Sturmey Archer 4 speed trigger

[porteous]

I am in the middle of rebuilding a 1957 Rudge with a SA FM 4 speed hub. I think I have all 4 gears, although difficult to tell with a very short ride last night, since the trigger slips in the lowest gear setting.

I assume the hub has not been used for about 30-40 years (I have given it a short squirt of WD40 and quite a good application of bike oil, which I hope will free it up a bit as it gets used), but am not sure just lubricating the trigger will work.

I would quite like to clean the spring edge and trigger pawls (?) of the trigger with a small file to help them engage, but am not at all sure whether the trigger can be stripped and re-assembled. It appears to be held together by two rivets, which makes it seem unlikely it can be easily stripped.

Has anyone done this? All advice gratefully received!

 

[bobg]

The following is an extract from the 3 hints and tips" pages , in the restoration section of the "classic leightweights" web site ... hope it helps...BTW the same site recommends using SAE 30 for Sturmey Archer hubs , a litre in ASDA was about £2 last week

Sturmey Archer FM - Several people have told me that they have trouble with the Sturmey-Archer FM: they cannot get the bottom gear to lock in on steep hills – just when you need them of course. The secret seems to be to change the normal way into bottom, keep the pressure on the trigger and start pedalling (spinning freely is no good, some pressure is needed) until you feel the trigger go click as it moves in just a little further. This seems to do the trick.

 

[bobg]

The following is an extract from the 3 hints and tips" pages , in the restoration section of the "classic leightweights" web site ... hope it helps...BTW the same site recommends using SAE 30 for Sturmey Archer hubs , a litre in ASDA was about £2 last week

Sturmey Archer FM - Several people have told me that they have trouble with the Sturmey-Archer FM: they cannot get the bottom gear to lock in on steep hills – just when you need them of course. The secret seems to be to change the normal way into bottom, keep the pressure on the trigger and start pedalling (spinning freely is no good, some pressure is needed) until you feel the trigger go click as it moves in just a little further. This seems to do the trick.

BTW I also read somewhere in Tony Hadlands book called the Sturmey Archer Story about dismantling and 4 speed SA shifter but I just returned the book to the library and its been sent back to Bolton so I can't check it out. Maybe someone on here can oblige ( its out of print )

BTW again ... Nice Rudge Clubman restoration!! I noticed it after Denis advertised his in the Cafe...

 

[porteous]

Thanks guys; a good swill in degreasant and a bit of work with a wire brush and wd 40 to blow the dirt out have got it working again not too badly, but I am still interested if anyone has ever stripped one of these since I think a new spring will really get it back on form, and I think you can still get new springs!

Thanks for the nice comment about the Clubman, its my favourite bike!