Sturmey Archer S2C/S2

possibly here but I'd give them a call first http://www.bikefix.co.uk/shop/

Some friends and I did a group buy of 6 S2Cs last fall. 4 out of the 4 built up units regularly experience mis-shifts, one of the hubs innards completely imploded. 2 of these are regularly used in commuting, 2 are occasionally used. I'm attempting to return mine.
Buyer beware.

I've been running the SC duomatic for about 6 months. It now fails to engage the lower ratio so Im stuck with the cruising 78.
I've just read this - http://mccraw.co.uk/sturmey-archer-s2c/
So anyone out there any ideas on who/where to fix this ?

The DIY route is possible, but you need a calm, well-lit work space and a zen-like attitude. My return was successful, but only after much forceful negotiating.
I was hopeful when I heard that the buyout of SA involved all kinds of re-tooling and investment on the part of the new owners, but my experience with the product didn't show evidence of that.

Mine failed after a couple of weeks; the wheel actually locked up solid and wouldn't turn forwards or backwards, which was a tad dangerous in heavy traffic. I had to carry the bike home.

Apparently the fault was a common one; the cure was to insert an additional spacer somewhere in the innards. I don't know if this known fault has been cured, but since I'm not interested in paying to do SA's product development for them, I got rid of the replacement hub.

Shame, because it was a great product when it worked.

Hmmmmm - did you approach SA directely for your return or the shop you bought it from ? In my case it was SJS cycles.

I've got one of these and I'm wondering whether its one of the ones produced after they realised what the fault was, and corrected it?
how would one go about figuring this out?

Do you still have the box? It may have the date of manufacture or maybe you can check with SA if you have the item code.

Has anyone had any similar problems with the sram automatix?

Hmmmmm - did you approach SA directely for your return or the shop you bought it from ? In my case it was SJS cycles.

The vendor had also built it into a wheel for me so I was unwilling to unbuild the wheel and return the hub to SA. The vendor offered a repair/replacement, even though I asked for a refund. The law appears to state that the consumer initially only has a right to repair/replacement ('first tier'); apparently a refund is only an option if the repair/replacement would cause 'significant inconvenience' or would take an 'unreasonable' amount of time - and due to this ambiguity if you're battling against an intractable vendor you'd have to take it to a small claims court.

Incidentally the wheel also needed rebuilding; the nipples were so slack I could turn them by hand.

Cornelius, I had my hub in summer 2011, although I don't know when it was made, if that helps.

Mine was from Harris Cyclery; I had built the wheel myself.

@ lae, bought mine last year, its just been sitting in its box waiting to be built up, probably won't know until it is built up and goes bang, or doesn't..

I bought the hub from SJS and then had the wheel built up by Arup http://yogarup.com/wheels/index.php . Still got box and receipt (somewhere) .
I've emailed SJS for advice .

I've got one on my folder bought it last summer from sjs, it locked up solid once and made a few odd sounds when it was new but seems to be ok now it's got a few miles on it. Not sure if I would want another one if this one dies, you can't pedal backwards which is a pain in stop start traffic allso it's really difficult to stand up and coast over speed bumps without the coaster brake coming on.

Built up an S2C on my wife’s bike. Bought one as soon as it came out, and as with many on this thread it’s turned out to be junk. Doesn’t shift 70 per cent of the time. It’s locked up twice but a hard push forward on the pedals unlocked it.

I’ve got a F&S duomatic on my bike. Much much better. Shifts every time, never a fault, it’s also much lighter than the Sturmey. The braking is a lot weaker than the S2C but you get used to it and use the front brake more often. If anyone is seriously considering an S2C I’d advise getting a second hand duomatic, german ebay often have them.

^ yup, this.
I wrung my hands over this decision for a few months while researching the options, ended up making the wrong choice and going with the SA in the end.

I'm a bit worried now as I have bought a Marin Ignacio with S2 hub and thought they were good hubs. Mine seemed to not want to shift down from high gear to begin with but has improved the more miles I do. It sometimes changes when I hit a bump whilst not pedalling, I'll just have to keep pedalling I guess. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I bought the hub from SJS and then had the wheel built up by Arup http://yogarup.com/wheels/index.php . Still got box and receipt (somewhere) .
I've emailed SJS for advice .

Update

SJS got back to me and arranged for the wheel + hub to be picked up from work via Parcel Force last Friday.

Got it back this afternoon.
(good service thread >>>)

There is no infomation about what was the problem and how they fixed it and I haven't tested it yet.

I've got a s2c hub and my only gripe is the bearings are totally exposed, the grease has shifted out of the bearing a bit and making a mouse in a mangle sound.

Any way to protect bearings from the elements or is it regrease everyweek?

If you can actually see the bearings while looking at the hub, you're doing it wrong.
That being said, those are shit anyway and you should switch it out for a shimano coaster or just a single freewheel or, or, a
FIXED gear.

If you can actually see the bearings while looking at the hub, you're doing it wrong.
That being said, those are shit anyway and you should switch it out for a shimano coaster or just a single freewheel or, or, a
FIXED gear.

Can't seeing them super clear but you can pretty much see in. This quote describes it better.

The bearings on the Sturmey Archer S2C are not only unsealed, but practically begging to be contaminated. There’s not even any kind of contact seal at all – the balls are basically peeping out of the side of the hub shell and are lightly covered by a metal ring, which I’m sure doesn’t keep out rain of any strength.

Ideally like anything that would make the hub a bit more weatherproof as the grease has moved out of the bearings. Any way to stop this? or is it just constant maintence?

To go fixed would be great but injury prevents me :(

Then get a 3 speed hub by any other maker, SA has gone to the dogs.
The Taiwanese takeover gave some initial hope, but quality has not followed innovation/revival with the new owners.

So I'm building up the aforementioned S2C and I'm trying to figure out the gearing issue. Is it as easy as just multiplying the gear inches you want by 1.38 and thats it? Cause if it is there is quite a big jump of almost 20GI, and a 1st gear that I'll probably never use..

so if built up straight out of the box with the 22t rear cog it works out to be:
45/22 = 53.7 GI 1st, then 74.1 GI 2nd.

To get a more sensible gear (closer to what I normally ride in town) I'd have to swap out the rear cog for a 24 or 25 so it'd be:
45/24 = 49.3 GI 1st, then 68.0 GI 2nd. Or
45/25 = 47.3 GI 1st, then 65.2 GI 2nd.

Any thoughts, suggestions, corrections to my maths is appreciated.

many thanks

Yes, but to make it easier, Sheldon's gear calculator has the S2/S2C as an option.

Incidentally I think the biggest Sturmey cog is a 24. Remember they are proprietary - although they are very cheap, too.

Ok. looking for friends here, because Sturmey Archer don't want to play with me.

1. I bought a S2C online (brand new) and noticed that the hub breaked very poorly and was not able to produce a skid, not even on loose gravel
   Q: Is it supposed to avoid to skids alt ALL costs?

2. Since it was dangerous to ride, I had to fit rim brakes, that was not my intention in the first place, I no longer need the Coaster.
   Q: Can I rebuild it into a S2 with a new internal piece?

I wrote to info@sunrace.nl in July with follow up on these questions in August, September and now in November. No response.

Any Takers?

Throw it away.
Find an old Duomatic if you want the original.
Even with a good coaster you should use a front brake.

Don't throw the hub away. If you do that, you might find it again. I think you should burn it.