Originally Posted by BigChief (Post 19334413)

Welcome to the forum and the 3 speed hobby! You might want to try the stock gearing first to see how it appeals to you. It is very common among us 3 speeders to lower the stock gearing. With Raleigh bikes, Chainwheels changed from 48 tooth to 46 tooth in the early 70s. My personal preference is to use a 22T cog with a 48T chainwheel and a 20T with a 46T. I always use a new chain when I make this mod. KMC chains come with 112 links which is more than you need. You'll need a chain breaker to remove the extra links. Good luck and don't forget to post pics. We like pics.
It is tricky to use the on forum uploader. Somebody here will explain it to you when the time comes, although it's simple enough to insert pics from image hosting sites.

Originally Posted by thumpism (Post 19330552)

You're following the wrong CL. They turn up frequently around here. This ad's been up for weeks with no takers.

Originally Posted by thumpism (Post 19334120)

22T is the largest stock Sturmey rear cog [...]
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/sturmey-...0/sprocket.jpg

Originally Posted by kmt (Post 19334438)

[...] How do I know if I have a 48T or a 46T without counting? :)

Originally Posted by kmt (Post 19334495)

I can finally post pictures!
http://www.kookymathteacher.com/bike...ighSports1.jpg

http://www.kookymathteacher.com/bike...ighSports2.jpg

http://www.kookymathteacher.com/bike...ighSports3.jpg

http://www.kookymathteacher.com/bike...ighSports4.jpg

http://www.kookymathteacher.com/bike...ighSports5.jpg

Originally Posted by desconhecido (Post 19334539)

I think, as a general rule, if your chain ring has five segments and herons looking forward it's 48t and if it's three looking backwards it's 46t. But counting will settle the question.

Originally Posted by kmt (Post 19334495)

I can finally post pictures!
http://www.kookymathteacher.com/bike...ighSports1.jpg

http://www.kookymathteacher.com/bike...ighSports2.jpg

http://www.kookymathteacher.com/bike...ighSports3.jpg

http://www.kookymathteacher.com/bike...ighSports4.jpg

http://www.kookymathteacher.com/bike...ighSports5.jpg

Originally Posted by desconhecido (Post 19334555)

That's a seriously nice looking Sports. Judging from what I can see, looks like early 70s. Can't tell from the pics if it has those god-awful self-adjusting brake levers.

Current chain appears to be a little loose. Probably a 46t chain ring with 18 or 19t rear sprocket. If you want to go up any hills of consequence, consider a 22t rear sprocket which will probably require a new chain for length.

edit: yes, it appears to have the self-adjusters. That means 73 to 75, +/-

Originally Posted by BigChief (Post 19334749)

What a beautiful Sports. They called this color burgundy. This, along with traditional black, are my favorite colors.
I have one and I chose the same gum wall tires. I think they look great with burgundy. That is a 46T chainwheel. Just my personal opinion, but a 22T cog would be a bit too low for me. I would use 19 or 20.

Originally Posted by kmt (Post 19334874)

Thanks BigChief. I am proud of the bike. The pictures don't show the true color. It is coffee brown?

Originally Posted by gster (Post 19334742)

Is this one British built?

Originally Posted by frameteam2003 (Post 19333479)

Originally Posted by Mike from Iowa (Post 19335151)

What the video shows is how a Trivelox 3 speed works, The CHAIN stays in place and the GEARS move. This is a great display of what happens. The British were obsessive (IMHO) about chain angle and hated derailleurs (maybe because they were French??) so the trivelox was invented that managed to accommodate multiple gears and an always straight chain.

Thanks, frameteam2003!

Originally Posted by gster (Post 19334742)

Is this one British built?

Originally Posted by rhm (Post 19335242)

I can't tell anything from the photos, but J. C. Higgins was a Sears brand; they put that name on bikes from a variety of sources, in general the same bikes from the same sources as were later labeled Free Spirit. The three speed ones were made by Styria / Steyr in Austria. My guess is this is one of those.

Originally Posted by gster (Post 19335275)

I just bought a Sears Silvertone Guitar made by Harmony..1962 Silvertone 1446.
Not a vintage bike, but still cool.

Originally Posted by thumpism (Post 19334719)

That's odd; mine has the three herons looking forward (when viewed from the right and with herons at the top of the circle) but I could swear I counted 48T on mine years ago. I'll have to recount.
Attachment 550155

Originally Posted by BigChief (Post 19335321)

I think I have the chronology of post war chainwheels figured out. Starting with full pattern and 48T. Then, sometime around 1971 or 72, they went to 46T and the herons lost their eyes, but still had the V brackets. Then from some point in later in 1973, they removed the V brackets. I think because there were no longer any eyes to guide them, some blanks were pressed backwards resulting in the herons facing the other direction by mistake.

Originally Posted by thumpism (Post 19334719)

That's odd; mine has the three herons looking forward (when viewed from the right and with herons at the top of the circle) but I could swear I counted 48T on mine years ago. I'll have to recount.
Attachment 550155

Originally Posted by BigChief (Post 19330045)

I love these bikes. Mine came with the original top tube shifters, but I couldn't get along with them at all, so this is what I came up with. A standard trigger for the right and a SunTour ratchet up, friction down type handlebar shifter to operate the left side bell crank.
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/f...e_shifters.jpg