Perfect!

Today I rebuilt my first Sturmey-Archer hub. In this case, an AW off of a donor '79 Sports I picked up last year as part of my rehabilitation of the 1950 Superbe (I serviced the AG on that bike, but did not take it entirely apart). The '79 hub was nasty. The insides were covered in a smearing, brownish orange residue. The bike had been left outside for years locked to a downtown bike loop (I freed it, grabbed the needed parts, and donated the frame, fenders and other pieces to a local co-op). It was a fun job for a rainy Sunday. I repacked the cleaned bearings with fresh marine grease. The bearing races were fine. In fact, the internals didn't have much wear showing. After finishing I put a teaspoon or two of synthetic 5W30 inside the oil cap and turned the gear by hand for a while, until it got nice and quiet and the oil spread around. It'll go in parts storage for future need.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/G2...w1156-h1540-no

It takes some action with a brush and scraper to get rid of that gunk but it's satisfying to see the pieces all clean. Maybe you even have a 36 hole hub. Bigger choice of rims when you decide how you want to use it.

I too have "freed" parts from obviously abandoned bikes.....
A question for Clubman or anyone else.
Re; those 26" x 1 1/4" EA1 tires
Can I use a 26" x 1 3/8" tube or is there a better option?

I'm considering this vintage Windsor frame (cheap) for some
sort of Bitsa Scorcher 3 Speed build.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5ef8459121.jpg
The lugs are quite nice and it's a large frame.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2aff3171ce.jpg
Looks as if the seat post may be seized...

[QUOTE=gster;21183266
Re; those 26" x 1 1/4" EA1 tires
Can I use a 26" x 1 3/8" tube or is there a better option?[/QUOTE]
You can but they tend to run a little fat or wide, depending on your tires. Hard to get the tube in without folding or pinching. I found 650B's that were narrower but had to stretch further. Seems fine though.

EA1 = 26 x 1 1/4" = 597mm
EA3 = 26 x 1 3/8" = 590mm
650B = 584mm (and is hard to find in a Schrader valve these days)

Using EA3 tubes with EA1 tires shouldn't be a problem unless you have really skinny EA1 tires.

Ok,
Good info. Thanks
Some new EA1 tires arrived.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e5440924df.jpg
And fit very nicely on this rim that I've had in the shed for years (1965)
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...588fce08fd.jpg
Interestingly, this Robin Hood Bitsa also has an EA1 rim on the front
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4fcec879b0.jpg
This wheel was "freed' from an abandoned bike (that's still there)
I may go back for the rear wheel as well.
It's a Raleigh Lenton 10 speed with a badly bent front end.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...18709dea39.jpg
Stamped Sturmey Archer.

Thx!

The '79 is indeed a 36 hole hub. It was really a proof of concept or test drive for taking apart and servicing these hubs. The left-hand ball cup was difficult to loosen without a punch (next tool to buy). I wanted to try with a jobless hub since this winter I will be rebuilding a '53 alloy FW / '62 GH6 for my Peugeot Clubman Commuter project, a '56 SW on my soon-to-arrive 1956 Sports step-through from WTB I'm going to restore for my girlfriend, a '72 AW 36 hole off of the parts bike I got for that project, and a '56 AW I have that I plan to rebuild in case the SW on the '56 Sports doesn't prove reliable for commuting and day rides. I thought such a nice '50s Raleigh should have a '50s hub. With a '79 AW and a '72 AW in the parts box, both 36 hole, I should be OK for any future IGH conversion as well as any need for parts for either my AG, FW, or AW hubs in service.

About a year and a half ago I didn't own or really think about old three-speeds. Look at what Sixty-Fiver, and the rest of you, have done...

:)

I found a EA1 front wheel in the shed....
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...09f1de1a1b.jpg
So I've got a set of wheels in need of a frame....hmmmmm....

I look at it as a productive form of OCD.
You could wash your hands 50 times a day or
obsessively buy/build British 3 speeds.
At least, at the end of the day, you've
got something to show for your compulsion....

Ha ha! That's kinda what I'm like with them, I find it therapeutic rebuilding these old 3-Speeds, it's almost addictive.

How did you manage without a punch? I've never done it any other way. And when the hub has been derelict, it takes some whacks.

That sounds just about right when I'm working on one of these things.

That's good.

I used to spin them out by clamping it in my bench vice, I'd squeeze it just hard enough with the vice to get enough grip to loosen it, other times I have used an adjustable BB lock ring wrench that I have that was able to get them loose. Then I learned the punch trick here and use that technique now.

English Headbadges
 

Just going through some stuff for an old headbadge and forgot I had a bunch of English marque examples, may have more stashed about the place. Should be a Dawes around somewhere.

A tough old Craftsman screwdriver and whacking it with a mallet. The hub was secure in the vise. I don't want to do it that way again, though. I'd forgotten the need for a punch when I started the job on the hub.

Still Out There
A respectable Raleigh 3 Speed (year unknown)
offered for $100.00 CDN
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7bb40be43f.jpg
I may get it for a friend who's looking for a bike.

You can find 650B in Schrader. The Conti Tour 26 (650C) covers that size, plus will work with 26" x 1 3/8" and would probably work with the EA1 size, too. Plus, it has the threaded steel valve which I like.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1bd1b14f4c.jpg

Continental Tube

The upper row in your first pic, the Hercules badge second from the left, do you know what years that badge was used?

Hi Jack,

No I do not know the years for when that badge was used (I've not seen it on a bike). The other Hercules badge was used approximately 1948 - '70s, so it's hard to say. I believe it is earlier than the the other one. My bike's badge was used in the '20s as a decal, and then a badge in the '30s-'60s (?or later)(at least 3 versions of this round badge design). This is based on what others have determined their bikes age is, but I don't know how they determined that year of manufacture. Often times I see a dated frame, but no image of, and/or headbadge is missing altogether. Seems Hercules had about 6 or 7 different "early" badges that overlapped in usage. Also, there are the Hercules "Royal Prince" and "Tourist" badges which are different. I'm fairly new concerning my experience with this marque and early English 3 speeds; most experience is with '70s Raleighs which are considerably easier to date if bike is intact/original. I saw an early ad (year unknown) where the bike pictured (drawing not photo) has the round badge with the "bronze" border and red "H/C" center medallion, but in the corner of the ad it has a drawing of the green "shield" badge. Catalog drawing of '53 Kestrel Super has a "coat of arms" style with a small green "shield" logo incorporated into it.

Thx. I like a threaded valve as well.

I'm thinking of a hybrid build.
A mid 70's Windsor frame with a EA1 3 speed
wheel set...
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c478381fd6.jpg