I need everybody’s advice. Those gorgeous 1950s Sturmey Archer large flange hubs arrived today and I should have checked if the rear hub is a fixed or free…what sprocket can I thread on it and could I thread a single speed freewheel on? I really can’t ride fixed unfortunately.
by vintagethrowaway19
10 Comments
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Looks like its meant for a multi speed freewheel anyway, so you cant really run it fixed unless on a velodrome anyway since it has no lockring thread. Plus the spacing might be off for a single speed setup resulting a less than ideal chainline, but imo it isnt that much of a problem.
Measure the O.L.D. I am betting it is a 120mm or 126mm. Standard 4sp and 5sp spacing in the 50’s-70’s would be 120. Track spacing of that generation would be 110mm not the current 120. To be clear, that is not a standard fixed hub since it doesn’t have the smaller dimension counter threaded section for a lock ring.
If you choose to run it fixed or with a single speed freewheel, I would suggest swapping the spacers around so you can get a better chainline and also have a (narrow) zero dish tease wheel
You can still run a single speed freewheel, but the chainline will probably be off if you don’t swap the axel spacers around. It’s not a big deal.
I think the better option is just to find an original Sturmey Archer AW or AM three speed geared hub from the 1950s instead of wasting time faffing around with the rear hub. Disappointing that the large flange rear hub won’t be used now.
Another thing, I’ve just realised that the hub is a freewheel, not a fixed so that’s a good thing- I probably can respace it. Although I’d need to find out exactly which single speed gear will fit into the threading….
You could try the “rotafix” method to get a fixed cog to work. But I’d only do that with hand brake. And I wouldn’t skid a whole lot. If there is enough thread protruding after you rotafix the fixed gear cog you can add a lock ring from a standard bottom bracket for a little extra holding force. Some folks also add blue locktite thread locker.
Brampton, and possibly others also made similar hubs. 4-5 speed freewheels for summer, and flip to fixed for the winter. Will fit a single speed freewheel, but probably will need dishing or not perfect chainline (which probably doesn’t matter much).
Very nice looking pair though!
That’s a multi-speed freewheel hub. A normal singlespeed freewheel will fit without issue.
Singlespeed will be fine, you just need to remove the big spacer on the right and add some on both sides so it sits in the middle.
Will make for a fantastically strong wheel as it will be dishless.
However, you do need to think about chainline. What bike are you building?
You can totally run this with a single-speed hub. The spacing is obviously wonky right now because it’s for a 120mm multi-speed freewheel, but you can fix that. You should be able to find a replacement axle (don’t hack up your original one) and some spacers, and then you can actually re-space the hub narrower and cut off the excess axle with a hacksaw.
Good luck!