Internal Sturmey Archer Three Speed Bicycle Hubs

Last updated July 1, 2003

Internal Sturmey Archer Three Speed Bicycle Hubs

Background

Indexed shifting since 1902? That's right. Indexed shifting isn't new at all. The hub that was invented in 1902 by Mr. Henry Sturmey and Mr. James Archer, in England, was indexed shifting. It was three gears and it was nearly immune to all weather conditions because it was enclosed and the parts inside ran in an oil bath. Actually it was more of an oil shower as it was designed to be only partially filled with oil and the oil would get spread around inside the hub as it ran. The closest design to that original three speed hub, that is still in production today, is the Sturmey Archer model AW hub. For information about the Sturmey Archer model AW and other Sturmey Archer products you can find the Sturmey Archer website at www.sturmey-archer.com.

There have been, and are, other three speed hubs, but none has been as popular and long lasting in durability, as well as run of manufacture, as the Sturmey Archer model AW hub. The production run of the model AW hub began in 1937 and still runs as of the first day of July, 2003. That's 65 years. The model AW replaced the model K which was a very similar three speed hub.

Below is a parts breakdown from a parts list which used to come with every new Hercules bicycle around the 1960's. Those who are familiar with the parts numbers will notice that these were different from today's part numbers. The hub has not changed, only the numbering of the parts could not last for the complete model run. You will find that old parts boxes carried both the old number as well as the new number for quite a few years.

Lubrication

If you are putting a Sturmey Archer AW hub back together after servicing, fill the spaces between the ball bearings with grease. Be careful not to use too much grease and be careful not to get any grease on the pawls. The grease should only be in the ball bearing runs. Then you need to put two teaspoons of a good bicycle oil, preferably Sturmey Archer cycle oil if available, into the main parts of the hub. After filling a newly assembled or reassembled rear hub with two teaspoons of oil, you need only put 3 or 4 drops into the hub once every month. Only a maximum of about two teaspoons of oil should be in the AW hub. If there is more oil in the hub than about two teaspoons it will dribble out until the level is correct. Of course you need to avoid overfilling this hub as overfilling it makes a mess of the rear spokes, rim, tire, and brakes as the oil dribbles out. This can also make the rear brakes quite ineffective until you remove the oil from the rim and brake pads. Oil is detrimental also to the tire and brake shoes. The best choice of oil was and is Sturmey Archer oil. The newer hubs do not need this monthly oiling and do not have a port for oiling but require disassembly cleaning, and lubricating usually once a year if used daily under normal conditions. My preference is for the older AW hubs. Under normal use and proper lubricating, the ones with the oil port may not need to be opened for many years. But, because the newer hubs don't need oiling, Sturmey Archer no longer offers the oil. Is it possible that they don't know that many of their earlier AW hubs and many other Sturmey Archer hubs that can be lubricated through the oil port are still in use? On the parts list the oil port is called the lubricator, old part number S545, new part number HSA106.

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