Re: [CR] Jack Taylor 5 Speed - please help to identify brakes !!

(Example: Framebuilding:Paint)

Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:55:55 -0600
To: "Marc St. Martin" <marc.stmartin@earthlink.net>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
From: "Mark E. Stonich" <mark@bikesmithdesign.com>
In-Reply-To: <18160777.1266449844810.JavaMail.root@wamui-haziran.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
References: <18160777.1266449844810.JavaMail.root@wamui-haziran.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [CR] Jack Taylor 5 Speed - please help to identify brakes !!


At 05:37 PM 2/17/2010, Marc St. Martin wrote:
> Also odd are the two shifters for a 5 speed; although I have never
> seen an SA 5 speed implementation.

The model shown on the Taylor was the last of the twin cable SA 5 speeds. You shift the right like any SA 3 speed, low/direct/high The cable on the right selects which of 2 sun gears is fixed to the axle. One puts the "3 speed" an ultra wide ratio mode and the other puts it in medium ratio mode.

You spend most of the time in medium ratio mode shifting like any 3 speed. But when low isn't low enough or high isn't high enough the you use the left shifter to put the hub into ultra wide mode. Sounds confusing but my decidedly non-mechanical wife found it instinctive after the 1st ride. She now has 4 bikes with such hubs.

On paper the ratios don't look all that much closer than an AW 3 speed. But on the road the steps are such that I always seem to be able to find a suitable gear.

People looking for function over originality will use a normal SA 3 speed trigger shifter for the right and a friction shifter for the left.

Mark "Sturmey Wallah" Stonich
Bikesmith Design and Fabrication
5349 Elliot Ave S
Minneapolis MN 55417
612-824-2372
http://bikesmithdesign.com