3 speed crank pressure issue cont.

Sorry, this posted before I was really even started.

Anyway I have what I think is a Columbia Roadster or Schwinn Racer,I can't tell because previous owners spray painted it.

It has a fin on the front fender and so I'm thinking it's a Roadster.

It shifts OK (3 speed)but when Pedaling It losses pressure in the cranks for a moment every rotation or few.

The chain looks a little saggy so it might need a new one and a chain wheel and maybe flywheel?

I need to know if the hub could cause this.

I don't see how it could and I don't know what kind of (Sturmey Archer?) it is.

Other than that It seems to be a good solid bike,I can't afford to spend a lot to fix it up just now but I'd like to keep it a 3 speed and in good riding condition.

thanks,

            Tim

Hey Tim,

Kinda tough to tell from the pic, but I THINK that's a Shimano 333 from what I can see.  Can you take a close up pic of where the shifter cable attaches to the hub?

Like all 3-speeds they're definitely not happy if they get out of adjustment.  Is it happening more in one particular gear?

Crappy thing with the Shimano 333's is there are no service parts available.  If it is anything more than needing adjustment/lubrication you're pretty much SOL for that particular hub.  The new Shimano Nexus hubs are awesome though

I found out thru a lot of scraping on the chain guard the bike is a Colorado sports 3, but the shifter cable area looks more like a 1970 Tourist I saw in a pic online.

Yeah the shifter says Shimano and when I shift to 2nd it gets real tight 3rd seems a lot better. sometimes it's like there's no pressure at all in 1st.

Thanks,

             TIM

Are the adjustments about the same as an SA?

First thing I'd try is removing the little bellcrank assembly (it just unscrews off the axle) and the pushrod up the axle tube.  Check for rust or other junk, and make sure it's lubricated well.  You can squirt a little bit of heavier oil up the hollow axle (I like 10W30 motor oil personally) and make sure the pushrod goes in and out easily.

Next reattach the bellcrank. Make sure it's screwed down all the way - I had a friend the other day who's bellcrank wasn't bottomed out and her 3 speed was acting like a 2 speed.  With the shifter cable off there shouldn't be any play in the bellcrank - if you can move it back and forth a bit then it isn't screwed on all the way.

For the shifter cable itself check the side of the bellcrank - there should be a little window (just a hole) where you can see the bellcrank moving inside.  There's a mark that should be centered in the window.

If after all that it's still not behaving there's probably a broken spring or something in there... If it were me I'd be tempted to just go to your local bike shop and get them to fit you a new Nexus 3 and be done with it - the Nexus will last you YEARS without trouble.

Just looking at the pics again, there's a locknut screwed up tight against your axle nut that should be up tight against the bellcrank assembly to keep it aligned and in place (once you've gotten everything lubricated and otherwise adjusted)

Thanks for all the help Bryn I still have to work out the speed adjustment but I bought an old junker Western Flyer off Craigslist and got a much less rusted 333 and switched out the chain wheel and I believe the chain wheel was causing a lot of the pressure problem because my old one had a cover built onto the chain wheel that covered the cup and bearing area.

This cover was bent in places and was causing friction on the chain wheel.

Really weird but It doesn't seem to be losing pressure when pedaling anymore.

Working on the brakes now, I let you know the final outcome.

Thanks,

           Tim

Cool beans - sounds like you found it in the end! 

Yep its pretty solid now, time to find a another one to fix.

thanks, Tim