Sturmey Hub - Special washer??? Do I need this?

[amecks]

I want to put a set of neat axle adjusters on the Ashtabula. Do I need to keep these special tabbed washers? This is an old Sturmey Archer 3 Speed Drum Brake hub.

The washer interferes with the placement of the axle adjusters. How necessary is the washer? There's one on each side.
Here's a photo of the adjusters I want to install.
Thanks
Al

 

[horsefarmer]

I think they are there to keep the axle from rotating. If you could fill in the gap on your adjuster eyebolt with weld and file it flat to fit the axle.

 

[clamdigger]

Yes, you should install the anti-rotation washers on the flatted axle. I would place them on the axle inside the dropouts,tabs facing out. You may have to spread the frame a little, as you go, to get the hub to slide in. The axle threads are fine and shallow. Tighten nuts snug, but not tight, or they strip easily.

 

[Starnger]

I think they are there to keep the axle from rotating. If you could fill in the gap on your adjuster eyebolt with weld and file it flat to fit the axle.

This softens the metal because of heating, and the adjusters fail. I've tried this on my nuvinci hub.

 

[Starnger]

They are absolutely necessary. Yours looks a bit worn out too. Try to figure a way to put both at same time, maybe something in the spirit of what @clamdigger has offered.

 

[Verrt]

This softens the metal because of heating, and the adjusters fail. I've tried this on my nuvinci hub.

Could you bake it in the oven afterwards?

 

[Starnger]

Could you bake it in the oven afterwards?

I guess you can. The temperature modes should be available online. Would be good to know more or less what kind of steel they use by the way, to make sure you treat them right.

 

[Verrt]

I guess you can. The temperature modes should be available online. Would be good to know more or less what kind of steel they use by the way, to make sure you treat them right.

I don't know nothin' about metallurgy, I just watch too much Forged in Fire

 

[amecks]

Thanks for all the replies. In my next session I'll try the washers on the inside.

 

[RivNut]

 

[amecks]

Got it done this afternoon. Had to pull the garage door part way down to shield from the sun - man, it's been hot here lately. Flipped the special washers to the inside but needed to spread the frame only the thickness of one washer - about 1/16 inch. Hence the blocks and tire iron - crude but effective.

Finished! Axle adjusters installed.

Thanks very much everyone for the help!
Al