Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

For the love of English 3 speeds...

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

For the love of English 3 speeds...

Old 04-17-21, 10:21 AM
  #24376  
gster
Senior Member
 
gster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2,571

Bikes: 1971 Hercules, 1978 Raleigh Superbe, 1978 Raleigh Tourist, 1964 Glider 3 Speed, 1967 Raleigh Sprite 5 Speed, 1968 Hercules AMF 3 Speed, 1972 Raleigh Superbe, 1976 Raleigh Superbe, 1957 Flying Pigeon, 1967 Dunelt 3 Speed

Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1028 Post(s)
Liked 438 Times in 287 Posts
A Good deal
His and hers 3 speeds offered at $150.00 the pair.
Mens is a CCM (S/A)
and the Ladies a Road King (Shimano)
gster is offline  
Old 04-17-21, 11:02 AM
  #24377  
browngw 
Senior Member
 
browngw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Port Dover Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,540

Bikes: 1965 Dilecta Le Blanc, 1956 Royal Nord, 1972 Raleigh Sports, 1972 CCM Turismo,1976 SuperCycle Excalibur, 2014 Salsa Vaya, 2017 Felt DD70, 2019 Giant Lafree and others

Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 349 Post(s)
Liked 575 Times in 225 Posts
Originally Posted by Salubrious
I just buy shift cable. Ace Hardware sells brass tubing in some really small sizes; I bought some of that and cut it to size, fit it over the shift cable and crush it to swage it to the cable. A little solder doesn't hurt either. Cheap, easy albeit a bit geeky but that is what nutters do.
I found the thin copper/brass capillary tubing sold at auto stores for things like oil pressure gauges work for cable ends as well. I used leftovers from my Triumph TR7.
__________________
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
browngw is offline  
Old 04-17-21, 01:58 PM
  #24378  
arex
Abuse Magnet
 
arex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,888

Bikes: '91 Mtn Tek Vertical, '74 Raleigh Sports, '72 Raleigh Twenty, '84 Univega Gran Turismo, '09 Surly Karate Monkey, '92 Burley Rock-n-Roll, '86 Miyata 310, '76 Raleigh Shopper

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 151 Post(s)
Liked 172 Times in 86 Posts
Just got this off of eBay for my wife. '60s Robin Hood. Probably paid too much.

arex is offline  
Likes For arex:
Old 04-17-21, 01:58 PM
  #24379  
27inch
vintage rider
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 96

Bikes: 1937 Roadmaster, 1972 Schwinn Typhoon, 1972 Raleigh Sports

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times in 8 Posts
When I was a kid in the 70's there was an old guy who had a backyard motorcycle shop and small machine shop. He worked on mostly older British motorcycles.
He had an old iron mold which was used for molding the ends on m/c brake cables. The mold had several different sizes it could do, including bicycle cable ends. He'd form the ends with zinc. It was similar to a fishing weight or bullet mold. I also seem to remember seeing one in an old JC Whitney catalog back then.

:Looking at the end on a few original cables I've got here, it appears to be just a steel barrel crimped over the cable. I could see he fishing line ferrules working well with some solder to back up the crimp but you would need to find a pretty small ferrule. All of those I have in my tackle box are too big to fit into the shifter.
27inch is offline  
Old 04-17-21, 02:04 PM
  #24380  
27inch
vintage rider
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 96

Bikes: 1937 Roadmaster, 1972 Schwinn Typhoon, 1972 Raleigh Sports

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times in 8 Posts
Anyone have a good source for steel 27" rims for a '77 Sprite 27?
I picked up a very clean bike but both rims are rusted through where they sat flat on concrete for decades. The original rims are Endrick style and measure 32mm wide OD and are marked Sturmey Archer near the valve hole. Each rim is rusted away along the very edge where the steel folds over to form the bead area in about an 2" area on both rims. The tires were pretty much melding away, they got sticky like an old rubber band you find after too many years in storage that's melted and stuck to everything.
The bike however was rust free, it was just covered top to bottom in fine sawdust from the guy's table saw about 15 ft away from where it was sitting.
I will also likely lose the self adjusting brake levers in favor of a set of older brakes.

.
27inch is offline  
Old 04-17-21, 02:10 PM
  #24381  
cudak888 
www.theheadbadge.com
 
cudak888's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,496

Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com

Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2401 Post(s)
Liked 4,350 Times in 2,075 Posts
Originally Posted by 27inch
Anyone have a good source for steel 27" rims for a '77 Sprite 27?
I picked up a very clean bike but both rims are rusted through where they sat flat on concrete for decades. The original rims are Endrick style and measure 32mm wide OD and are marked Sturmey Archer near the valve hole. Each rim is rusted away along the very edge where the steel folds over to form the bead area in about an 2" area on both rims. The tires were pretty much melding away, they got sticky like an old rubber band you find after too many years in storage that's melted and stuck to everything.
The bike however was rust free, it was just covered top to bottom in fine sawdust from the guy's table saw about 15 ft away from where it was sitting.
I will also likely lose the self adjusting brake levers in favor of a set of older brakes.

