Shimano Nexus 3 Speed Hub Install on Retrospec Fixie

This is the first video in a series of gravel bike upgrades to the Retrospec Harper Coaster single speed bike. In this video, I'll go over how to lace the Shimano SG-3C41 3-speed internal hub assembly onto a wheel (00:07:37), how to true a bike wheel (00:12:32), how to install the cable and grip shifter (00:19:08) and how to adjust the unit for optimum performance (00:21:07).
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[normawingo]

I’m a great grandma that has ridden my bikes all my life and I love them so much. I really appreciate you being up front about not knowing everything on your bike. Like you I don’t know what I would do without my PARK TOOL BIG BLUE BOOK OF BICYCLE REPAIR, and I just love and appreciate all the fixers, restorers, reviewers, every single one. What a labor of love and a huge help they all are.
I’d gladly spend money at my local shop, but the satisfaction and the up close and personal experience of making changes or fixing of completely rebuilding one of my bikes is so satisfying and there’s so much info here in the YT bike family. I love every one of you. Great video, refreshing honest style.
Got a great trek hanging in the garage I’d love to put an internal hub on. And I’d love to build a touring bike with one.
Thanks, it was great!

[houseofsolomon]

'Plan for 2-3 x's the time you think you'll need'. True for many things -

[miket.]

I like this hub, put one on an old cruiser bike and it made a world of difference.

The biggest cost to do this conversion would be having your LBS re-lace the wheel with the hub. If you think you can do it yourself, that would be ideal. Also, he forgot to mention that you need to have the stationary nut when you attach the wheel. It is here at 18:04, that little yellow nut. This keeps the axle and hub stationary in the dropout, while the rear cog turns freely. Should be included with the shifter and cable.

One thing to consider is gearing. If you have a heavy cruiser bike, the 44t front crank with a 16t or 18t rear cog that typically comes on a cruiser might be too high. You'll find maybe you can't use 3rd gear at all. I changed from the stock 44t/16t to a 36t front crank and 21t rear cog. That made 3rd gear function the way the bike rode stock, so that means I have stock riding gear plus two lower gears -- perfect.

One other thing: these hubs really do well on a bike with horizontal dropouts, like the one used in this video. If you put on a bike with vertical dropouts, like a hybrid or road bike, you are going to need a chain tensioner. You could use an old rear derallieur, or they sell them on Amazon or bike supply outlets. Just look for a spring-loaded chain tensioner.

[Dysiakas]

That is exactly what im after! Really like some single speed bicycle designs and was thinking about this idea for a while! As you say thats "game changer" ! Definitely worth doing it! Thanks for video!

[helgakrobo]

Please note: the rear sprocket is lopsided for a reason. Flipping it around allows you to set the chain further or closer to the center at the rear in order for it to be as straight as possible front to back (chainline adjustment).

[philjetv]

Good job Mike it's perfect, I followed the video in order to do it myself and it went smoothly, you are the boss ! Thanks for the video !

[airgun]

Thanks for the video! Gives a nice overview of how involved the process is.

[josephmagedanz]

Great job and helpful info...I may even try that.
The faint clicking in 3rd speed is typical for this kind of hub (pawl override in "overdrive ").
Thanks very much!

[duedudue]

Great video. You are all of us trying to DIY.

[nahimjustchillen_]

Hey man!! been wanting this bike for awhile now, I finally got it😎. Totally new to bikes and these videos have me been a godsend.. thanks 🙏

[bertramsturgies]

To Properly Protect Gears From Damage; The Use of Bicycle Tensioners, Bicycle Chain Tensioner/ Adjusters.... I Loved the Video...

[mwd]

man, can't tell you how much i appreciate this video. i'm looking to put the same hub on a single speed bike with similar deep-V 32-spoke wheel setup. i've been too intimidated to give it a shot but after seeing this i think it's doable!

[SternLX]

You got extremely lucky with the existing spokes. I've always had to buy new spokes because the Hub flange diameters being hugely different. Also, after re-lacing I get a bit lazy and will drop my wheel off at my local favorite bike shop to have it trued for $20. I'll hang out an window shop while it's getting trued and end up buying other gear lol.
Oooh... oh and support your local bike shops. I know the internet is convenient but you can learn a lot from pros at the shops.

[maxpcint]

Great guy with great retrospec bike. This video answered all my question about nexus. Thank you.

[oplkfdhgk]

i been thinking of replacing my nexus 7 hub with nexus 3 cus i much prefer it. this was really helpful video. thanks for making it. :)

[JD-svuz]

Just finally found a single piece of a black alfine 8 speed gear hub from bike 24 and immediately bought it. Didn't seem to come with the shifter so I took one with it. I ve been looking for one for months now.

[POPALZAiii]

That skid was 👌🏽😂I’m planning to purchase a disc brake version as soon as I can find one.

[yogeshnaik]

Very nice review, i did similar change in my custom stingray chooper but i did go to sturney archer 3 speed i got done a cnc disk brake adapter plate plus changed to a Btwin 36 tooth chaining ring with 170mm long paddle chrank from old 42t..now its gearing too smooth very obsessive performance...now i plan to add a Bafang bbsd n make it work commuter

[samuelpreciado]

I replaced the 16t cog to a an 18t and it made such a difference it’s so great to ride

[oreo]

Thx dude I had a frame needing wheels. Then I found three more bikes took what I had made 2 more bikes. Still had one bike I really wanted to get going then I finally gotten wheels. Unfortunately they were 2 fronts. I kept look for months online ppl wanted price for old junk I couldn't see spending what new ones called for. One morning I said Y can't I take a hub off a smaller wheel... put it on a bigger wheel. No One has a hub lace video only u so thx. I was curtin I was going to follow a non hub lace. Well thank u peace