Hello,
I've done some searching across the internet for answers to my problem, but I've had variable joy. I'm running around on a nice Triumph 3-speed 80s steel frame bike, and it's absolutely perfect for me as a 6-mile-a-day commuter and general utility/leisure cyclist - smooth, sturdy, comfortable and fun. Lately however the AW hub has been slipping, but in an unusual place - top gear. When I first started riding the AW I went through the inevitable learning curve of cable tension adjustment, and had it just about perfect, all the gears engaged fine and there was no problem. But this problem doesn't seem to be about cable adjustment.
I'm fairly certain of this, as I tested it with the cable disconnected, ie with the gears deliberately 'stuck' in 3rd... still it would disengage every now and again, with no rhyme or reason as to why - whether I was putting lots of pressure on the pedals or just cruising with very light pressure, it still slips about for between a quarter and a half a turn before coming back in. Sometimes it will do this on every 3 rotations, sometimes i can ride 30 seconds without it happening. It's frustrating as without being reliable I won't use the gear, just in case.
I checked out the AW manual online (here) and the fault diagnosis chart says it's either worn clutch or pinion pins, a weak or distorted clutch spring or something to do with the cone adjustment. Now I've only ever watched a hub being taken apart once - and even then only as far as getting to a bunch of bearings, which were obviously worn down (they looked like little silver nerds). That particular hub and its wheel sits in the house, ready for... well, i'm not sure what, actually. The point is it looked blimmin' hard and blimmin' baffling, not to mention daunting.
Anyway, i'm no mechanic, but i'm wondering if there are a few simple things i can try before giving it to someone who is, or perhaps even trying something more daring. Where do i start? 1st and 2nd gears are fine so it's rideable, but i do love that extra 33% for going down the hills of north london, as well as cruising the flats!
I hope someone can help. apologies for the lack of brevity to this, my first post.
Cheers!!
I've done some searching across the internet for answers to my problem, but I've had variable joy. I'm running around on a nice Triumph 3-speed 80s steel frame bike, and it's absolutely perfect for me as a 6-mile-a-day commuter and general utility/leisure cyclist - smooth, sturdy, comfortable and fun. Lately however the AW hub has been slipping, but in an unusual place - top gear. When I first started riding the AW I went through the inevitable learning curve of cable tension adjustment, and had it just about perfect, all the gears engaged fine and there was no problem. But this problem doesn't seem to be about cable adjustment.
I'm fairly certain of this, as I tested it with the cable disconnected, ie with the gears deliberately 'stuck' in 3rd... still it would disengage every now and again, with no rhyme or reason as to why - whether I was putting lots of pressure on the pedals or just cruising with very light pressure, it still slips about for between a quarter and a half a turn before coming back in. Sometimes it will do this on every 3 rotations, sometimes i can ride 30 seconds without it happening. It's frustrating as without being reliable I won't use the gear, just in case.
I checked out the AW manual online (here) and the fault diagnosis chart says it's either worn clutch or pinion pins, a weak or distorted clutch spring or something to do with the cone adjustment. Now I've only ever watched a hub being taken apart once - and even then only as far as getting to a bunch of bearings, which were obviously worn down (they looked like little silver nerds). That particular hub and its wheel sits in the house, ready for... well, i'm not sure what, actually. The point is it looked blimmin' hard and blimmin' baffling, not to mention daunting.
Anyway, i'm no mechanic, but i'm wondering if there are a few simple things i can try before giving it to someone who is, or perhaps even trying something more daring. Where do i start? 1st and 2nd gears are fine so it's rideable, but i do love that extra 33% for going down the hills of north london, as well as cruising the flats!
I hope someone can help. apologies for the lack of brevity to this, my first post.
Cheers!!