I've lost two gears on my Pashley's Sturmey Archer X-RD5!
Thunderbug
every minute of riding it in both sun and snow since.
Aside from a problem with the (poor quality) triple-railed saddle clamp
that the Brooks B33 saddle is supplied with, I've had no major problems
with it and have happily ridden it most days.
The chain, though, was making a *really* loud noise when pedalling - it
sounded like the chain had stretched and was scratching along the bottom
of the front of the inside of its fully-enclosed plastic chain guard.
Rather than open the chain guard and wind up cluelessly taking a bag of
bits to my local bike shop, I took the whole bike and they were happy to
sort it out for me. They said that there was 'a bit of metal' inside
the chain guard that was rubbing on the chain, so they bent it back.
The only problem is, since they sorted it out, the 4th and 5th gears
have disappeared! Having already been back to the shop too many times
with embarassingly simple problems, I'd rather have a go at sorting this
one out myself if it's going to be simple.
The manual at http://www.sturmey-archer.com/hubs_5spd_XRD5.php doesn't
do a lot for making anything simple though! Gears 1-3 work fine, and
the gear lever moves to positions 4 and 5 without any problem, but the
gears just don't engage. There's a very slight clicking when the lever
is at position 5, but it remains in 3rd.
Is there anything I can do myself with the tension of the gear cable or
by poking something with a screwdriver?!
Rob Morley
Thunderbug <thunde...@gmail.com> wrote:
> The only problem is, since they sorted it out, the 4th and 5th gears
> have disappeared! Having already been back to the shop too many
> times with embarassingly simple problems, I'd rather have a go at
> sorting this one out myself if it's going to be simple.
>
> The manual at http://www.sturmey-archer.com/hubs_5spd_XRD5.php
> doesn't do a lot for making anything simple though! Gears 1-3 work
> fine, and the gear lever moves to positions 4 and 5 without any
> problem, but the gears just don't engage. There's a very slight
> clicking when the lever is at position 5, but it remains in 3rd.
>
> Is there anything I can do myself with the tension of the gear cable
> or by poking something with a screwdriver?!
On the little chain that comes out the end of the rear axle, slacken
the little knurled nut half a turn and unscrew the long knurled sleeve
to separate the cable from the chain. While pedalling backwards, make
sure the chain is free to move in and out of the axle, and that the
chain isn't twisted or kinked. While pulling back on the knurled sleeve,
make sure the gear selector is free to move to each position without the
cable dragging. Turn the rod/chain assembly /gently/ clockwise until
resistance is felt, then turn it anticlockwise until the chain lines up
with the chain guide) Now reattach the cable to the indicator chain
(screw it back to the locknut so it's in about the right position) and
pedal backwards while selecting second gear. Adjust the cable so the
marked section on the end of the indicator rod is flush with the end of
the axle (pull it out a bit further by hand to check that it's
centred, and that it slides back OK). Pedal backwards while selecting
each gear in turn, then select second gear again and make sure the mark
on the indicator rod is still lined up with the end of the axle.
Thunderbug
> On the little chain that comes out the end of the rear axle, slacken
> the little knurled nut half a turn and unscrew the long knurled sleeve
Thanks for that Rob - I'll have a go tomorrow and will report back!
Nick L Plate
> Last summer I bought myself a Pashley Roadster Sovereign and have loved
> every minute of riding it in both sun and snow since.
>
> Aside from a problem with the (poor quality) triple-railed saddle clamp
> that the Brooks B33 saddle is supplied with, I've had no major problems
> with it and have happily ridden it most days.
>
> The chain, though, was making a *really* loud noise when pedalling - it
> sounded like the chain had stretched and was scratching along the bottom
> of the front of the inside of its fully-enclosed plastic chain guard.
> Rather than open the chain guard and wind up cluelessly taking a bag of
> bits to my local bike shop, I took the whole bike and they were happy to
> sort it out for me. They said that there was 'a bit of metal' inside
> the chain guard that was rubbing on the chain, so they bent it back.
>
> The only problem is, since they sorted it out, the 4th and 5th gears
> have disappeared! Having already been back to the shop too many times
> with embarassingly simple problems, I'd rather have a go at sorting this
> one out myself if it's going to be simple.
>
> do a lot for making anything simple though! Gears 1-3 work fine, and
> the gear lever moves to positions 4 and 5 without any problem, but the
> gears just don't engage. There's a very slight clicking when the lever
> is at position 5, but it remains in 3rd.
>
> Is there anything I can do myself with the tension of the gear cable or
> by poking something with a screwdriver?!
I suspect that the clutch is sticking, possibly due to dirt or the
cold weather thickening up any grease in this area of the hub. Try a
drop or two (no more) of very fine oil into the end of the axle where
the selector chain enters. Have bike on side and operate selector
while turning cranks. Leadve for a day or two and try for proper
function. If warming up with a hairdryer allows selection of all
gears, I suspect it would be better for long term reliability to get
the hub overhauled. If its a new bike, get it sorted under
warrantee. Basically at least get the go ahead to oil it as I've
suggested.
TJ
Thunderbug
Thanks to both Rob and Nick for your replies.
I followed Rob's notes and tried riding afterwards. I had a *different*
three gears, but was still missing two, and then after a couple of miles
it went back to 1, 2, 3 and no 4 or 5.
I don't have any very fine oil and didn't fancy trying to find and use
any, so did as Nick suggested and took the bike back to the shop I
bought it through.
I know they'll sort it out, so my primary concern is that they don't do
it *at their own cost* as they did with a couple of other minor problems
- even if they were sent a replacement hub from Pashley or Sturmey
Archer etc they'd still have to fit it in their own time. I don't want
them to go under and close down!
The chap in the shop said that the hub seemed very dry inside and we
made arrangements that I'll return on Thursday when they're quiet and
he's going to take a look and see what it needs doing.