.
I have a very nice 40H steel Sturmey rear rim for a Sprite 27. Yours for shipping cost. PM me.

-Kurt
__________________












cudak888 is offline  
Old 04-18-21, 02:28 AM
  #24382  
27inch
vintage rider
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 96

Bikes: 1937 Roadmaster, 1972 Schwinn Typhoon, 1972 Raleigh Sports

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times in 8 Posts
Originally Posted by cudak888
I have a very nice 40H steel Sturmey rear rim for a Sprite 27. Yours for shipping cost. PM me.

-Kurt
Thanks for the offer but both wheels are 36h and super wide. I looked at a few others and they had narrower rims, these are as wide as the Westrick rims on a Sports model.
27inch is offline  
Likes For 27inch:
Old 04-18-21, 06:02 AM
  #24383  
Hproduguidon
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 203
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 48 Post(s)
Liked 364 Times in 126 Posts

Hproduguidon is online now  
Likes For Hproduguidon:
Old 04-18-21, 09:30 AM
  #24384  
cudak888 
www.theheadbadge.com
 
cudak888's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,496

Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com

Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2401 Post(s)
Liked 4,350 Times in 2,075 Posts
Originally Posted by 27inch
Thanks for the offer but both wheels are 36h and super wide. I looked at a few others and they had narrower rims, these are as wide as the Westrick rims on a Sports model.
Gotcha. Mine is an Endrick.

-Kurt
__________________












cudak888 is offline  
Old 04-18-21, 06:22 PM
  #24385  
thumpism 
Bikes are okay, I guess.
 
thumpism's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 9,128

Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT

Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2647 Post(s)
Liked 2,445 Times in 1,557 Posts
Not English but a nice interpretation from the '80s, the Fuji Cambridge III with Sturmey hub and factory rack, baskets and rear axle kickstand. Nice little bike, and it's cheap! I assembled and sold several back then.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...12744683465900

thumpism is offline  
Likes For thumpism:
Old 04-19-21, 06:54 AM
  #24386  
cudak888 
www.theheadbadge.com
 
cudak888's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,496

Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com

Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2401 Post(s)
Liked 4,350 Times in 2,075 Posts
Sturmey hub when Fuji could have gone for the Shimano 333? Interesting. Good on Fuji...

-Kurt
__________________












cudak888 is offline  
Old 04-19-21, 11:52 AM
  #24387  
Salubrious
Senior Member
 
Salubrious's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1,592

Bikes: Too many 3-speeds, Jones Plus LWB

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 356 Post(s)
Liked 259 Times in 115 Posts
Originally Posted by cudak888
Brass tubing for the shifter end, or the indicator end?

-Kurt
I've used them on both ends. I do a bit of filing so that the ends are nice and spin easily in the cable barrel adjuster. Once crimped they hold together well. I'd not thought of the fishing bits but if made of lead I'd be worried that they would crumble. The brass piping doesn't seem to do that.
Salubrious is offline  
Old 04-19-21, 12:24 PM
  #24388  
thumpism 
Bikes are okay, I guess.
 
thumpism's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 9,128

Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT

Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2647 Post(s)
Liked 2,445 Times in 1,557 Posts
Originally Posted by cudak888
Sturmey hub when Fuji could have gone for the Shimano 333? Interesting. Good on Fuji.
The derailleur-equipped Cambridge VI has alloy stuff on it; rims, bars, QR front hub, etc,. but they built the III with chromed steel stuff. Shame. Still 27" wheels, though.
thumpism is offline  
Old 04-19-21, 01:44 PM
  #24389  
vintagebicycle
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 329
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 74 Post(s)
Liked 73 Times in 48 Posts
Originally Posted by cudak888
Sturmey hub when Fuji could have gone for the Shimano 333? Interesting. Good on Fuji...

-Kurt
I worked in a shop back in the early 80's when those were selling new, many of those came with Suntour hubs, made under license from SA, if not they had a Shimano hub.
They were a good bike, and they outsold the Raleigh models 10 to 1. Mostly because they were cheaper.
They were a step up from the Columbia three speeds they sold for around $99 at the time but the Columbia still outsold everything else because of price.
There were a few levels of these bikes, with the top model having Ukai alloy rims, Suntour 3 speed rear hub, a mid flange front hub, alloy cranks, alloy bars and stem, and stainless fenders. The lesser models had steel rims, steel square taper cranks, and Shimano hubs. There were also earlier models with cottered cranks and steel everything too.

The frames were odd compared to most others, the men's model had a hump back top tube, and the ladies model was sort of a mixte style frame.

