http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Changing sprocket on SA 3-speed en Wed, 13 May 2026 05:16:39 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12496#post-147408 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 17:03:46 +0000 wee folding bike 147408@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Does it have reasonably long drop outs and is the wheel currently near the back of the drop out? </p> <p>Drop outs are the bits the wheel fits into. Older bikes have long horizontal ones so the wheel can move fore and aft to take up slack in the chain. MTBs have vertical ones because their tyres don't fit in the space where the chain stays meet. If you have a bit if adjustment left in the drop outs I'd just try it anyway.</p> <p>There isn't any need to understand the internals of a hub gear for this. The sprocket is held on with an external circlip and slides onto three splines (sometimes known as tits but they don't usually come in threes). Some sprockets are dished so that you can put them on either way round to improve the chain line. This means you can't flip them when they wear out. Well, you can, but the chain line will suffer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12496#post-147407 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 16:59:30 +0000 chdot 147407@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Loosen your rear wheel, move the chain round three teeth on the chainwheel and if the axle is still in the dropouts it'll be fine. </p> <p>If not 'just' add a couple of links. </p> <p>Or, if chain is well used, buy another. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12496#post-147405 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 16:43:26 +0000 Stickman 147405@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My new town-pootler's Sturmey-Archer 3-speed is a bit too highly geared for comfort, so I'd like to change to a larger sprocket. (Google suggests that this is a common opinion). </p> <p>It's currently 18 tooth and moving to 21 tooth seems to be recommended. </p> <p>I can buy the sprocket online for a few quid and I've watched a video that suggests changing it over is fairly straightforward.</p> <p>My worry is the chain length - I'm not good with chains. Will I need a new longer chain, and if so is it easy to size it and fit it?</p> <p>It may be easier just to get one of the LBS to do it for me - can anyone recommend who is best with hub gears?</p> <p>Thanks! </p>