How to repair old Sturmey-Archer hubs
Instructions for a wide range of Sturmey-Archer hubs from 1902 to 2001. Includes the original 1902 3-speed, the popular K type of the 1920s and 30s, the T and TF 2-speeds, the ever popular AW, the SW, SG, SB, AB, AG, TCW, AM, AC, ASC, FW, FG, FM, FC, BR, GH6, S3B, S3C, all 5-speeds, the Columbia 3-speed, the BSA 3-speeds (based on a Sturmey-Archer design) and the hubs in production when Sturmey-Archer ceased to be British-owned in 2001. Also included is information on the DBU and FSU accessories for use with hub dynamos.
The files are in Adobe Acrobat format, making them zoomable and easily printable. Some of these files may take 5 minutes or so to download if you do not have broadband.
In the beginning
1902 3-speed
BSA 3-speeds
Includes Jim Gill’s material on the rare split-axle versions
Type K 3-speed
Includes Jim Gill’s simplified instructions
From the 1956 Master catalogue
Fitting and adjustment
Use and maintenance
Fault finding
General dismantling
Individual dismantling
Inspection
General re-assembling
SW wide-ratio 3-speed (See also Brian Hayes’ paper)
SB wide-ratio 3-speed/hub brake
SG wide-ratio 3-speed/Dynohub
AW wide-ratio 3-speed (see below for later AWs)
AB wide-ratio 3-speed/hub brake
AG wide-ratio 3-speed/Dynohub
TCW wide-ratio 3-speed/coaster
AM medium-ratio 3-speed
AC ultra-close-ratio 3-speed
ASC fixed-wheel 3-speed
FW wide-ratio 4-speed
FG wide-ratio 4-speed/Dynohub
FM medium-ratio 4-speed
FC close-ratio 4-speed
BF & BR hub brakes
GH6 Dynohub
Dry Battery Unit & Dynohub wiring
Other Dynohub & Filter Switch Unit wiring information
FSU circuit diagram and notes
Wiring diagrams
Instructions from various dates, 1960s – 2001
S3B 3-speed with small-diameter hub brake
S3C 3-speed coaster
S5 5-speed
S5/1 5-speed
S5/2 and Five Speed Alloy 5-speeds
S52 1988 modifications
5 StAr and 5 StAr Elite 5-speeds
Columbia ‘no-slip’ 3-speed (Jim Gill’s documentation)
AB/C & BF/C 90mm hub brakes
AW 3-speed
AWC 3-speed coaster
AT3, VT and ST Elite hub brakes
Sprinter 5-speed hub and Sprinter 5-speed Elite 5-speed hub brake
Sprinter 5-speed coaster
Sprinter 7-speed hub & Sprinter 7 Elite 7-speed hub brake
Sprinter 7-speed coaster
Steelite SBF, SBR & SAB hub brakes
Triggers & Twistgrips, 1950s & 1960s
SA 1951 trigger instructions
SA 1956 trigger instructions
Twistgrip parts c.1966
Auto Twistgrip service instructions c. 1969
All information provided here is done so in good faith. It is as written by the original authors and has not been modified by Tony Hadland. No responsibility can be accepted for any loss, damage or injury of any kind sustained for any reason arising therefrom. Our thanks go to Sturmey-Archer Limited and Jim Gill for permission to reproduce their material.
A friend In Dorset has a Sturmey archer 5 speed, she has trouble selecting gears and i believe the unit needs a service or repair (it is not just the cable adjustor). Can you advise a competent person who could service the hub?
Hi Mike,
There are a number of people around who could tackle the job. I usually do my own repairs but unfortunately cannot take on extra work. But I have used Peter Read in Milton Keynes (even on a hub that was about 100 years old) and he has been fixing hub gears for many years. His email address is firebird3101@yahoo.co.uk
If you cannot resolve the problem via Peter, please get back to me.
Tony
“How to repair old Sturmey-Archer hubs HADLAND’S BLOG” was a wonderful read and I actually was indeed pretty content to find the blog. Thanks for the post-Maura
Glad you found the material useful and thanks for your feedback,
Tony
Found an old Dynohub at a recycling centre (on its way to be crunched) and really appreciate the info you provide – i’ve got no excuse to revive it now! I’ll certainly recommend it to other Sturmley Archer fans – Many thanks – Surely this is what the internet was created for!
Thanks very much, Paul – glad the info proved useful.
Tony
Thank you so much for this information. I was having trouble understanding the light set and DBU wiring on my 50s Raleigh 3 speed and now it is well on its way to be fully functional.
Great stuff, Jess – thanks for the feedback and well done!
Tony