3 speed hub problem

In article <[email hidden]>,

cmcanulty said:

I have an old 3 speed hub bike that has developed a problem I had on
another 3 speed years ago. Every few revolutions it gets very hard to
pedal then it goes bang and it loosens up. This doesn't happen every
revolution and nothing is touching the chain. Any ideas. I am pretty
mechanical but can't figure this one out and don't want to start
disassembling things without a clue as to the problem, thanks, Carol
M

Which three speed hub? There are dozens of Sturmey Archer hubs (the AW
being the most common) as well as Shimano and Sachs 3 speed hubs. Does
this happen in all gears?

cmcanulty said:

I have an old 3 speed hub bike that has developed a problem I had on
another 3 speed years ago. Every few revolutions it gets very hard to
pedal then it goes bang and it loosens up. This doesn't happen every
revolution and nothing is touching the chain. Any ideas. I am pretty
mechanical but can't figure this one out and don't want to start
disassembling things without a clue as to the problem, thanks, Carol M

Damaged or worn chain or damaged tooth? Broken pieces inside or broken
axle? Cracked bearing in BB or cracked/damaged cup? Cracked bearing in
pedal?

No clear single item from your description but start looking!
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

cmcanulty said:

I have an old 3 speed hub bike that has developed a problem I had on
another 3 speed years ago. Every few revolutions it gets very hard to
pedal then it goes bang and it loosens up. This doesn't happen every
revolution and nothing is touching the chain. Any ideas. I am pretty
mechanical but can't figure this one out and don't want to start
disassembling things without a clue as to the problem, thanks, Carol M

Does it happen when you're not on the bike (i.e. holding the back wheel
up, spinning the pedals)? If so, watch the chain tension. Check to see
if the chain gets really tight at the same time the pedaling gets hard,
then snaps loose. If that's the case, then you need to look for
something that's not circular (i.e. the chainring or cog is missing a
tooth, bent axle or spindle somewhere, etc).

--
Dave
dvt at psu dot edu

Everyone confesses that exertion which brings out all the powers of body
and mind is the best thing for us; but most people do all they can to
get rid of it, and as a general rule nobody does much more than
circumstances drive them to do. -Harriet Beecher Stowe, abolitionist and
novelist (1811-1896)

On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 12:55:38 -0000, cmcanulty <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I have an old 3 speed hub bike that has developed a problem I had on
another 3 speed years ago. Every few revolutions it gets very hard to
pedal then it goes bang and it loosens up. This doesn't happen every
revolution and nothing is touching the chain. Any ideas. I am pretty
mechanical but can't figure this one out and don't want to start
disassembling things without a clue as to the problem, thanks, Carol M

Note that "a few revolutions" of the crank is enough to move the chain
once around the circuit once while the rear hub is doing many cycles.
I'd lean to a chain cycle oriented problem.

cmcanulty said:

I have an old 3 speed hub bike that has developed a problem I had on
another 3 speed years ago. Every few revolutions it gets very hard to
pedal then it goes bang and it loosens up. This doesn't happen every
revolution and nothing is touching the chain. Any ideas. I am pretty
mechanical but can't figure this one out and don't want to start
disassembling things without a clue as to the problem, thanks, Carol M

Lubricate it with a few drops of motor oil in the port, NOT WD40 or
any "light" lube, and adjust the cable tension and you might be
surprised. With a Sturmey Archer you shift into third and take out the
slack in the cable, no more. With Shimano old style 333 hubs, you also
put them in high gear and adjust so that the indicator notches behind
the cable line up.

Still not working? If it's a Sturmey Archer, it can likely be
repaired--but according to Cap'n bike, the Shimano 333 hubs can self
destruct under the weight of larger riders in a gradual fashion. A
part breaks off, and gradually moves around the hub destroying it.
Yikes. I hope the 333 bike I sold my neighbor doesn't do that.

cmcanulty said:

I have an old 3 speed hub bike that has developed a problem I had on
another 3 speed years ago. Every few revolutions it gets very hard to
pedal then it goes bang and it loosens up. This doesn't happen every
revolution and nothing is touching the chain. Any ideas. I am pretty
mechanical but can't figure this one out and don't want to start
disassembling things without a clue as to the problem, thanks, Carol M

More info please-
Make/manufacturer of bike and/or hub?
Approximate condition (old & worn? recent new parts?)
Care and feeding? Treated nicely or ridden by teenagers?
Every few revolutions of what? Cranks? Wheel? France?

