STURMEY - ARCHER 3 SPEED TROUBLE SHOOTING
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2018
- I have found out that many of you have this Sturmey - Archer 3 speed gear changer. The reason they have problems varies but the most common is that the cable to the shifter stretched and needs adjusting. Adjusting to factory specs only takes a few minutes to achieve. The actual gears are well built and usually are not the problem. Cleaning out the hub with a cleaning lubricant can wash out the dirt and grease and make it work correctly again without removing the wheel from the bike. After it has been flushed out with a rust oil cleaner one can put in the ordinary oil again. These hubs are built to take oil not grease. The oil helps it lubricate and cleans the hub out (flushing) whereas the grease when put in the hub blocks and holds the dirt inside.
I hope this video frees up many 3 speeds hubs for another 40 years.
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Cheers Willy - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
as an Englishman there is something that warms me to see a bloke in a shed drinking a cup of tea
"I'm addicted" It's my English heritage.
I am so glad I finally decided to watch your video!! I just bought a 1967 Sears & Roebuck Austrian made bicycle ($25!!) two weeks ago. The 3 speed hub isn’t a Sturmey Archer, but it’s basically the same thing. Mine is stuck, so I put some bicycle oil in there. The chain moves better, but now I have to get the rim to rotate on the axle.
It was nice to learn more about what goes on in that hub. You are very much appreciated, sir. I’ll be sure to watch your other videos to educate myself well. God bless you.
Try and get penetrating oil that removes rust as it is thinner than oil and leave it in the wheel for 48 hrs. I use WD - 40 but every country has a variation of the WD-40. The penetrating oil will remove the rust and free the bearings. Thanks for the lovely feedback.
Cheers Willy
Will do, sir. Thank you again!
You say Austrian made, is it a Torpedo 515 by any chance? Those are better than Sturmey anyways. You should take the hub apart, clean and regrease/oil. Everything else is a temporary solution at best.
Brilliant, simple, appreciated! Thanks, Willy!
Gotta have a cup o tea when working on a Sturmy Archer hub. Thanks for the helpful video.
Cup of tea is the key to a good restoration.
Great resource! appreciate the help, willy!
Thanks
I have two old corvette old Schwinn Bikes and they were not working great put oil in but after I watched your video I hit them hard with WD40 wow they are like new now and I was going to break them down and overhaul them thanks saved me a lot of work!!!
I'm so glad it worked even though I new it would in many cases I get negative feedback about talking about WD40. I know it works but trying to convince others is not easy. Thanks for the feedback which will help others to try it out before stripping the hub.
Cheers Willy
Followed your video, and went straight to problem sorted. Many thanks
Glad it helped.
Great.
Thanks for the positive feedback as many do not understand that this is about getting the hub working without stripping it apart. Most complain and do not have a mechanical background and do not understand that saving these old vintage bikes is my main goal. If I save one bike I have succeeded. Glad your problem is sorted.
Thank you! I'll check out your other videos!
Great reassuring explanation - thank you.
Hello sir! Thank you so much for the video. Since I'm trying to restore a Raleigh Superbe, I just realised that second gear is not operational, it's like the gearbox is in neutral when you select it. I also hear what I think is the freewheel ticking all the time when I pedal, but I'm not sure is that actually producing the sound. Watching videos I kind of learned that second gear should have the sprocket and the hub rotating at the same pace, but I really don't know what to look at in the hub to make that happen. Just wanted to ask if you had any suggestion for having already experienced that kind of situation. Thank you again!
This was great. I have a small problem and wonder if you know what it might be. I have a 3 speed SA and it has started clicking when in first and I am peddling. I am not talking about the usual clicking one hears with an SA hub, but its a sort of vibrations click I can feel slightly in the peddles. At first I thought it was the bottom bracket but realised it was an irregular patter....not subject to the rotation of the peddles so not bottom bracket related so must be due to the drive and gear hub. As I say, only in first, and only when peddling. The hub is oiled regularly though have never disassembled one. I have adjusted cable tension and it does seem to be subject to that.
