Raleigh Wayfarer / Sturmey Archer 3 speed

[wmtlynx]

Hi, have just bought at Raleigh Wayfarer bike from the 70s, which is fitted with a 3-speed Sturmey Archer gear arrangement. Now, I have yet to get the gearing to work outside of top gear more than a couple of times, and now the cable has snapped at the handlebar end. For my main use of canal towpaths this isn't an issue. But, it does take some considerable huffing and puffing to get up hills of a 1 in 50 or more, so a lower gear would be useful.

What is everyone's advice? Option one is to replace the selector (seems rusted up and not smooth, and not able to disassemble it) and the cable. Is this an easy job? How does the cable fit to the handlebar selector, as I can't seem to spot anywhere that a cable might attach? Option two would be replace the hub for something more modern, and maybe even a set of cogs - is this easy to do?

Thanks in advance for the replies!

Regards,
Steve

 

[fixedfixer]

Sturmey Archer 3 speed is a good hub gear. I'd replace the trigger shifter and cable and get it working across all three gears. Parts available at St John Street Cycles or maybe your LBS.

Changing to a more modern derraileur system will be more costly than the SA fix and need care with frame / wheel sizes.

 

[wmtlynx]

Are the trigger and cable easy to assemble? The broken one doesn't seem to have any obvious hook or clamp where the cable fits.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Sheldon, as usual, has your answer.

 

[bikefettler]

If you disconnect the cable adjuster near to the rear hub chain this will give enough slack to enable you to push the cable inner through the gear changer showing you where th very thin nipple locates in the edge of the changer, the whole changer will undo by undoing the bolt going down through the top plate if it is a standard trigger type., regards
Phil.

 

[jimboalee]

For a bike like that, Raleigh weren't in the 'coven'.

I would suggest sending to Wiggle for a 24 tooth Sram sprocket for it.

This will bring the gearing down to something more manageable for a bike of such weight.

The gearing as fitted is more suited to 24lb 531 tourer with no luggage at all.

Top will be a pleasant 67"ish with a 50" in the middle and a 38" as low.

 

[wmtlynx]

I shall invest in a new cable and trigger, and give that a go then! Thorougly enjoying the bike at the moment! Thanks for the replies :-)

 

[fixedfixer]

I shall invest in a new cable and trigger, and give that a go then!

Agreed Sheldon Brown will give lots of information, but you might like to add "The Haynes Bike Book" to your xmas wish list. Very good basic introduction to a wide range of systems. Has a section on fitting a new cable and adjusting the Sturmey Archer gears. Clear pictures help too.

 

[wmtlynx]

Have fitted and adjusted the new cable now, so I can now head east from my house as well as west. The bottom gear seems quite high compared to my mountain bike, but for some reason I'm able to climb steeper inclines and at a higher speed with the Wayfarer, despite my cadence being quite slow. Not sure if 2nd gear works as the trigger is a bit stiff, but I'm pleased I can go uphill again :-)

Steve

 

[Chris S]

The bottom gear seems quite high compared to my mountain bike,

Sturmey Archer hubs are high-geared compared to modern bikes, if you've got a standard 18-tooth sprocket on the back they work out at about 3.2, 2.5 and 1.8:1.

You can get a 22 tooth sprocket from ebay for about £3 that will reduce all the gears by about 20% - I got one for my Raleigh and had no trouble getting up all but the very steepest hills.

Now I've got a 15-speed mountain bike I find that I spend about 99% of my time in the equivalent 3 gears!

PS If you can hear a ticking noise in 'bottom' gear you're still in 2nd and the cable needs adjusting. Take a look at Sheldon's site again.

 

[jimboalee]

For that type of bike with that type of weight, arrange MIDDLE gear to be as J.K.Starley designed it.

The sprocket should have half the number of teeth as the chainring. The bike might have a VERY POPULAR 46 tooth ring, so as you'd expect, everyone's sold out of 23 tooth sprockets.

The next best is a 24 sprocket which makes MIDDLE ratio slightly less ( 50" ) than Starley's 52".

All is not lost, the 2" lower MIDDLE will allow you to carry a bottle of Ginger Beer.

The Sram 24 tooth sprocket is nice and pretty because they've stamped slots in it.

When you fit it, put it on the hub with the dish to the inside. Then the chain won't clash the chainguard.

 

[wmtlynx]

Got all 3 gears working now. Did 20 miles on her this morning around South Birmingham, and thoroughly enjoyed myself on the Rea Valley route and the Worcs & Brum Canal. Got 22mph out of her on the flat, with a tailwind. Averaged 10mph in the 2 hours I was out, which included a lot of stop-starting at road crossings. My cheeks are now very pink, having more than doubled my previous "longest trip" of 9 miles. Very invigurating!

I'll look into a larger rear cog to make life easier. But for now I'm enjoying developing my leg muscles!

 

[wmtlynx]

Got all 3 gears working now. Did 20 miles on her this morning around South Birmingham, and thoroughly enjoyed myself on the Rea Valley route and the Worcs & Brum Canal. Got 22mph out of her on the flat, with a tailwind. Averaged 10mph in the 2 hours I was out, which included a lot of stop-starting at road crossings. My cheeks are now very pink, having more than doubled my previous "longest trip" of 9 miles. Very invigurating!

I'll look into a larger rear cog to make life easier. But for now I'm enjoying developing my leg muscles!

God I was unfit. Had 35 out of her recently. Still need to get better on hills though