1, to, 3, and beyond...

mantaray06 · #1 09-19-2009, 09:17 AM

I see that Sturmey-Archer 3 speeds are by far the most popular multi-speed hub to use. I have also seen a fair amount of folks using 5 speed derailers.

The question I have is, Has anyone tried to hook up something like the Sturmey-Archer X-RF8 8 Speed?

I am a fan of the internal gear hubs, rather than the derailers. I know this would be quite a challenge, but I also know there are some real mad scientists out there.

Eric Amlie · #2 09-19-2009, 11:30 AM

Sounds like the late great Sheldon Brown.

Follow this link then scroll down to his 63 speed bike.

http://sheldonbrown.org/otb.html

Wayne · #3 09-19-2009, 12:52 PM

I like internal gear hubs too. The older Sturmey AW 3 speed hub shells are the same as an S5 5 speed. You can take the guts from a 5 speed and put it into an AW hub shell if the spoke holes were worn, or to change the spoke count.

The guts from the newer X-RF8 should work fine in the SX-RB3 hub shell with the exception of the axle, it's too short. The AW hub and the S5 share many of the same parts, but not the axle. The 5 speed axle has an extra spline for the second plantet gear set, plus a means to shift it in and out.

You would need to lengthen the 8 speed axle. Maybe by welding two Sturmey axle nuts together, and using this as a connector to add a short cut off axle stump from a spare hub.

The Sturmey hubs, even the new ones use an uncommon Whitworth thread of 13/32" by 26 threads per inch. I have lots of printed and saved info on the older Sturmey hubs, but nothing showing the internals of the newer hubs. You might be able to weld the axle to lengthen it, but then you would probably not be able to service (remove) the second and third plantet gear sets from the original 8 speed axle.

Wayne · #4 09-20-2009, 10:48 PM

Correction.

I was able to take a minute and visit the Sturmey Archer site. The 8 speed hub has the extra planet gears on the outside of the primary gear set. This hub shell is much larger diameter than the 3 or 5 speeds. Nice hub! Must be expensive.

The XRF5 5 speed hub has the second planet gearset stacked next to the primary set like the old S5 hub. The guts from this hub might work in the longer SX-RB3 shell, not the 8 speed.

Chopperguy · #5 09-21-2009, 08:59 AM

Here is a way to do it: Make a "jack shaft" hub. This has been done on a few choppers and is simialr to how many adult trikes work; There is a chain from the crank to a "hub" mounted by itself. Then a second chain goes from the hub to the rear wheel or axle (in the case of the adult trikes). Since the choppers have the room, you could run the chain from the crank, mount a hub behind seat tube, and then attach an offset sprocket to the hub flange to bring the chain to the rear wheel. Note that this would (typically on motorized products) bring the chain to the LEFT side of the rear hub, so you would need a fixed sprocket on the left flange of the rear wheel. Complex, but do-able. Another cool factor could be to add a disc brake to the idler hub, that would be slick.

speedracer815 · #6 09-30-2009, 06:23 AM

I thought of the jackshaft idea to use a Shimano Nexus hub, but in the end I went the path of least resistance, the Sturmey 3 speed. It works fine, although it doesn't shift under load as well as my Nexus does.

So far I've only been bested by one hill, and there were plenty of "normal" bikes being walked up that one.

Chopperguy · #7 09-30-2009, 07:24 AM

An FYI, you are supposed to stop pedaling or let off the pressure with all 3 speed hubs when shifting. They are an old idea. The new 7 speeds shift under load better, but still were not really made for it (plus the gears are much closer together, so the diferential is not much)

Now who will be the first with a Nu-Vinci hub on a stingray!?

spoiled · #8 09-30-2009, 04:58 PM

I've got a few sx rb3's kicking around and winter's coming.....Now to find an 8 speed hub cheap

mantaray06 · #9 10-01-2009, 03:09 AM

Now that is what I am talking about.
I knew that there were some folks out there that think outside the box.

As the fall is here and Michigan doesn't offer many more nice days to ride, I plan to ride all I can and take this up as a winter project.

I don't know about anyone else, but I have lots of projects planned for the winter months. Like Paint jobs and rebuilds, then....

To infinity and beyond....

Great ideas, keep them coming.

ntvinh986 · #10 10-08-2009, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mantaray06

I see that Sturmey-Archer 3 speeds are by far the most popular multi-speed hub to use. I have also seen a fair amount of folks using 5 speed derailers.

The question I have is, Has anyone tried to hook up something like the Sturmey-Archer X-RF8 8 Speed?

I am a fan of the internal gear hubs, rather than the derailers. I know this would be quite a challenge, but I also know there are some real mad scientists out there.

Thanks you for the post.

Workstinx · #11 11-04-2009, 09:51 AM

I'm planning to put Shimano Alfine 8-speed hub in my Spoiler... it's about 250 dollars here... maybe if I could get new rim & tire also, so I can keep original parts also.... I don't know why but I want to keep them stored...

does anybody have experience of that hub? how does it work?

Chopperguy · #12 11-06-2009, 07:54 AM

How do you intend to widen it to 170mm? It is spaced @ 110 or 135mm. That will be a challenge. Good luck.

Workstinx · #13 11-06-2009, 11:13 AM

thanks Chopperguy!

ok.. I almost knew that I had forgot something very important here... almost did like ape-hanger hd man... bad measurement or not at all....

now I have to make new plans... some ideas?

Chopperguy · #14 11-09-2009, 08:15 AM

3 x 3 seems cool: There was someone on here who put a double or triple front chain wheel on a spolier, and a front and rear deraileur to run it. You could do all that combined with a 3 speed hub and have 9 gear options.

Probably want the triple crank to have as close together a gear choice as possible, so you are not wasting gears way outside of ridable range. I am sure one of you is or knows the poster. You can pull up the old thread and see what a clean job he or she did.