make sure the cable adjustment is not too tight. In high gear, there should be no tension on the cable. It should be tight enough that as soon as you move the trigger, the cable starts moving at the hub end; but loose enough that the spring in the hub is completely relaxed in high gear.
Possibly the cable has too much friction. Does your cable run in a housing all the way to a fulcrum on the chain stay, or is the fulcrum on the top tube?
Also, make sure the cable adjustment is not too tight. In high gear, there should be no tension on the cable. It should be tight enough that as soon as you move the trigger, the cable starts moving at the hub end; but loose enough that the spring in the hub is completely relaxed in high gear.
Possibly the cable has too much friction. Does your cable run in a housing all the way to a fulcrum on the chain stay, or is the fulcrum on the top tube?
Last edited by rhm; 11-25-12 at 04:27 PM.
11-25-12, 04:10 PM
#4
Schwinnasaur
Here is some good info for you https://hadland.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/aw.pdf & https://sheldonbrown.com/sturmey-arch...tml#adjustment
If after this you are having problems, flush your hub with WD-40 or PB Blaster by squirting it directly into to the hub at through the oil cap. Pedal it and let it work in. You are trying to loosen up oxidized oil and grease. After that it hopefully shift correctly.. Then add new oil, a few squirts of motor oil. It is going to be messy for a while. The hub will loose oil as it gets clean especially during the initial flush.
If after this you are having problems, flush your hub with WD-40 or PB Blaster by squirting it directly into to the hub at through the oil cap. Pedal it and let it work in. You are trying to loosen up oxidized oil and grease. After that it hopefully shift correctly.. Then add new oil, a few squirts of motor oil. It is going to be messy for a while. The hub will loose oil as it gets clean especially during the initial flush.
