Sturmey Archer damage?

[MikewsMITH2]

yes Brucey alloy shell dated 1951. it was worse than it looks in that photo

There was a severe pothole strike a while ago which may have started the crack.

[MikewsMITH2]

I blame Steve Browne He sold it me. I want my money back Steve

[Brucey]

surely all you need is a steel hubshell from the early 1950s (i.e. one that is threaded internally both ends, even a 3s one) and you ought to be able to rebuild the hub nicely?

cheers

[steve browne]

If the left hand Cone screws into the shell that may well be salvageable.
The only bike I have with an alloy FM is not being ridden and this thread is making me even more disinclined to use it!

[s.bike]

thanks for the help, time to sell it as spares i guess

[jimlews]

I think that MikesMITH2's hub has given very good service. It is, after all 67 years old, so hardly a warranty job.

In my humble opinion, the failure depicted is directly due to the use of inappropriate spokes.

These hubs were designed to be used with 'rustless' spokes or Raleigh stainless, which had a much tighter bend where they emerge from the flange.

The stainless spokes in the pictures are not snug to the hub flange and with the cyclic loading as the wheel rotated would have been like applying a 'pry-bar' to the hub flange.

My 'two bits' for what it's worth.

[robc02]

The only bike I have with an alloy FM is not being ridden and this thread is making me even more disinclined to use it!

I wouldn't worry, Steve. For years now my main winter and general foul weather commuter has an alloy FM and I have only had two breakages, neither being the shell .
FMs were also available with a steel shell and the innards plus LH ball cup can easily be fitted into any (I think) steel shell from the same period - typically they will be labelled as FW or AW but are the same apart from the markings.

[Cyril Haearn]

I blame Steve Browne He sold it me. I want my money back Steve

Plus One for your signature!