Thanks Willie, just the video I needed. I enjoy riding older bikes, and am picking up my first ever Strumey Archer 3 speed soon. The gears change smoothly, overall the hub moves freely, and the bearing feel solid. From this video I take that I can just clean the innards with some good old WD40, and then just put some good bike oil in there for the time being (BTW, how much oil do you suggest?). Is there anything else you suggest I do? Thanks you your videos sir.
We used to put 3 - in - One Oil in the hub. It's a lighter oil than the normal oil. You can put oil in until it's fairly full and wipe what spills out.
Thanks for sharing this!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Trank you William ! unfortunately in my Raleigh i found the little chain with goes inside sturmey cut off so i cannot unscrew it. Any advice ? thanks!
I have a Sturmey-Archer AW. When I ride, I cannot rotate the pedal-crank backwards as it did when it was new. What do you think? Thanks a million!!!
Dear Willy, my brompton has sa 3speed skipping in all gears when i pedal, i have check the gear cable and should be fine, even in the loosen indicator pin, the rear wheel still skipping, do i need to tear down rear hub for checking? Thank you so much!
Great advice thank you
Hi Willy! Thanks so much for your brilliant videos. I've justserviced reassembled my SA 3 speed and have encountered a problem: when pedaling with some force (like uphill), the hub 'skips' or 'jumps' several times with each crank rotation. This happens in every gear, but the hub does stay in gear each time. What could be going on? Thanks!
Check cable is installed correctly and the cable is anchored (fixed) correctly and then adjust indicator pin to factory specs. in 2nd gear. If these hubs are set wrong they skip under load. (uphill) It sounds like a little tuning and it will be OK. Check everything once more and then reset indicator pin. Hope this helps!
@@WillyDahm Ended up getting a new indicator pin & installing it according to specs, and now everything works great. Thanks for your help!
Sorry I did not answer the pedaling with force!
DO NOT pedal with force when changing gear. One is suppose to pedal lightly or not at all. When one needs to change gears uphill one turns downhill and changes and then returns to uphill. These hubs are not designed to pedal through with force. When I was young my parents told me to pedal backwards so I would not ruin the gears.
I’m trying to get my 3 speed sturmey archer to tick louder. I like to hear the tick but it sounds soft or muffled. The bike is a Raleigh from the 70’s and it’s in very good condition. Please advise? Thank you.
It may be packed with gunk. Flood it out with WD40 and leave it sit for 48hrs and then put three in one oil back in.
If it is still quiet I would leave it alone.
Installing the springs on the pals is difficult and not worth the trouble.
Thanks for these videos! I adjusted the indicator as you described but the gear is not moving smoothly when I pedal. When I prop up the bike and spin the pedals everything rotates well and quietly. When I ride the bike and push the pedals there is a jerking motion 2 or 3 times per pedal rotation. I feel this on both pedals. If I keep pedaling for a few minutes eventually the chain falls off of the back gear.
Any idea what to do? I just replaced my inner tube so I had to take off the rear wheel and am wondering what may be misadjusted upon replacing it. Thank you!!
Was it happening before you took off the wheel? If NO then you caused it somehow most likely when you put the wheel back on the bike.
Gear shifting problem:
I would check cable from hub to shifter is installed correctly. Make sure the cable coax holder (bracket) at end of gear changing cable - just before gear changing pin is fixed correctly.
Reset the shifter pin setting and try again. It's obvious that when you put load (torque) on hub it starts jerking. (skipping)
The chain coming off is a different issue and should not be connected to the skipping unless your sprocket on gear hub is loose.
Chain coming off:
Check the gear on pedal is inline with back wheel sprocket.
I hope that this is the problem and nothing major.
Cheers Willy
People used to say pedal backwards a little when changing gear or at least take pressure off the hub by not peddling.
To those who run the sturmey Archer 3-speed Hub or the sturmey Archer 4-speed hub or the sturmey Archer internal gear 5-speed hub the proper lubrication is if you cannot find sturmey Archer oil the next best thing is 3 in one Industrial 20 weight oil that's used on heavy duty electric motors it has the right viscosity for the internal gear system in many sturmey-archer products and oiling these hubs you need to do this every 14 days it will ensure trouble free cycling without any problems it is recommended by the sturmey Archer Corporation. Oh yes I forgot the recommended dosage is 1 teaspoon of oil in the hub.
