chico1st

I have a 3 AW SA-3sp hubs
they are all the same flange width, number of holes in shell

their years are 62, 63 and 72

they all freewheel and turn the drive sprocket the same

i only need to use 2, how do i know which 2 to use?

the 72 seems to be the most gummed up but niether the 63 or 72 have been oiled

I was planning to keep one for parts.

noglider 

They used something called "cyanide" hardening which worked well but was toxic. When it was outlawed, the parts weren't as hard any more. I don't know when that happened, but the 72 is the oldest, so I would use that as the parts hub.

Then again, if you take them all apart, you can assess which is in the best or worst condition.

chico1st

wouldnt the 62 be the oldest? 62 means 1962 right? as opposed to 1972 as 72 would mean ??

I want to decide which ones to use and the take apart the one for parts... im a little intimidated so ill look at the parts one first in case something goes wrong.

noglider 

Duh, that's what I meant, and I think the youngest would be the softest, i.e. the least desirable, especially in the cones. Come to think of it, I think only the cones were cyanide-hardened.

chico1st

really so there were no other changes to the technology in that timeframe?

noglider 

I can't say precisely. Perhaps Sheldon Brown or John S Allen has written about those changes. Please check. Perhaps they changed dimensions slightly to improve wear. But changes were slow and gradual through leading up to 1962 and going through the early 80's. John S Allen explained to me that the older ones were better because of the cyanide hardening, but I don't remember what dates he told me, if any. I'm recalling a conversation I had with him (in person) that took place in 1980 or 1981. He was my Sturmey Archer mentor. He was a customer of mine at a bike shop in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where I was the sole mechanic and later the head mechanic.

supton

I'd open them up, get the old gunk out, and have a look-see at the parts.

Did you figure out what rims to use? I think all these would be 40 hole, no?

chico1st

yeah all 40 hole... ill try opening up the 1972 hub and if its not that difficult then ill do it to all of them

chico1st

hmmm just before i do this.
the 1972 hub is more clicky sounding and loud but spins further than the 1963 hub (which sounds soft) when i just freewheel the axle.

this is done with loose cones on both. and they have both been stuffed with grease until it ran out the drive side, and both axle holes.

Since i dont know the inner workings yet, does that imply anything?

clubman 

You could just pick two of them, adjust the cones properly, put some quality oil in the oiler and ride them until they loosen up. Don't use 3 in 1 oil. The odds are in your favour that they'll all be fine.

AW's are bulletproof, over built hubs that rarely fail. After you're riding, then pull the 3rd one apart for experience. I agree that the older hubs are better just because of the metallurgy. And older is cooler.

noglider 

Listen to clubman.

rhm

+1. What your hubs need the most is to be ridden.

USAZorro

Glad you established that. My plan B advice would have been to ask Karnac - but he's quite difficult to reach these days.