dolface

i got my hands on a sturmey-archer tf (two-speed fixed) hub, and i'm trying to find out if it's up to the abuse of skidding/skipping.

as i've found out, these things are rare as hens teeth, and i'd feel really bad if i broke it, so if you know anything about how tough they are, drop the knowledge!

genericbikedude

if its a two speed, then its been modified. if it says ASC, then its a purpose-built fixed three speed.

dolface

nope and nope https://www.sheldonbrown.com/sturmey-archer.html#tf

genericbikedude

well shut my mouth

genericbikedude

in the absence of knowledgeable advice, I'd say take it apart and look at how robust the clutch/pawl (but not pawl--this is fixed...) relationship is. either way--its an old hub take it apart and clean it good before using. that thing is worth money.

BostonFixed

only one way to find out.

Jamtastic

nice find dolface. cherish like a baby bird....

dolface

i'm scared to take it apart. i looked at a bunch of the diagrams for it, and it's complicated.

i'm afraid if i open it up something will sproing into another dimension, and i'll never get it back together.

Mouton

you have another dimension under your sofa?

dolface

i don't think it's under the sofa, it seems to move around though

icithecat

Just my uninformed opinion.
There was no need for club racers to skip and skid intentionally back then. A rider would probably be more concerned with being rear ended by, than rear ending a car.
Most cars had cable operated drum brakes.
For this reason, I think you should baby it in that way. If you are afraid to rebuild it, please find someone who isn't. You have a rare prize you want to take care of.

seely

I would sooner reassemble a NASA spaceship peice by peice than rebuild a Sturmey hub--definately find someone that KNOWS what they are doing, and is at least 60 years old... a lot of people I have worked with THiNK they know what they are doing--but quickly wind up trashing a perfectly good Sturmey hub.

dolface

here's the thing, it's been freshly overhauled, and declared to be in 'good health' by a 'good sa man' in scotland (quotes are excerpted from an email the seller sent me), but i don't know what that means.

as icithecat said, club racers were more concerned with going fast than with stopping, but i'd like to know for sure if the hub can take skidding/skipping.

if it can't, i'm gonna need a new frame to put it on, one that's drilled for brakes.

genericbikedude

I've overhauled AW's. Its tricky, but not rocket science. Email sheldon brown and ask him, or post this thread in the mech forum, and he'll be sure to notice.

dolface

good idea, thanks genericbikedude, i'll post any findings back here.

Seggybop

it can't be that complicated to take it apart and check it out -- I modded my hub to two-speed fixed and the actual mechanisms are really simple (simpler than derailleurs, certainly)

genericbikedude

Oh come ON. Those little paper-clippy pawl springs? The planet cogs falling all over the place? The different levels of bearings? I mean, your average guy can overhaul these things, but it is NOT simpler than a derailler.

dolface

even if i take it apart, i don't think that will help me figure out if i can skid/skip it.

(and in case anyone's wondering, my default on this is not to skid).

Seggybop

the hub I modified is a bendix, so no annoying pawls on that one like the SA, though I've messed with those as well before. they're still easier to deal with than a derailleur. still haven't able to set one of those up properly. with the hub, as long as it's assembled right, it works, as opposed to endless adjustments

genericbikedude

just because the mechainsm is more durable, doesn't make it simpler. anyway, what forum are we in? Fixed gears (SS Fixed gears) are simpler than all of the above anyway.

dolface

it IS a fixed-gear though

Seggybop

truetrue. compared to normal the whole dualspeed fixed deal is only a gimmick anyway ^_^;

regarding the original topic, the internal mechanisms are made of some pretty heavy duty steel, so they should be able to take the stress. however, I'd make sure your shifter is set up properly, as backpedaling while not set entirely in one of the gears and having it slip would be a good way to cause unnecessary wear

mattman

www.wheelfineimports.com This guy might know something about that hub. He is kind of old and has tons of old stuff hidden around the shop.

tlupfer

i'd say run a brake (you're going to have a cable/shifter anyway) or sell it and spend the $500+ on something neat.

i believe there was a discussion on the fgg forums about this and a wise source explained why skidding on the asc (which would presumably apply to the tf also) would be an awful and destructive notion. i can't find the thread at the moment.

dogxcd

hi
i know it was 6 yrs ago ,but as a long shot,do you still have the TF hub & would you be prepared to sell it please?
regards
d