Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub gear problem

[fimm]

My 3 speed hub gear has become a 2-speed.

I can manually pull the wire through so that it goes into the "top"/hardest gear, but if I change using the gear changer thing, it does not change. I can see the wire moving, so it isn't that. The other two gears work fine. Is there anything else I should try, before I take it to the shop? I do not want to take the hub apart, I have neither the skills nor the equipment.

 

[tyred]

Pu tit in second and adjust the cable until the shoulders on the indicator rod are level with the end of the axle when viewed through the "window" in the wheel nut. This assumes that you have the correct indicator rod in the first place.

Follow Sheldon Brown's adjustment guide if you think you have the wrong indicator rod.

 

[fimm]

Adrian, I'll have to investigate later.

tyred, it was working, and there have been no changes in parts since I got the bike as new, so I will assume I have the right indicator rod. I'm familiar with Sheldon Brown's instructions, having used them before. I'll try them again. I just thought this was something with the hub itself, given that I can pull the cable manually. It would be good if it is just an adjustment problem!

 

[Night Train]

Given the cable needs to go slack to get third gear it could be the cable is sticking in the outer, possibly due to wear or lack of lubrication.

 

[Smut Pedaller]

Like night train said, pulling the indicator chain out of the hub all the way (tight cable) should put it in the lowest gear and allowing it to go slack should put it in the highest gear. If you say it's not going into the top gear, then its most likely that the cable is probably sticking somewhere along the line, either in the housing or possibly the shifter.

When you said you could "manually pull the wire" to get it into high gear, do you mean pull the cable where it comes out near the rear hub and threads onto the indicator chain? If so that would probably confirm my suspicions above. It's pretty rare that the internals break, they pretty much go forever as long as they are lubricated and the cable is in good nick and adjusted properly.

 

[fimm]

Thank you everyone, I've been out with my printout of Sheldon's instructions, slackened off the cable a bit, and it appears to be working again! I had thought that because I could see the rod moving in the hub, there must be something more fundamental wrong.
Oh well, at least it got me to give the bike a clean in case it did have to go to the shop!!