Thanks for posting this. I agree that 3 in 1 oil is the best for these 3 speed gears.
@@WillyDahm thanks for the comment but what I was referring to is not the red and white can of 3 in 1 oil but the blue and white can of 3 on 1 oil is the best oil.
Hello Willy and Gary. I'm from the Philippines and I have 3 speed sturmey archer igh. I can't find 3 in 1 oil here but I saw 4 in 1 oil. Is that different? And will that work? Here's the link to the oil that I am talking about: www.lazada.com.ph/products/4-in-1-all-purpose-lubricant-oil-120ml-i810384377-s2492764618.html?spm=a2o4l.searchlistcategory.list.73.5f881f7b35mgeP&search=1
@@joeviedelacruz4039 I'm going to look into this line of products thanks for the information I've just recently heard about this company thanks.!
How do you get the oil into the hub...? Older SA hubs had oil ports, but for decades now they are just grease packed at the factory.
Hi Willy, maybe you can help me out. I have an Achielle bike with sturmey archer 3 speed gear. At horizontal position of the gear switcher i had 1st gear, moving next step up is 2nd, and all the way up is 3rd. After two years of use i have decided to bring it on the maintenance and after the maintenance by gears switched by magic. 3rd gear is now at the place of 1st and 1st is at the place of 3rd. Do you have any ideas what could have caused that? And maybe to return it into original state?
The Sturmey Archer 3 speed can only gear one way so the only thing that could be wrong is the plate on the gear shifter itself is backwards or has been flipped. I have never heard of this happening before.
It is not the hub but how the shifter was installed.
Awsome vid. And your adjustment vid to.
Thanks...hope it helped.
Hi Willy! Nice vid. I have an X RD5 and i got it to shift dandy but sometimes the pawls seem to disengage. any thoughts? just slam it with wd 40?
I would wash it out with WD40 or white spirits to see if it has gunk in it by pouring it in the oil nipple. It may need several rinses to clean it out otherwise you will have to strip it and take a look. Make sure you finish by replacing with a thin oil. The pawls are spring loaded and usually work fine as they have a pin through them that prevents them from falling out. If they work sometimes it's either dirt or your gear pin setting is incorrect.
I have not taken the X RD5 apart as I have restored the vintage hubs only but the basics are the same so try out what I suggested and see what happens.
My 3 spd hub on my Brompton won't free wheel. You have to pedal it like a fixed gear because if you don't when stopping pedalling it jams up the chain after a few turns and you cannot ride the bike. No way of back pedalling at all. What has gone wrong? The hub is a Sturmey Archer circa 2013-2014.
That fixed it Thank you very much!
Thanks for the feedback. Glad the video helped you fix your gears.
@@WillyDahm I have a problem with my 69 Schwinn racer which has this system. I have tried lubricating it and changing the tension on the cord that changes the gear but both did not work. What happens is after I ride for a bit on 3rd gear for a while it starts to click and becomes extremely hard to ride. I can only stop this after turning it to first gear. It looks like the clicking is a part of the gear system but I don't think it is supposed to be as hard as it is to peddle. For some reason I can't see the actual pin that moves when gears change on my bike, it just looks like a thread so maybe it was pulled out a bit by the chain?
