1940 Sturmey Archer 4-Speed - new spokes problem

[Dino75]

Currently refurbing 1954 Raleigh tourer with 1940 4-speed dyno hub.
Have acquired 1955 stainless rims and trying to fit new stainless spokes.
Spokes to larger flange are relatively easy...to smaller flange a bit of a problem due to lack of clearance.
Does anyone know it it's necessary to remove the stainless hub cover?
If so, does anyone have instructions?
I have seen YouTube demos on 3-speed hubs but the 4-speed has 8 nuts and bolts through the rounded stainless body of the hub. I'm a bit wary of taking them out in case there's no easy way of getting them back in without a shedload of specialist tools and a degree in rocket engineering...
Thoughts appreciated

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

I'm a bit wary of taking them out in case there's no easy way of getting them back in without a shedload of specialist tools and a degree in rocket engineering...
Thoughts appreciated

I have never dismantled one and hope never do but there are lots of info available. Presumably you are talking about the FG, have you seen this and this from here?

 

[Dino75]

Many thanks RecordAceFromNew for the swift reply and info sources. I hadn't seen these before.
Yes It's the FG...having seen the exploded diagram of the hub, I'm quietly trying to guess what FG might stand for...but none of the thoughts are printable..!
Going to lie down quietly in a dark place and plan a way forward
No, I'm not going to chicken out and take it to the bike shop
Will post thread on how I get on

Thanks again

 

[thegravestoneman]

had a four speed in a Sit up and beg Humber years ago, I ended up after much expert advice building a new single speed for it so that I stood a chance of becoming a father later in life. They have a habit of letting go when you stand on em to get up the steepest part of a climb and I didn't like that at all. But good luck with yours just make sure it is all set up properly.

 

[Pale Rider]

I'm quietly trying to guess what FG might stand for...but none of the thoughts are printable..!

Er, four gear?

 

[thegravestoneman]

forego gonads ?

 

[thegravestoneman]

sorry probably shouldn't of posted that.

 

[Dino75]

sorry probably shouldn't of posted that.

Thanks for the thoughts...
Great picture of bike if that's the Humber...
Didn't know they were ever more than single-speed
Jack Russell looks suspiciously like he's wearing a Humber-pulling harness - good substitute for multiple gears when going uphill perhaps?

Er, four gear?

Yep - four gears...
I didn't know there was a four-gear version of the SA hub (having only had three on my 1960 Triumph as a kid) until I chanced upon this very rusty but mechanically OK model in an antiques place in Cheshire for £55. Apparently they went up to seven gears...
Eight-speed SA hub apparently now made in Taiwan. Have seen Taiwanese SA hub recently on a new Raleigh in Halfords...think it was only a three-speed. Loads of advertising stuff about Nottingham heritage...no mention of bike being from abroad - grrrr!

 

[thegravestoneman]

The bike in the photo is a 1958 Elswick Hopper, It was a single speed but I thought I would go for a bit of luxury, help my legs a bit and put in the 3-speed. Saving weight is certainly not an issue with this bike I think the QE2 used one as an anchor. Vinnie the JR might just help out with the occasional uphill bit but don't let on . The Humber ended as a courier bike in London.

 

[Pale Rider]

Thanks for the thoughts...

Yep - four gears...
I didn't know there was a four-gear version of the SA hub (having only had three on my 1960 Triumph as a kid) until I chanced upon this very rusty but mechanically OK model in an antiques place in Cheshire for £55. Apparently they went up to seven gears...

I had a three speed Sturmey Archer bike as a child in the early 1970s.

I also have a firm recollection of four speeds being available, might even have been introduced as new at the time.

My parents couldn't afford to buy me expensive bikes, so I was jealous of a couple of the other lads in the village who had new four speeds.

 

[thegravestoneman]

definitely available in the early fifties

 

[tyred]

I think the problems were with the shifter rather than the hub itself.

 

[Dino75]

I think the problems were with the shifter rather than the hub itself.

Eeeek! Problems?! What problems are concealed in your cryptic message?
I had 3-speed SA as a kid (also in Ireland) - only shifter problems fixed by twiddling (technical term - see manual...) with milled adjuster wheel just above where gear chain goes into hub

 

[Dino75]

The bike in the photo is a 1958 Elswick Hopper, It was a single speed but I thought I would go for a bit of luxury, help my legs a bit and put in the 3-speed. Saving weight is certainly not an issue with this bike I think the QE2 used one as an anchor. Vinnie the JR might just help out with the occasional uphill bit but don't let on . The Humber ended as a courier bike in London.

Vinnie also had a stellar career in London - snapping at ankles (amongst other things...) for Wimbledon AFC as I recall

He could be quite ruff

 

[tyred]

Eeeek! Problems?! What problems are concealed in your cryptic message?
I had 3-speed SA as a kid (also in Ireland) - only shifter problems fixed by twiddling (technical term - see manual...) with milled adjuster wheel just above where gear chain goes into hub

I have never owned a 4 speed but from what others tell me, the problem is with selection of first gear and it's tendency to not engage properly and slip when a pressure is applied.