Sturmey Archer heritage

[avecReynolds531]

After a few childhood experiences of the AW false neutrals, it was decades before I'd return to Sturmey Archer.

Two SRF3 hubs later, I've slowly learnt an appreciation of this iconic design. Though it would be fair to say, still don't have a clue how it works....

Fantastic historical info here: http://www.sturmey-archerheritage.com/

 

[winjim]

Though it would be fair to say, still don't have a clue how it works....

It works like this:

 

[raleighnut]

After a few childhood experiences of the AW false neutrals, it was decades before I'd return to Sturmey Archer.

Two SRF3 hubs later, I've slowly learnt an appreciation of this iconic design. Though it would be fair to say, still don't have a clue how it works....

Fantastic historical info here: http://www.sturmey-archerheritage.com/

It's a 'planetarey' gear system(similar to a car 'automatic' gear system) but correct cable tension is critical to avoid those 'no drive' situations

 

[Drago]

One of my earliest cycling memories was my old feller showing me how to strip and rebuild an SA hub and explaining its workings to me.

 

[simongt]

Only issue with hub gears is that few cycle shops / LBSs know how to strip & service a hub gearbox properly.
Having seen a cutaway drawing of an SA hub in R.Y.Way's 1951 book 'Cycling', I'm not surprised - !

 

[Chris S]

There are plenty of videos on YouTube showing you how to strip them down and rebuild them. They're really easy to understand if you group components into functioning parts.

Anyway, I'd rather have an AW than an SRF3. It has less drag, the pawls are stronger and there is no actuator plate to break.