Hopefully you can help
After looking up the serial number I learned that third gear is meant for going downhill which is why it was so hard to pedal normally. My bad
What is the use of this kind of hub compared to normal hub ? Please explain in a video with comparision. Thanks in advance
This hub has three internal gears and a normal hub has none. The new hubs have gears outside the hub and have 18 gears or more. No video needed. Cheers Willy
Hi, I just replaced my old rotting tires on my Sears Free Spirit project and the chain spindle indicator fell out of the hub when I was reassembling. When you screw it back in how far/# of turns do you screw it in. Before I was having trouble getting 1st to stay on and know that is good but it can't seem to find 2nd gear, it tries but can't seem to grab it. Could I need a new cable (stretched)? Also what other parts should I think about replacing if necc? Thanks again, Mike
Cable stretches a little over time and needs to be reset to factory specs in second gear. Check cable is not loose and anchored at the end correctly with clamp. Most of these bikes if working do not need new parts. Oil cable at ends, reset cable and the pin to second gear (factory specs) and the 1st and second gear should work unless cable is installed wrong. Screw in the indicator in all the way and adjust pin with adjustment at end of chain in second gear. Check all the parts are installed in the correct place and tighten all lock nuts when adjusting. Hope this helps with your problems. Cheers Willy
@@WillyDahm Thank you soo much, she is shifting great. The only thing that worries me is she has a noise, kind of a whining noise, kinda like a squeaky door, in rhythm with the pedal stroke, what could that be or is it normal, I'm fixing the bike up for my wife and see has put I bet over 200 miles on her with the most being 22.6 Miles on one ride. I flooded her with WD40 for quite a while and now I have been using Boeshields T9 spray oil to help clean her inards out. Next I will try 3 in 1 as you said. Thanks again, Mike
Hi Willy. Hope this message finds you. I have a Raleigh Cruiser with Sturmey-Archer 3 speed. I recently greased the hubs and reinstalled everything (I didn't toucht eh actual gear hubs). My Indicator Pin will not Screw in now??? I tried taking a photo of the interior and it looks like the hole is centered, but on an Angle. As if I need to insert the tip and then pull it to the side. Any advice would be great! thank you...
I’m not sure which hole is on a angle. The pin should go in dead straight. Remove the outside nut and wheel and try again.
I just hope nothing is cross threaded. Also check that the pin threads are not damaged.
Thanks Willy for the reply. The pin was broken, so I've ordered a new one, lol...I may have knocked it loose during a minor dissemble and then when I put the hub back together, I may have broken it by spinning the wheel with the key sticking out.
Hi Willy, I have just finished with the restoration of a bike, it is equipped with a 3 speed Sturmey Archer '73. Dismounted, cleaned and mounted again following your videos, they are fantastic, but now I have a problem.
The 3rd speed doesn't works, the hub turns crazy, doesn't gear. I have tried to adjust it but it is impossible, this is the best I can do.
Do you think there is another problem? How can I know what is happening?
Thanks a lot for your videos, they are really easy to follow.
Does it catch in any gear? If not you have most likely assembled something incorrectly.
Does it catch gear in first and second? Sometimes the cable is not installed correctly. Check everything out slowly and try again. Let me know how it goes.
@@WillyDahm Finally the problem was only of a better lubrication and now it works. I put some motorbike oil, 5/50, and rode in the first 2 speeds which worked perfectly, after some kms everything worked fine!!! Thanks again for the videos
Hello,
Trying to reassemble my bike after tire replacement and I found that the chain that is connected to the indicator pin does not line up with the cable. Any suggestions will be most appreciated, thank you.
I'm not sure exactly what your problem is as the chain is connected to the pin and comes out through the special end nut that lines it up with the cable. Do you have the end (large nut) on the end of shaft as in my picture on video? Have you the cable installed correctly? Try again and check each step looking at other installed cables and pins and see what you are missing. I hope this helps. Cheers Willy
I think you tightened the indicator pin until it stopped. Back the pin off (unscrew it) by part of a turn until the indicator pin's chain has the right alignment.
The best Video Friend!
Thank you very much!
Hi, i notice that the gear shifter of my Dahon Vitese (5 speed sturmey archer) sometimes seems to block the chain wheel for a second before shifting. Any idea of what 's going on?
It does not block it but I think you mean it jabs or stalls. It most likely needs adjusting or the gears are sticking so adjust them first and if that does not work wash it the hub with WD40 to get the old grease out. Put in 3 in 1 oil afterwards when it frees up.
Hope this helps solve the problem.
I just bought a second hand Brompton bike who's 3rd gear rarely works. Would this work for that?
Most likely yes... Oil the hub and adjust the tension of the cable up or down until all three gears work. Most cables stretch a little causing gear slipping.