At a guess, I'd be looking for a tight or damaged link in the chain.
This would cause the chain to partially derail and tighten everything
up, then seat itself with a bang. If the chain is more than a couple
years old, it's probably time for a replacement. This article should
provide some pointers: http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=27
(the chain setup on your 3-speed is the same as the described one-
speed). Replacement chains are usually less than $10, and you'll need
a chain tool to cut it to length unless the bike shop is willing to do
it for you.

If this doesn't work, consult the guru:
http://sheldonbrown.com/english-3.html

Jeff

Yes it happens n all gears. It is an old Sears bike with just 3 speed
hub and a serial number on the rear hub, thank you.

cmcanulty said:

I have an old 3 speed hub bike that has developed a problem I had on
another 3 speed years ago. Every few revolutions it gets very hard to
pedal then it goes bang and it loosens up.

Shifter cable likely needs to be adjusted. On a Shimano Nexus 3-speed,
a yellow mark has to be in between 2 lines in the window in 2nd gear.
Other hubs will have something similar.

cmcanulty said:

I have an old 3 speed hub bike that has developed a problem I had on
another 3 speed years ago. Every few revolutions it gets very hard to
pedal then it goes bang and it loosens up. This doesn't happen every

Shifter cable likely needs adjustment. For a Shimano Nexus7 3-speed, a
yellow line on the actuating rod needs to be in between 2 lines on the
gear housing when it is in 2nd gear. Others will be similar.

cmcanulty said:

I have an old 3 speed hub bike that has developed a problem I had on
another 3 speed years ago. Every few revolutions it gets very hard to
pedal then it goes bang and it loosens up. This doesn't happen every
revolution and nothing is touching the chain. Any ideas. I am pretty
mechanical but can't figure this one out and don't want to start
disassembling things without a clue as to the problem, thanks, Carol M

A stiff link in the chain?

cmcanulty said:

Yes it happens n all gears. It is an old Sears bike with just 3 speed
hub and a serial number on the rear hub, thank you.

Gearbox by StyrDaimler is just like an AW except with chromed gear pins.
Pretty releiable gearbox; Look to chain or cog or BB or pedal troubles.

And do oil it as others have suggested.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

cmcanulty said:

I have an old 3 speed hub bike that has developed a problem I had on
another 3 speed years ago. Every few revolutions it gets very hard to
pedal then it goes bang and it loosens up. This doesn't happen every
revolution and nothing is touching the chain. Any ideas. I am pretty
mechanical but can't figure this one out and don't want to start
disassembling things without a clue as to the problem.

What kind of hub? The older Sturmey-Archer hubs are almost
indestrucable if you practice a little preventative maintenance (light
oil -- *NOT* a vegetable based oil -- in the oil port every few weeks),
and can be disassembled and cleaned in the event 3-in-1 oil was
foolishly used. Shimano 3-speed hubs use cartridge mechanisms; just pull
out the old mech and pop in a new one.

--

John ([email hidden])

John Thompson said:

cmcanulty said:

I have an old 3 speed hub bike that has developed a problem I had on
another 3 speed years ago. Every few revolutions it gets very hard to
pedal then it goes bang and it loosens up. This doesn't happen every
revolution and nothing is touching the chain. Any ideas. I am pretty
mechanical but can't figure this one out and don't want to start
disassembling things without a clue as to the problem.

What kind of hub? The older Sturmey-Archer hubs are almost
indestrucable if you practice a little preventative maintenance (light
oil -- *NOT* a vegetable based oil -- in the oil port every few weeks),
and can be disassembled and cleaned in the event 3-in-1 oil was
foolishly used. Shimano 3-speed hubs use cartridge mechanisms; just pull
out the old mech and pop in a new one.

I've heard the 3-in-1 congealed vegetable oil myth too many times,
probably started by Sturmey-Archer purveyors of their own oil.

IIRC 3-in-1 is a light machine oil with citronella added for scent.

If you find a S-A gummed up with a rubbery jelly it _has_ probably been
lubricated by some cheap [censored] with a vegetable cooking oil.

Marcus