kickback hub

[aerobee5]

does anybody know the difference between redband and yellowband both have 3 ribs

 

[Bicycle808]

Red bands and yellow bands both have a 1:1 high gear and an underdrive low gear; the difference is that the earlier red band used disc-style coaster brakes, whereas the later yellowband used drum-style coaster brakes. A third variant, the blue band, used the drum-style coaster brake, but it had a 1:1 low gear plus an overdrive high gear. The red bands have the strongest braking action; the 1:1/overdrive set-up in the blue bands was imho the best option for gearing, as your low-gear for climbing was the more durable 1:1.

hth

 

[5speed]

the blue band was usually on stingrays and was a took 28 spokes vs 36 spokes fo the red and yellow band

 

[Bicycle808]

the blue band was usually on stingrays and was a took 28 spokes vs 36 spokes fo the red and yellow band

While it is true that it's easier to find 36h with the red and yellow band hubs, you can find 28h red/yellows, plus there were 36h blue bands! Just very hard to find. Here's a schwinn catalog, with a number:

In essence, the red band was made in the early 60s; when the cheaper-to-make yellow bands replaced it in '65 or so, they also introduced the blue band, with the 1:1 low gear. This was popular with 20"-wheel bikes, but it also just plain makes more sense in almost every application. (and, fwiw, this is how the Sachs, SRAM, and Sturmey-Archer kickbacks did it, too, with the 1:1 low gear.)
But, b/c of the popularity of the blue band on musclebikes and such, most of them are 28h.

 

[aerobee5]

thanks guys I found a yellow band at an old bike store I think I'll go ahead and buy it

 

[B607]

Don't too much for it. My rule of thumb pricing for those is:

Rebuilt, good chrome: $100
Not rebuilt, but will shift from low to high and back: $50
Rusty, crusty, won't shift: $25 Gary