Here's a cat. page I found online for '82:


vintagebicycle is offline  
Likes For vintagebicycle:
Old 04-19-21, 07:09 PM
  #24390  
thumpism 
Bikes are okay, I guess.
 
thumpism's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 9,128

Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT

Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2647 Post(s)
Liked 2,445 Times in 1,557 Posts
Another pair, this time early '60s Hercules Courier his 'n' hers.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...75597379984402

thumpism is offline  
Old 04-19-21, 07:33 PM
  #24391  
thumpism 
Bikes are okay, I guess.
 
thumpism's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 9,128

Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT

Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2647 Post(s)
Liked 2,445 Times in 1,557 Posts
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...14803116029911

thumpism is offline  
Old 04-20-21, 07:56 AM
  #24392  
Unca_Sam
The dropped
 
Unca_Sam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 2,406

Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold) : 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1739 Post(s)
Liked 1,014 Times in 696 Posts
Raleigh Sprite 3+2

I've been meaning to share this here. I'd be happy to learn more about the hub. Obviously neglected at some point, but the wheels look rideable from here.
$100 1967 Raleigh Sprite 3+2

Indicator left

Indicator right

3+2 speed Hub?
Unca_Sam is offline  
Old 04-20-21, 08:48 AM
  #24393  
markk900
Senior Member
 
markk900's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Ontario
Posts: 2,649
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 478 Post(s)
Liked 634 Times in 336 Posts
Looks like an S5 hub... https://www.sheldonbrown.com/sturmey...spd.html#4and5

That is a cool bike but will need lots of elbow grease! Depending on where you are that is either cheap or overpriced
markk900 is offline  
Old 04-20-21, 09:27 AM
  #24394  
nlerner
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,127
Mentioned: 480 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3788 Post(s)
Liked 6,573 Times in 2,580 Posts
Yeah, too bad that right-side shift lever seems to be missing.
nlerner is offline  
Old 04-20-21, 12:29 PM
  #24395  
adventurepdx
Senior Member
 
adventurepdx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 1,024
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 163 Post(s)
Liked 68 Times in 48 Posts
Originally Posted by vintagebicycle
I worked in a shop back in the early 80's when those were selling new, many of those came with Suntour hubs, made under license from SA, if not they had a Shimano hub...The frames were odd compared to most others, the men's model had a hump back top tube, and the ladies model was sort of a mixte style frame.
As for 80s Japanese three speeds, the best one I've heard about is (of course) Miyata. One day I hope to cross paths with one:
adventurepdx is offline  
Likes For adventurepdx:
Old 04-20-21, 01:04 PM
  #24396  
dweenk
Senior Member
 
dweenk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,980

Bikes: Lots of English 3-speeds, a couple of old road bikes, 3 mountain bikes, 1 hybrid, and a couple of mash-ups

Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 335 Times in 225 Posts
Originally Posted by nlerner
Yeah, too bad that right-side shift lever seems to be missing.
Those levers were plastic. They never lasted long.
dweenk is offline  
Old 04-20-21, 03:39 PM
  #24397  
Unca_Sam
The dropped
 
Unca_Sam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 2,406

Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold) : 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1739 Post(s)
Liked 1,014 Times in 696 Posts
Originally Posted by adventurepdx
As for 80s Japanese three speeds, the best one I've heard about is (of course) Miyata. One day I hope to cross paths with one:
Wasn't one of those listed in the sale section?

FOUND IT
Unca_Sam is offline  
Old 04-20-21, 04:11 PM
  #24398  
gster
Senior Member
 
gster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2,571

Bikes: 1971 Hercules, 1978 Raleigh Superbe, 1978 Raleigh Tourist, 1964 Glider 3 Speed, 1967 Raleigh Sprite 5 Speed, 1968 Hercules AMF 3 Speed, 1972 Raleigh Superbe, 1976 Raleigh Superbe, 1957 Flying Pigeon, 1967 Dunelt 3 Speed

Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1028 Post(s)
Liked 438 Times in 287 Posts
Originally Posted by dweenk
Those levers were plastic. They never lasted long.
That one has the metal/aluminum? throttle shifters.
Quite nice and sturdy.
The plastic ones were weak.

gster is offline  
Likes For gster:
Old 04-20-21, 05:30 PM
  #24399  
thumpism 
Bikes are okay, I guess.
 
thumpism's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 9,128

Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT

Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2647 Post(s)
Liked 2,445 Times in 1,557 Posts
I see a 23" Humber and a Raleigh Sports ladies'.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...30763403976067

thumpism is offline  
Old 04-20-21, 05:32 PM
  #24400  
thumpism 
Bikes are okay, I guess.
 
thumpism's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 9,128

Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT

Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2647 Post(s)
Liked 2,445 Times in 1,557 Posts
Most of a Raleigh Twenty for cheap.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...02299061703227

thumpism is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.