You must go for a spin on the bike and test that it works while cycling. I often go for a spin and adjust the tension until all three gears work. Good luck.
th-cam.com/video/vNxwMwzS3Jo/w-d-xo.html
Thanks dad 👍🏾
No problem
I am restoring an old bike with SA 3 speed from the late 70s. Shifting works ok but the freewheel does not work. Pedalling backwards powers the wheel! I have sprayed GT85 into the hub but still the same. Have you ever come across this? Dismantling the hub is an absolute last resort. Thanks
Sounds like it was left for a long period. Most likely seized up . I would flood it again and leave it for two days and try again. If it does not work you will have to strip and clean it properly. I'm not familiar with GT 85 but it has to be a rust remover liquid. Normal oil will not free it up. Try the WD 40 as I have used it for many years.
@@WillyDahm Thanks for the reply. In the end I stripped the hub, cleaned all internal parts and regreased. All reassembled now and back on the road. It wasnt as complicated a job as I initially feared thanks to a few helpful youtube videos. It took a few hours but was quite satisfying.
One question please. How i could purchase one the saiid 3 speed system online. Or offline & price?
Look up on ebay or other sites that sell second hand bike parts. Price will depend on seller. I bought hub without wheel for 10 CDN
Look for a Raleigh bicycle on a convenient web site. Make sure its a three speed. Some have no gears and the four speeds didn't work.
How to adjust loose gear cable ?
Hello, my 3 speed bike gears work fine but i have noticed that if i grab the rear wheel it will wiggle,only slightly though and it hasnt got worse,should i just leave it be?the wheel itself the nuts are tight.
I would fix this as it is not good for the bearings or for riding the bike.
Test: Turn bike upside down and with the wheel stationary see if it wiggles side to side. There should be no slack side to side.
My guess is that it's wiggling side to side.This is because the cones (nuts) on shaft holding (pressing) the ball bearings is slightly loose.
Remove rear wheel from bicycle.
You would want to loosen off the lock nut on one side and tighten the bearing nut so the wheel does not wiggle. Tighten the bearing nut until the wheel will not turn smoothly (easily) Loosen nut half a turn until wheel turns freely and there is no slack (wiggle) side to side. Lock in place with outer lock nut and you should be ready to go. "Easy fix"
The nuts are tight on wheel but not tight enough on ball bearings.
@@WillyDahm do i need any special tools to do this of would it be easier just to take it to a cycle shop to fix as i have little experience and because sturmy archer hubs are rarer could they still fix it?
@@ashleypaine7846 Another TH-cam guy does a great step-by-step on the Sturmey-Archer. Look for RJ THE BIKE GUY
What if the pin is completely out of the gear? How do i bring it correctly back in
I think you are talking about the gear indicator chain. (adjustment pin) Screw it back in and adjust to factory specs. It's on one of my videos:
DIY STURMEY - ARCHER 3 SPEED ADJUSTMENT
F.Y.I. I call it the adjustment pin or correctly called the gear indicator chain.
Thanks
When you put the oil in, how much do you put in?
It will show up at top of oil cap full. You may have some oil drip afterwards but it will stop so oil it outside and run it for a while.
Hi William , I m from India ..I like ur videos ..I m very interested to buy ..but it's not available here
My shifting pin came out while I was repairing the tube with the rim off my trike. Is there a way to push it back in? Mahalo
Yes...Insert it back in the threaded hole and screw it in. You must reset the pin to factory specs and tighten the lock nut.
Make sure your cable is properly installed.
solved my problems 😃
"Great" It's easy once one has the tips on solving the problem. It's great that the videos help others with their 3 speed problems.
Thanks for the feedback.
What a strange procedure. Good info though, and helpful
What if the hub Spins both ways
It may be just set wrong or the internal gears are shot. In the end if you cannot get it to work you have to open it up or buy a rear wheel with hub. I bought the gear hub for $10 Cdn. and used it in my video.
"Good luck"
Thanks Kirmit the frog 👍
Any time!
I couldn’t stop thinking about “Fargo” the movie when watching this video. 😳
I hope that's good.
