I have struggled and struggled to get the Sturmey Archer 3 Speed AW Hub to shift properly. No matter what I did I ended up shifting the bike to normal then having too much slack in the indicator chain to actually return to the indexed gear position. And as for “low” or 1 – forgeddaboudit! I made an appointment to see my LBS (local bike shop) next week. I had been defeated by stubborn drive train.
Then I stumbled upon a website selling parts called Gentleman Cyclist – which included a wonderful component called a “Fulcrum Sleeve”. What pray tell is this wondrous component?
A fulcrum sleeve looks like this:
What it does is help keep the cable housing from sliding around. Ah ha! So what I assumed was just a clip for the shifter cable, it turns out is called lovingly a “Fulcrum Clip” by cognoscenti.
The sleeve fits over the cable and housing and lodges itself firmly between clip and frame. The result is a fit that snugly prevents the cable housing from shifting along with the cable.
Something like this:
Well the Raleigh has a top tube clip but no down-tube clip (like the photo above). “This is not a problem,” I thought, “just strip the cable housing up the frame.” But it occurs to me that I am living in Canada. The climate sucks. The air, when not wet or hot, is wet and cold with a fine mist of road salt. This would be bad. So I decided that the stripping of precious protection would be problematic. My solution: move the fulcrum sleeve to the down-tube where the cable is already exposed where it meets the indicator chain.
Lacking the right hardware has been a continuous trend in my life (no jokes please). So I took a look in my tool bag and pulled out that old stand-by – the cable tie. A few minutes later some more cable tightening, several shake-down rides and then presto! The final shake down ride produced a steady, reliable 3, 2 (normal), 1 and back up the ratcheting shifter to 3.
So the Superbe is running now, road worthy.
I’ll have to acquire a down-tube clip. No the plastic clip is not a permanent feature. Temporary fix aside, the project is coming to an end. I have small nagging bits of detail work to do, but this is now a mechanically functioning bicycle.
I would like to offer my thanks and gratitude to the online resources provided by the late Sheldon Brown. I would also like to thank his friends and family for maintaining his wonderful collection of cycling lore and resources. Also the wonderful folks at Harris Cyclery for keeping up their ties to the Sheldon Brown material.
My LBS (2 actually) for this project were the wonderfully patient folks at Bikes on Wheels in Kensington Market in Toronto. And when BoW didn’t have what I needed they sent me down to another fine collective on John Street – Urbane Cyclist.
I also found a number of other useful resources which have proven invaluable learning tools:
And a host of other material that I’ll have to post as I go.
Bicycle Geek 
Thanks for your kind words about sheldonbrown.com. Yes, we are maintaining — and updating — the site. For example, we now cover all the newer Sturmey-Archer hubs, as well as the older ones. It’san ongoing project.
A couple of comments on you project, thanks to your posting the high-resolution photo:
* Nice — this is the kind of thing tsheldonbronw.com is there for.
* The rear brake cable is way longer than it needs to be. Read our article on cables for advice.
* You shouldn’t need to use cable ties to restrain the shifter cable. It normally only is attached at the fulcrum clip (common name is cable housing stop, and there are many other brands) and at the pulley. The cable should be just a smidgen short of as tight as it will go in low gear. If it binds, one possibility is that you are using a newer indicator chain with longer links, and an off-brand right axle nut. Otherwise, exercise the cable while looking for where it is hanging up, and lubricate the part in the housing.
* Sturmey-Archer oil is no longer available, but a ’61 hub has an oil cap, and automotive automatic transmission fluid works well in the hub. Add a few drops every few weeks.
Oh, and a couple more comments —
The Superbe has a Dynohub generator but the lamps are gone. See the article one Dynohubs — you can replace the lamps and probably use a new LED lamp, even.
And, sorry about my typos in my earlier message. You may fix them. Please do!