Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.

New: Take Part in the new May's Giveaway: coming soon!


Sturmey Archer 5-speed hub gears slipping
#1
I had a 5-speed Sturmey Archer hub installed on a bike (pictured in avatar) that I'm using as a commuter. I chose this unit because I needed a few gears for hills, but the climbs aren't so long or steep that I'd need a larger gear range. The frame is bamboo, light-weight, and i also wanted to keep the back-end weight as low as possible.
After a week or so of riding (approx 120 miles) the gears started slipping on the hills, at first just slightly, and now progressing in frequency and irksomeness.

1) Is this common?

2) Is this something I can adjust myself (i am reasonably adept mechanically, but major rebuilding of the gear is likely beyond what would be prudent for me or the gear) or should I take it in?

Thanks for any help you're able to provide!
  Reply
#2
1st guess; the shifter cable needs re-adjusting. Most cables stretch a little when new, and the stretch needs to be adjusted out.
Nigel
  Reply
#3
It was an easy adjustment and is working well. Thanks for the advice!
  Reply
#4
follow the links here and you should find a pdf manual for your hub;
http://www.sturmey-archer.com/products/hubs/cid/4
  Reply
#5
Thanks. I'd found the link online and used the graphics to sort out how to do the adjustment. The hub gear was a bit of a mystery wrapped in an enigma for me, so I'm slowly sorting out how it functions and how I can assist that process.
  Reply


Possibly Related Threads...

Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
braking by reversing the pedals
Today 09:34 PM
Pre Ride Food Intake
Today 12:52 PM
Exploring the Hills with My Birch Hunter...
Today 12:49 PM
Triathletes disqualified after crossing ...
Today 12:44 PM
New Member
Today 12:41 PM
Customer service
Today 12:13 PM
Doctors are Prescribing Cycling
Today 12:09 PM
Gu/SiS/Energy Gels replacement
Yesterday 03:37 PM
Third best reason to ride a bent or trik...
Yesterday 10:24 AM
The great thing about trikes
Yesterday 10:15 AM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. Painkiller
21 posts
no avatar 2. Flowrider
19 posts
no avatar 3. meamoantonio
16 posts
no avatar 4. SPINMAN
13 posts
no avatar 5. enkei
12 posts