Why eShifters Fail: The Hidden Role of Rear Hub Maintenance
Automatic shifting devices (eShifters) are designed to provide smooth, effortless gear changes — but in many cases, their premature failure is not due to a design flaw. Instead, the root cause is often a poorly serviced or worn rear hub.
When the rear hub does not operate smoothly, even small amounts of resistance can have a big impact. A common example is a slight “catch” when shifting between 2nd and 3rd gear. While this may seem minor, it creates additional load on the eShifter’s internal motor.
Because an eShifter is programmed to cycle through four gears automatically, it cannot compensate for mechanical resistance in the hub. When it encounters a stiff or sticky shift, the motor works harder to overcome the obstruction. This effort causes voltage spikes inside the device, which in turn can burn sensitive SMD (surface-mounted device) components on the eShifter’s circuit board.
In short, a rear hub that is not perfectly serviced can slowly “kill” an eShifter. To prevent failure, it’s essential to:
- Inspect the hub regularly for wear or damage.
- Clean, lubricate, and service it to ensure smooth, resistance-free gear changes.
- Test gear transitions (especially between 2nd and 3rd) before installing or using an eShifter.
Proper hub maintenance not only extends the life of the hub itself but also protects the eShifter from unnecessary stress and costly repairs.
Servicing , Cleaning, Lubricating
Rear Hub essential servicing manual can be found here
Required tools:
For a Sturmey Archer hub, cleaning old lubricant needs a little care because the hub contains small pawls, springs, clutches, and precision parts. You want to remove old, hardened grease without leaving solvent trapped inside.
What you’ll need
- Degreaser that is safe for metal parts (e.g., citrus degreaser, mineral spirits/white spirit, or a dedicated bike parts degreaser)
- Small brushes (old toothbrushes work well)
- Clean rags/paper towels
- Compressed air (optional)
- Isopropyl alcohol (optional final rinse)
- Nitrile gloves
| Degreaser | Mineral spirits / white spirit | DON’T USE: WD-40 Specialist Degreaser (it can leave a poor residue) |
| Internal gears, pawls, clutches | Sturmey Archer internal hub grease (SA103A) or equivalent NLGI #00 semi-fluid grease : Sturmey Archer Internal Gear Hub Grease, Castrol CLS 00, Penrite Semi-Fluid Grease, Smith & Allan Lithium EP00, Molevion Kreatos LGE 00, C.Bennis Supplies & Services 00 EP | Flows around gears but does not gum up pawls |
| Ball bearings / bearing races | Quality waterproof bicycle bearing grease (NLGI #2) : Maxima Waterproof Grease, Motorex Bike Grease 2000, Mobilgrease XHP 222, Phil Wood Waterproof Grease, Shimano Premium Dura-Ace, Motorex 2000 | Stays in the bearing races under load |
| Occasional lubrication (if using an oil-service approach) | Phil Wood Tenacious Oil or similar medium gear-hub oil | Traditional Sturmey-Archer practice for many oil-lubricated hubs |
Parts that can be replaced to new
VanMoof’s Two-Speed SX3 AutoHub – Is It Worth It?
Short answer: Depends.
Overview from VanMoof
Sturmey Archer A2K(L) 2-Speed Auto Freewheel Hub
Gear Ratio
• Overall Range – 138%
• Gear 1 – 100% (Direct Drive)
• Gear 2 – 138% (Gear 1 + 38%)
Original hub
Sturmey Archer X-RF4 4 Speed Rotary Freewheel Rear Hub – 36 Hole
Gear Ratio
• Overall Range – 210%
• Gear 1 – 100% (Direct Drive)
• Gear 2 – 128% (Gear 1 + 28%)
• Gear 3 – 164% (Gear 2 + 28%)
• Gear 4 – 210% (Gear 3 + 28%)
When comparing the overall range between the two hubs, the difference is quite significant. What does this mean in practice? The 2-speed hub feels very similar to the original hub when it’s “stuck” between Gear 2 and Gear 3.
If you’re using US mode, the 2-speed hub may not be the right fit. Why? Once you go beyond 15 mph, the 2-speed hub becomes uncomfortable and inefficient. Additionally, if you’re not using the Boost function, it’s harder to accelerate smoothly due to the limited gear options.
Switching the original hub to a fixed Gear 3 and combining it with Boost provides a noticeably better riding experience compared to the 2-speed hub solution from VanMoof.
Error 44 removal / e-Shifter Spoofer is available for separate purchase here.
Additional materials
Other photos
Video: