Sturmey Archer 3spd drum rear hub - sourcing? recommendations?
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 13
Bikes: 1960 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Schwinn Deluxe Twinn, 2007 Bianchi Volpe, 1973 Raleigh Sports
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
2 Posts
Sturmey Archer 3spd drum rear hub - sourcing? recommendations?
Hello c&v enthusiasts,
I'm looking to upgrade my 70s-era Sturmey AW hub with a Sturmey Archer XL-RD3. However, I'm kind of at my wits' end trying to source this hub. It seems to be sold out everywhere. Sturmey-Archer's website seems to be down and has been down for months. I bought the matching front hub (XL-FD) about five years ago and I'm now kicking myself for not buying the rear hub back then when it was available (I opted instead to build a new 26 x 1 3/8 alloy wheel around the existing 70s AW). After about 3-4 years I wore down that alloy rim since I kept the original rear caliper brake, and figured it was a good time to upgrade and switch to rear drum. This is on a 1970s Raleigh sports, my daily city commuter.
Does anyone have tips for where to get this hub, or more info on what the heck is going on with Sturmey Archer? AND/OR... recommendations for a different 3-speed rear hub with a drum brake, or similar... I suppose one option is Shimano's nexus 3 with roller brake (is this any good? I actually have a nexus 8 w/roller brake on another bike and it's OK) but darn it, I do like the Sturmey hubs and I'm annoyed that the XL-RD3 seems to have vanished.
I'm looking to upgrade my 70s-era Sturmey AW hub with a Sturmey Archer XL-RD3. However, I'm kind of at my wits' end trying to source this hub. It seems to be sold out everywhere. Sturmey-Archer's website seems to be down and has been down for months. I bought the matching front hub (XL-FD) about five years ago and I'm now kicking myself for not buying the rear hub back then when it was available (I opted instead to build a new 26 x 1 3/8 alloy wheel around the existing 70s AW). After about 3-4 years I wore down that alloy rim since I kept the original rear caliper brake, and figured it was a good time to upgrade and switch to rear drum. This is on a 1970s Raleigh sports, my daily city commuter.
Does anyone have tips for where to get this hub, or more info on what the heck is going on with Sturmey Archer? AND/OR... recommendations for a different 3-speed rear hub with a drum brake, or similar... I suppose one option is Shimano's nexus 3 with roller brake (is this any good? I actually have a nexus 8 w/roller brake on another bike and it's OK) but darn it, I do like the Sturmey hubs and I'm annoyed that the XL-RD3 seems to have vanished.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,159
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3811 Post(s)
Liked 6,709 Times
in
2,613 Posts
Here's one on eBay for not a lot of money: https://www.ebay.com/itm/363520438232
I'm also seeing model S30 X-RD3 available: https://www.treefortbikes.com/Sturme...Drum-Brake-Hub
Finally, the Sturmey Archer site seems to be working for me at the moment: https://www.sturmey-archer.com/en/pr.../detail/xl-rd3
I'm also seeing model S30 X-RD3 available: https://www.treefortbikes.com/Sturme...Drum-Brake-Hub
Finally, the Sturmey Archer site seems to be working for me at the moment: https://www.sturmey-archer.com/en/pr.../detail/xl-rd3
#3
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,627
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1670 Post(s)
Liked 1,825 Times
in
1,062 Posts
The 90mm brake (XL-RD3) on the rear is unnecessary unless I suppose you regularly descend long steep grades.
As has been pointed out, the 70mm model (Sturmey-Archer X-RD3) is widely available.
recommendations for a different 3-speed rear hub with a drum brake
As has been pointed out, the 70mm model (Sturmey-Archer X-RD3) is widely available.
#4
Overdoing projects
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Rotterdam, former republic of the Netherlands
Posts: 2,397
Bikes: Batavus Randonneur GL, Gazelle Orange Excellent, Gazelle Super Licht, Gazelle Grand Tourist, Gazelle Lausanne, Gazelle Tandem, Koga-Miyata SilverAce, Koga-Miyata WorldTraveller
Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 784 Post(s)
Liked 1,238 Times
in
686 Posts
Doublepost
#5
Overdoing projects
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Rotterdam, former republic of the Netherlands
Posts: 2,397
Bikes: Batavus Randonneur GL, Gazelle Orange Excellent, Gazelle Super Licht, Gazelle Grand Tourist, Gazelle Lausanne, Gazelle Tandem, Koga-Miyata SilverAce, Koga-Miyata WorldTraveller
Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 784 Post(s)
Liked 1,238 Times
in
686 Posts
But the website is up and running as far as I can tell. The 70mm RX-RD3 would be its modern replacement and is probably a little more reliable but uses the larger diameter cogs.
While I run 90mm front and rear on my Koga-Miyata SilverAce commuter the regular 70mm would be more than enough in the rear. Mine has a tendency to lock up but then again I ride pretty fast around town. Sometimes you need the extra braking power.
I you really want I could send you the shell from my XL-RD5(w) which should be a direct swap for the AW or 3-speed. The 5-speed gave me too much trouble and eventually destroyed itself because it was impossible to keep adjusted correctly.
#6
Overdoing projects
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Rotterdam, former republic of the Netherlands
Posts: 2,397
Bikes: Batavus Randonneur GL, Gazelle Orange Excellent, Gazelle Super Licht, Gazelle Grand Tourist, Gazelle Lausanne, Gazelle Tandem, Koga-Miyata SilverAce, Koga-Miyata WorldTraveller
Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 784 Post(s)
Liked 1,238 Times
in
686 Posts
Likes For JaccoW:
#7
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 13
Bikes: 1960 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Schwinn Deluxe Twinn, 2007 Bianchi Volpe, 1973 Raleigh Sports
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
2 Posts
Thank you for all the replies. Oddly, the S-A website seemed down for me no matter which browser or device I was using, but it seems that it is being blocked by both my university *and* workplace firewalls. Strange!
I've seen the rotary models (RX-RD3 / S30 XRD3) but had been hesitant due to the difference in mechanism, shifter, and spacing, but maybe that's the way to go. I've definitely spread dropouts before on other bikes.
JaccoW, that's a beautiful commuter! My AW hub is in fine shape and I did a full tear-down/rebuild recently, so swapping the guts into a new shell with a drum brake may not be so far-fetched. I've never done such a thing. I will direct message you because I'm intrigued!
I've seen the rotary models (RX-RD3 / S30 XRD3) but had been hesitant due to the difference in mechanism, shifter, and spacing, but maybe that's the way to go. I've definitely spread dropouts before on other bikes.
JaccoW, that's a beautiful commuter! My AW hub is in fine shape and I did a full tear-down/rebuild recently, so swapping the guts into a new shell with a drum brake may not be so far-fetched. I've never done such a thing. I will direct message you because I'm intrigued!
Likes For elbowging:
#8
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,627
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1670 Post(s)
Liked 1,825 Times
in
1,062 Posts
That's because as far as I know, that's the older model that uses the narrower 120mm spacing and has internals that can be swapped out with the classic AW hub.
But the website is up and running as far as I can tell. The 70mm RX-RD3 would be its modern replacement and is probably a little more reliable but uses the larger diameter cogs.
But the website is up and running as far as I can tell. The 70mm RX-RD3 would be its modern replacement and is probably a little more reliable but uses the larger diameter cogs.
The X-RD3 (S30-series) is the same but with a 70mm drum brake. They are available with either a 165mm or 185mm axle for OLDs between 116mm and 135mm.
The RX-RD3 (C30-series) has rotary, inside the dropouts shifting, and has a 70mm drum brake. It uses C30-series shifters with different pull ratios than the S30 (classic, traditional) Sturmey 3-speed shifters. Because of the rotary, inside the dropouts shifting, this hub is wider and only comes with a 185mm axle for use in 135mm OLD frames. It uses the same classic 3-tab sprockets Sturmey has used since 1952. Unique among Sturmey IGHs, the C30 hubs have a 3/8-26 threaded axle.
Last edited by tcs; 03-31-23 at 07:55 AM.
Likes For tcs:
#9
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,627
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1670 Post(s)
Liked 1,825 Times
in
1,062 Posts