erikvonb

Hi,

I just picked up a bike equipped with a Sturmey Archer S-RF5(W) hub and I've read the manual but am confused about one thing.

I'm trying to adjust the hub, as it's not shifting well.

The manual says to select 2nd gear, but I'm not sure which is 2nd. My guess is that 1 is easiest and 5 is hardest. My bar end shifter is set up so that the easiest gear is selected when the lever is all the way up. Shifting down selects the harder gears.

Hoping someone can chime in and confirm my assumptions...

Thanks,

Erik

Dan Burkhart 

Yes, 2nd gear is the 2nd easiest gear. There will be a colored mark on the indicator spindle which should be right at the end of the axle when 2nd gear is engaged. It's not enough to have the shifter in the 2nd gear position, you need to turn the crank to ensure the shift to 2nd has taken place and the indicator has settled into position.
Usually, after one or two initial adjustments, assuming nothing happens to disturb the adjustment, they will usually stay in adjustment for a long time.
Be sure any lock nuts on all adjuster barrels are tightened down.

tcs

Uh, yeah, what Dan said, plus sometimes with shifting problems it's not the hub...it's the cable, cable housing (& amount of same), cable housing ends, cable stops, cable routing, frame flex, etc. If you have the hub adjusted and still don't get positive, reliable shifting, check that all the cabling is consistent with best practice.

Dan Burkhart 

Also, I can't say for sure about the wide range 5 speed, because I have yet to have my hands on one, but I find I have good success with the older models ignoring the colored mark and adjusting them the same as you would a 3 speed. Cable slack in 5th and just a teensie bit short of fully taut in 1st.

fietsbob

Its 2nd on the 3 speed the 1:1 gear in the middle , if same for 5 speed that would be 3rd..
as 5 speed is 2 over drive and 2 reduction gears

Dan Burkhart 

Don't think you're reading from the same sheet of music as we are here.

fietsbob

SA S-RF5(W)5 speeds.. the gear planetaria are a 20% and a 33% reduction gear , and their inverse.

the 3 speed is the same.. 3/4 & 4/3 gear as the middle 3..

Straight off the company catalog .. Brubeck's take 5 and a waltz perhaps ..

erikvonb

Thanks for all the replies. I will be giving it a go tonight and post my findings...

jdswitters

good luck, finding the mark on the indicator rod can be a hassle, be prepared to clean out the hole. I have found a flashlight is handy when doing this in my condo because of the lighting.

I should also add that this is an iterative process, you will want to move back and forth from 2nd to 5th at least three times making sure the tension is correct.