@@WillyDahm sure is ey !
Dahm, sohn!
I have a 1957 Sturmy Archer that was thrown away. A day of WD40 and a teaspoon of 5W30, and it purred. Built it into a set of aluminum rims to complete the J. C. Higgins. Thousands of miles passed and to come, and all I do is refresh the reservoir every year or so. Why can't all things be built Sturmey-Archer tough?
"I agree"
ही अशी वस्तू विकत घ्यायला गेलो तर कुठे मिळेल ते सांगता आले तर फारच बरे होईल
My 3 speed was seized , redex with light oil unseized it.
Great....it does work!
Willy Dahm ps loving your videos steve uk
Is this a south African accent cos I cant understand it.
No ..It's a mix of Irish and Canadian. Sorry you can't understand it.
Jonathan Pardoe, The Newfoundland dialect, I's the Boy that builds the boat, And I's the Boy that sail's her, I's the Boy that catches the fish and takes them home to Lizer.
@@WillyDahm I thought that I could hear Irish. You sound like a cross between Chris O'Dowd and the rowers the O'Donovan brothers. Once you tune into one accent that's all you can hear. The beginning sounds Candian.
I agree though, one or two words do sounds mindly South African.
Is this a native Canadian accent, like from Newfoundland or just a mix? I love accents.
Edit. Someone has already suggested that it is a Newfoundland accent. It's fascinating seeing the origins of accents based on the origins of immigrants.
I have a scouse accent, which has an Irish influence, but is totally different to this.
Never use wd40 for that
I thought WD40 was a degreaser 😂😂
This is from the can:
Lubricates, Penetrates, Cleans and Protects,Loosens Rusted Parts, Frees Sticky Mechanisms, Drives Out Moisture
It does degrease from my own experience and lubricates at the same time which is why it is perfect for the Sturmey Archer Hub. It's better than washing the gears out with white spirits or just a cleaner because if the parts move after cleaning damage can be done as it is not a lubricant. I have used it in factories when a large nut would not crack we would spray WD 40 on it and leave it overnight and would try again a day later and it usually worked.
I always replace the proper lubricant oil in the hub after it cleans itself. I hope this answers your question Red Dave.
Thanks for the comment.
WD4O is a ``````Water Displacing lubricant
My 3 speed wont shift
Disconnect and see when you pull the gear changing pin by hand if it changes gear. If it does change by hand your cable is set wrong. Many have the cable incorrectly set and causes the gear changing problem.
If it has been outside and left it will need to be cleaned out or flushed. Still does not work take it apart and find the problem.
Damaged beyond repair buy new wheel and hub or hub and install spokes. "good luck"
After putting oil in the hub it finally shifts but I feel alot of resistance at random times while pedling I cant see this as being a weathered issue as it's been inside most of its life
I killed the 3 Speed hub on my Raleigh Grifter when I was a kid...... I can't believe how much abuse it took before it broke though !!!
It was absolutely full of mud and water, almost an egg-cup full !! And me shifting the gears "Straight Through" probably didn't help either !!!
That's why so many lasted so long. Thanks for the story.
@@WillyDahm Hi. I’ve got a problem with my Sturmey archer 3 speed hub on my raleigh. It doesn’t engage idle when pedaling or just when I walk bike pedals keep spining. When cycling I can feel force transmitted to pedals when I’m not pedalling. Is there a simple fix to it?
wow....WD40? This means you will later have to disassemble the hub and wash ALL the parts, then reassemble, oil the moving parts using 20W oil, remove, clean and regrease all the bearings, then reassemble the hub, then inject two teaspoons of 20W oil in that hub shell oil port. It would be easier just to disassemble it, clean it, oil and grease and reassemble. You would at least save some WD40.
wd40 will break down the grease in the hub.
This is glorious, been searching for "mountain bike maintenance schedule" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Ever heard of - Viyackson Yenacob Review - (just google it )?
Ive heard some super things about it and my colleague got cool results with it.
I will look it up...."thanks"
I have decided to post a video of general maintenance (tune up) on bikes including Mountain Bikes. Hope this helps with your tune ups.