Shifter swap help

[vince72]

Hey Guys
I’m wondering how I go from a nexus 3 speed grip shifter to a thumb shifter for my Spitfire?
I want it to look a little more original and I my opinion clean than the grip shifter, I also wouldn’t mind adapting it like those older lever shifters by the handle bar stem.
Thanks

Vince

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Creative inspiration, maybe technical help too:
https://ratrodbikes.com/forum/threads/lets-see-those-old-school-custom-shifters.14727/

 

[vince72]

I was wondering more of what is compatible with the nexus 3, like any of the Sturmey Archer. This is my first swap so I’m a bit green lol

 

[Karate Chicken Industries]

You'll need to search out something with compatible indexing, which is the length of cable moved by each click of the shifter. Normally Shimano works with Shimano, but IGH (internally geared hub) shifters may not work with derailleur shifters. Maybe some of the Nexus users can chime in.

 

[Couch tater]

I'm going to be using a Nexus hub with a vintage Shimano twist shifter soon. My understanding from Google searching is they will work, the only caveat being the cable will be slightly slack in 1st gear. I'm going to use vintage motorcycle grips which measure 7/8" and 1"; the 1" to fit over the shifters barrel.

 

[kingfish254]

Most non-Sturmey vintage 3 speed shifters will work fine with the Nexus 3 hubs. They will just be reverse from the numbers on the shifter. The spacing between the gears has to be equal to work with a Nexus. That is why old Sturmey shifters won't work with Nexus.

Friction shifters like what you usually find on old 10 speeds can work, but you'll end up damaging the hub since you'll have to just guess by feel if you are all the way in each gear.

I've used many vintage shifters with Nexus hubs on my builds. Here is the Bendix shifter I used on Uncle Stretch. You can see that the indicator shows 3rd, but in this position it is actually in 1st.

 

[vince72]

I want to use a sturmey archer SLS30 T3T I have read that it works. Any experience with this one?
BTW you bike looks awesome!

 

[kingfish254]

I want to use a sturmey archer SLS30 T3T I have read that it works. Any experience with this one?
BTW you bike looks awesome!

Thanks. I doubt that any Sturmey shifter will work. As far as I know all Sturmey 3 speeds (even modern ones) do not have equal spacing between gears like Shimano Nexus hubs do. You can even see this on the shifters themselves. Notice how only a short pull of cable gets you from 1st to 2nd, but it takes a much longer pull of cable to get from 2nd to 3rd. Shimano hubs will need a shifter that provides the same amount of cable pull for each gear change.

STURMEY

SHIMANO

 

[vince72]

Does the Shimano one have a model number, last one I purchased was incorrect (my fault)

 

[kingfish254]

Does the Shimano one have a model number, last one I purchased was incorrect (my fault)

I don't know. It's just a google image search.
I just know that any non-sturmey shifter that I have tried with a Nexus3 hub has worked.

 

[Karate Chicken Industries]

I don't know. It's just a google image search.
I just know that any non-sturmey shifter that I have tried with a Nexus3 hub has worked.

I'd wager that Suntour indexed shifters would not work with Shimano either. but that's getting into 7-speed territory. Suntour's indexing is different from Shimano, as was some SRAM in the early days of 9-speed drivetrainsd.

 

[horsefarmer]

Does the Shimano one have a model number, last one I purchased was incorrect (my fault)

just thought I'd drop a ebay link for a shifter - they are asking $250!
FWIW I would just look for a old 3 speed bike with shimano 333 hub - should be easy to find...
This looks interesting

I dont know the shifter or the seller, but looks cool.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/203784419887?epid=1340130745&hash=item2f727f7a2f:g:xDAAAOSwHoVh2EaK&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAA0N6pgC67zqgxk14/YubxI0a3phcvZnOtbynrPe/2YyZRVXgx6zaqH06kvC42XkPJ1/SSMzkaTvFTDDRaV81dUrGYx9jiddiLShhwFsy1XT3efzZdInL9VCkNy3WoLw1DLSwbgtOJgOQMAqB3BsMtBcSH84bZj1veG83pLV9DUV2jTJ4WwQx/kQi1XQqfxw3T26Yt/oLgsHRIa5Cf1Qlg6pkgQ9W5BhKA+7kIikBDq130ucMKOx8ifvDx+D1/MtHyehYnBALbyue5m1mxS8nLapw=|tkp:BFBMpu_KtfFg

 

[kingfish254]

I'd wager that Suntour indexed shifters would not work with Shimano either. but that's getting into 7-speed territory. Suntour's indexing is different from Shimano, as was some SRAM in the early days of 9-speed drivetrainsd.

Yeah, I was referencing 3 speed shifters and hubs only.
However, I did use friction 5 speed muscle bike shifter with a Nexus 7 hub on Flexy back in BO7. It had speed ranges of Mach - Warp - Ludicrous - 11. But this was not indexed, so shifting was always a "feel" thing. Never had any problems. I also had to cut away the higher end detent stop to give the shifter more travel.

 

[kingfish254]

just thought I'd drop a ebay link for a shifter - they are asking $250!
FWIW I would just look for a old 3 speed bike with shimano 333 hub - should be easy to find...
This looks interesting, I dont know the shifter or the seller, but looks cool.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/203784419887?epid=1340130745&hash=item2f727f7a2f:g:xDAAAOSwHoVh2EaK&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAA0N6pgC67zqgxk14/YubxI0a3phcvZnOtbynrPe/2YyZRVXgx6zaqH06kvC42XkPJ1/SSMzkaTvFTDDRaV81dUrGYx9jiddiLShhwFsy1XT3efzZdInL9VCkNy3WoLw1DLSwbgtOJgOQMAqB3BsMtBcSH84bZj1veG83pLV9DUV2jTJ4WwQx/kQi1XQqfxw3T26Yt/oLgsHRIa5Cf1Qlg6pkgQ9W5BhKA+7kIikBDq130ucMKOx8ifvDx+D1/MtHyehYnBALbyue5m1mxS8nLapw=|tkp:BFBMpu_KtfFg

That link has a price of $38, not $250

 

[horsefarmer]

That link has a price of $38, not $250

View attachment 211056

 

[kingfish254]

View attachment 211057

That is insane!!!

 

[Wildcat]

I did the same thing as Kingfish, used an older shimano shifter that reversed the pattern but worked well. The old twist grips are the same way as long as they are shimano.

I would look for an old crappy 3 speed bike on craigslist. Most had shimano hubs. They are a usually priced just to get rid of them. 26 x 1 3/8ths wheels and cheap diamond frame. But you'll get all the 3 speed parts you'll need.

Some bike shops have a bin with 3 speed parts that haven't moved in years. That's where I got my shifter for 7 bucks, same as the $250 shifter.

 

[vince72]

So in theory this one should work?

 

[vince72]

I sent the guy and offer

 

[kingfish254]

So in theory this one should work?
View attachment 211115

Correct. Personally, I've never tried one of the old thumb shifters with modern Nexus hubs, but it should be the same principal and cable pull as the old stick shifters from that era, so it should work.