How To Overhaul/Clean/Lube Sturmey-Archer 3 Speed Hub - AW type

I disassemble, clean, degrease, replace bearings, lubricate and re-assemble a 3 speed Sturmey Archer AW type bike hub. A basic teardown/rebuild. This hub is date stamped 74 (1974). Sturmey Archer hubs vary over time, but the basic procedures are the same. These made in England hubs are really cool. These hubs are often found on Raleigh or other English bikes. This particular hub was from a Huffy. My Raleigh Tourist has an almost identical hub.

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[michaelhoste_]

I did this solo about 35 years ago and I literally had to draw an exploded view of every single part with every hole and notch and spring etc because there was no way it was going back together otherwise! This time - with the very SAME hub, mind you - I can just pull up this video and throw all the pieces together into a can of degreaser. Thank you RJ.

[mitchwaldrep]

I'm a good bike mechanic, but this video absolutely saved me on this job. I typically work on modern race bikes, but this walked me right through the sturmey job. thank you so much!!

[drengskap]

Some years ago, I did a Level 2 EAL cycle maintenance course - that's a UK intermediate pro-level vocational qualification. My crowning achievement on the course was a complete rebuild of a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub just like this. I was both amazed and delighted when it worked just fine after my rebuild, but I'm not in a hurry to do that job again - it's definitely not for the faint of heart. Watch out for those teeny pawl springs - they are incredibly easy to lose and the hub won't work at all without them!

[TSKseattle]

Whenever working on a sturmey 3 speed i marvel at the engineering that went into all these intricate parts and assembly, and all just for a bicycle hub

[michaelkirwan]

The sequencing as always was perfectly addressed. You've succeeded in making a relatively complex assembly very straightforward and due to the parceling out of the sub-assemblies brought this project into one quite approachable and simple to compartmentalize procedure-wise. The camera work was excellent as always and no aspect of the disassembly, or re-assembly was ever obscured, or compromised as to clarity. Especially valuable to the novice is your attention to various parts' orientation and the importance of cleaning the components thoroughly. This is one for the permanent library and I commend your dedication and principled mechanical discipline that always makes your videos a genuinely entertaining and informative experience. Thanks on behalf of cyclists and mechanics everywhere. Mike Kirwan - Kenmore WA.

[cacucl]

I think you have done an excellent here. I'm a 75 YO retired tool maker and have been messing with AW hubs for many years now.YOU GUYS ROCK.

[recstoppauseplay]

Thanks much for this RJ, I'm rebuilding an old Phillips 3 speed that a relative had as a lawn ornament. The hub is a Sturmey Archer AW numbered '67-11' and has a pretty rusty planetary gear assembly. One of the springs on the pawl has lost it's 'bounce' but since they're hard to get (or make) it'll be alright with some TLC. I've always wanted to know exactly how these hubs work and it's a pleasure to disassemble, clean and reassemble to get it working as if new. Your video of the process is perfect, and the audio is great! You must be quite adept at audio/video work! Thanks very much.

[irocitZ]

I have some vintage toys that need maintenance and occasional repairs, things such as jukeboxes, Schwinn Stingrays, mini-bikes and at least one old car at all times. I'm constantly tinkering or fixing one thing or another, I've never tried taking a 3 speed hub apart. Eventually, I'd like to learn. In the meantime I think I might be paying someone to do this, watching you do this is impressive. You have some serious skills, thanks for posting this..👍

[puma]

Another excellent RJ video. I’ve taken apart, cleaned and rebuilt several of these SA hubs now, I always come back to this video to refresh my memory. The design of these gears is nearly 100 years old, it’s extraordinary that the design is still being used on Brompton bikes, all be it with a few tweaks and cheaper materials.

[UnderLeakingRoof]

Najlepszy tutorial. Nawet laik dałby radę 🙂 Thank you. Greetings from Poland!

[davidsouthgate]

What a great video. Just bought my daughter an old second hand Raleigh Caprice and found to my horror that first gear didnt work. Tried flushing with WD40 but no joy. You have saved the day. I down loaded your video to my Kindle and step by step followed your instruction in my shed. Worked a treat. I used white spirit and a toothbrush to degrease and a magnetic screwdriver to recover the parts. I found the first gear pawl section had rusted up and a lot of fragements of metal appeared in the wash tank. All came apart & cleaned up. The semi circular indents made the hammer and punch difficult and the SA bespoke 'C' spanner is expensive and only for installation. So I used 18 inch stilsons and a mallet to shift the collar..they just lock into the indents. The rust had eaten one of the Pawl springs so I used some spring steel out of a ball point pen to make a new one as time was not on my side. I hear old electric guitar strings are even better. I had a chromed ring that went round the bearings as an extra part. I used oil for my four stroke lawn mower as the lubricant and added a couple of squirts in the filler cap at the end. All now works perfectly. Thank you.

[RealTM]

I've cleaned all the parts, ready to put everything back together, so excited, really fun to do! Sturmey should put your video on the Heritage website, so clear in your explanations.

[atelierunterderteck]

Thanks for this video. Though here in Germany Sachs hubs were more common, I like this hub, have one on my folding bike. I service it every few years, in the same way you show it, and it is still a runner- no pittings, no wear on the gears. I don´t like the small pawl-springs who are likely to desappear suddenly, but if you pay attention, this should be no problem.
Mine is from 1993, the bearings are a little bit different, but the rest is all the same as shown in the video.

[carbonsuicidemtb]

Not serviced one of these in 30 years, it brings back memories...

[cbinwindsor]

I'mm helping my daughter rebuild a 1973 Raleigh Sport and this was extremely helpful. Thanks!!

[jonka]

Very helpful in that you show how it all fits together. I would not let you touch a hub of mine as your attempts at lubrication leave the working surfaces of the gear teeth and ratchets devoid of lubrication.

[anthonycoleman]

It may 10 years old but a fantastic video thanks you make it so clear 👍🏻

[cloudburst]

One of the best guide videos I've ever seen. Completely walked me through the process from start to finish. Hub is back together and working great.

[TipyThe]

Incredible video, I got all the way down to reinstalling but it's SO FIDDLY. Of course the spring pinged off out of existence somewhere in my garage so will have to revisit this video after finding them!!!

[amymackenzie]

Man, I watched with huge trepidation when you were taking out the springs. Impressed with how easily you got them back in without bending them or losing them or putting them in backwards.

As always, your video is clear. I just got a Raleigh Sport at a tag sale and am all set to go at the hub. Thanks.