3 speed elimination
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
3 speed elimination
This might be just a dumb thought. I want a clean bike with as few cables as possible, can I just remove the three speed shifter and cable without any ill effects? As I write it does seem silly. Just trying to achieve that fixed gear look. Heres the bike. I think I am gonna remove the fenders (although they appear in excellent condition). Although I might just add a rear rack and leave the shifter be. I am so decisive!!
#2
Full Member
Sure. With the Shimano 3 speed hubs, the default gear may not be to your liking. I've seen some where a prior owner pounded a nail in to the axle to hold it in a particular gear. The bike looks to be in pretty good condition except for the tires. I'd just replace the tires and shoot a little bit of oil in to the hub to keep it working well. One easy way is to remove the push rod from the axle, lay the bike on it's side and dribble some oil into the hollow axle so it gets to the center of the internal gears.
#3
Senior Member
Why in the world would you even consider doing that. 3 speeds are fantastic and almost maintenance free
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Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
1988 Ducati 750 F1
Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
1988 Ducati 750 F1
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#4
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#5
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It appears that your shift cable housing outer cover is cracked. Perhaps if you replaced it with black to match the bike (and the others for that matter) they would be less conspicuous/annoying. The shifter and brakes will probably work better, too, with new cables. I agree that having a working 3-speed hub is much nicer than sticking it in one gear. I don't get the fixed gear thing but to each their own.
#6
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Thread Starter
It appears that your shift cable housing outer cover is cracked. Perhaps if you replaced it with black to match the bike (and the others for that matter) they would be less conspicuous/annoying. The shifter and brakes will probably work better, too, with new cables. I agree that having a working 3-speed hub is much nicer than sticking it in one gear. I don't get the fixed gear thing but to each their own.
#7
Steel is real
If you really want a clean look, build that wheel with a single speed brake coaster hub, then you won't need brake cables
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The Bike is cleaner than I thought it would be. After some 0000 steel wool! Definitely needs tires. And it's stuck in 3rd gear.
Last edited by roadbikeChris; 09-25-19 at 12:39 PM.
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#10
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Yeah, I'd say that this bike has enough collectible/vintage interest that materially changing it would be a downgrade. Made in St. Louis in the 1960s I believe.
My vote is to fix it up to work as designed. Nothing wrong with 3 speeds. A lot better than fixies, especially if the bike is locked into the wrong single speed.
My vote is to fix it up to work as designed. Nothing wrong with 3 speeds. A lot better than fixies, especially if the bike is locked into the wrong single speed.
#11
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I have only third gear, anyone have a link to resources on how to adjust this type of three speed?
#12
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It's been at least five decades since I played with a three speed adjustment. That said, it looks to me like you may be stuck in one gear because the cable is screwed all the way down onto the linkage coming from the hub. Could also be that the cracked cable housing dsbrantjr noticed is binding the cable.
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#13
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#14
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#15
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It's been at least five decades since I played with a three speed adjustment. That said, it looks to me like you may be stuck in one gear because the cable is screwed all the way down onto the linkage coming from the hub. Could also be that the cracked cable housing dsbrantjr noticed is binding the cable.
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The bell crank, the part that is afixed to the axle, should have a letter N visible and perfectly centered in that round window when the shifter is in 2nd gear position.If the bell crank does not move freely, unscrew it from the axle (you will need to remove the cable) and check that the pin can be pushed all the way into the hollow axle, and that the spring returns it to the relaxed position. If it does not move freely, try lubrication to free it up.
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#17
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Thread Starter
Correct, it does not apply to your Shimano hub.
The bell crank, the part that is afixed to the axle, should have a letter N visible and perfectly centered in that round window when the shifter is in 2nd gear position.If the bell crank does not move freely, unscrew it from the axle (you will need to remove the cable) and check that the pin can be pushed all the way into the hollow axle, and that the spring returns it to the relaxed position. If it does not move freely, try lubrication to free it up.
The bell crank, the part that is afixed to the axle, should have a letter N visible and perfectly centered in that round window when the shifter is in 2nd gear position.If the bell crank does not move freely, unscrew it from the axle (you will need to remove the cable) and check that the pin can be pushed all the way into the hollow axle, and that the spring returns it to the relaxed position. If it does not move freely, try lubrication to free it up.
Last edited by roadbikeChris; 09-25-19 at 03:23 PM.
#18
Steel is real
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Keep searching for vids, lol. hang on ..think i saved a video for reference for my Indi Australia bike..
yep
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytBh11TMIV4
yep
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytBh11TMIV4
#20
Steel is real
You get that
Out of five bikes i collected that has those hubs only two were complete! either missing the rod or anti rotation washer or whatever
Out of five bikes i collected that has those hubs only two were complete! either missing the rod or anti rotation washer or whatever
#21
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#23
Steel is real
Haha, knuckleheads mate, The first one i got {i get them for free} so can't complain really, has the upgraded wire type cable and shifter, had bent forks that's why they gave it away, but it was missing it's anti rotation washer, but soon put together two complete ones. i like em but i've collected two Nexus 3spds - built in brakes, they feel like a more serious piece of machinery
#24
Full Member
It is real easy to loose that rod if you don't know it's there. The average newb wouldn't leave the bell housing on when removing the wheel. Take the wheel off to fix a flat or change tires and it just falls out. Once the rod is missing the adjuster was screwed all the way down to keep the cable from flapping about. But looking at your closeup photo of the bell housing, there is nary a scratch on the dropout indicating the wheel has never been off the bike.
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Exactly! Eh its a $5 fix and its back. I repent of thinking of ever reducing the 3 speed to one. : )
The bike cost me $20 and its in really great shape.
The bike cost me $20 and its in really great shape.
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