by "zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
Published 04/05/2017 at 08:10
by "zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
Published 04/05/2017 at 08:10
Tags: Bikelopnik
; schwinn
; Corvette
STARS: 7
Give me a break, it’s all I can afford... meaning free. Weather was good, so I finally got a chance to look over my new used bike; from what I can tell it definitely needs new tires and new inner tubes. The tire’s side walls are cracked, though I’m unsure if the tires are a special type of tire for the bike, or if any tire can be replaced on it.
I am also interested in getting the bottle dynamo working again, aka, the little generator that powers the front and rear light. That would be incredibly awesome.
The rear wheel has at least one spoke broken. I called a bike shop and it is indeed possible to get the spokes redone/replaced. So color me interested. I’m really interested and excited to bring this bike back up to specs; namely with most of the patina still left intact. Like a old muscle car, I feel like the patina gives it a nice, unique, used look. I would never dream of repainting it.
From what I can tell, the bike is mostly original. Only two things seem to be ‘wrong’ that I can find. The first is the handlebars, the original pointed upwards, not down. Of course, the handlebars could of been flipped. I’m planning on flipping them sometime in the future, to see if that’s true or not. Secondly, the original handlebar grips are completely gone. Looking at pics online, the grips have the name ‘Schwinn’ on it, and for this color blue the grips are supposed to be white. The grips aren’t too important though, it would just be cool.
Overall, I think fixing this bike is feasible, despite having little prior experience with bikes. The hardest thing would be the spoke issue, and putting the rear wheel back on straight (I’ve never had luck with that). Still, it’s a challenge.
"bob and john" (bobandjohn)
04/05/2017 at 08:24, STARS: 0
bar are probably originals just flipped.
replacing a single spoke is easy, rebuilding a whole wheel...ehh. for a cheaper/older bike, its often just cheaper to get a new wheel.
new brakes and a chain should also be looked into as well.
have fun!
"4kc" (4kc)
04/05/2017 at 08:33, STARS: 0
Schwinn used their own wheel and tire sizes back then, an older bike shop should still have tires if you ask for Schwinn 26". Make sure you double check they know what you mean, I’ve had many bike shop kids just toss me a cheap standard sized tire and look at me incredulously when I tell them they’re wrong. Regular 26" tubes should work fine. you caaaan upgrade your wheels to a standard size, but you may end up with issues with the brakes reaching, and I don’t remember about hub spacing, aaand a new replacement three speed rear wheel like yours won’t use a matching shifter. I’d either find a similar set of old Schwinn wheels like yours or fix what you’ve got. Good luck! bikes are fun!
"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
04/05/2017 at 08:40, STARS: 0
Normally, I would just swap the rim for another one, but this rim is special. The 3-speed goes inside the middle hub, and I doubt that’s easy to replace without buying a whole new one.
Plus, I’m pretty confident this bike might be worth some money. Which is exactly why I won’t sell it, and use it in situations that will probably make others cringe, because by-golly this bike looks beautiful and is begging to be rode.
"4kc" (4kc)
04/05/2017 at 08:43, STARS: 0
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chicago-schwinns.html
"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
04/05/2017 at 08:44, STARS: 0
I think the appeal of this bike is that it’s so old, it’s literally retro. If the parts are pricey, i might use modern parts until I can save up enough for the original parts. So the tires are a special size? I tried to join a forum to ask them, I’m still waiting for approval. It’s like a ‘members only club’, which sort of pushes people who want to get into Schwinn bikes away, :/.
"bob and john" (bobandjohn)
04/05/2017 at 08:48, STARS: 0
so, hang on.
what exactly do you need replaced?
replace a spoke, regardless of hub or w/e is a 20 minutes job, max. only thing is to find the spoke length needed.
rims are rims. with a V brake set up, cheap.
the hub is probably the only intresting park, but they make multi speed up to 8 gears now, and SRAM even has an automatic 2 speed. not expensive or hard to get.
whaat MIGHT screw you is the hub width
"S65" (granthp)
04/05/2017 at 09:00, STARS: 1
Nice dude, I can’t wait to see you fix this up
"Berang" (berang)
04/05/2017 at 09:01, STARS: 1
Tires are probably Schwinn S7.
Broken spoke? Honestly, if it’s just one I wouldn’t worry about replacing it. Just make sure all the spokes are tight, because loose spokes cause other spokes to break (if there are loose spokes, have a shop tighten them, truing a wheel is not for the faint of heart).
Figure on replacing the tires, tubes, and rim tape at least.
The 3-speed hub needs oil. You can use 3-in-1 SAE 20 electric motor oil (not the same as regular 3-in-1) or a 20 weight automotive motor oil.
Schwinn grips are easy enough to find on ebay, or get a pair of Hunt Wilde grips.
"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
04/05/2017 at 09:02, STARS: 0
I need at least one new spoke. I dont know too much about the hub on a bike, but I’ve never seen one quite like this before. If I was home I’d take a pic to show the class.
Of course, growing up I preferred bmx bikes over mountain bikes, so it may just be common and I’m unaware.
Bike shop guy said the spokes are a special length, and the only place he knew of that made them was in Ohio, and it was $50 for a pack of 50.
"4kc" (4kc)
04/05/2017 at 09:12, STARS: 0
Yeah, the link in my reply to my original comment gives a pretty good explanation. They might be a standard size but you’ll have to compare what it says on the sidewall to the info in the link. As I said, an older shop should still have the correct parts laying around, just make sure you talk to someone there who knows the difference. They should have no problem fixing up your wheels. Should be around 60 bucks to get the spoke replaced and 15-30 per tire and 5-8 bucks per tube.
That website also gives pretty great instructions for any job you’ll have to do. RIP Sheldon.
With the brake pads and cables you can use generic parts just fine. Make sure you grease the new cables before sliding them into the new housings. The bearings will just need new grease, (in the headset, front wheel and bottom bracket)and the three speed rear hub should have an oil port, any old 3 in 1 oil is fine to put in there. I used to run wd-40 through them till it dripped out, then let the hub drain, then I’d put a few squirts of oil in. They aren’t made to be rebuilt really.
If the chain doesn’t move on the chainring when you hold the crank still and tug on the chain, it’s fine and I’d just pull the chain off and soak it in a solvent or citrus cleaner and then give it a spray of chain lube before putting it back on. (after cleaning the sprocket and chainring up , of course. also a good time to re-pack the bottom bracket with grease)
Teflon spray or even wd-40 works fine for the shifter mechanism and the brake levers.
"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
04/05/2017 at 09:37, STARS: 1
Rim =/= hub. As long as the number of holes match or are the correct multiple, most hubs can be paired with most rims. There are plenty of exceptions to this, but for the most part it is true. Replacing a single spoke is easy. Replacing the rim is not as easy, but can be done if you are careful and methodical.
There are some things you should know about the rims. First, the size is listed as 26", but this is not the same 26" used on mountain bikes. A bike shop should be able to get you the correct size. The rims on this bike are single-walled. This leaves the spoke heads exposed to the inner-tube. When you have the spoke replaced, be sure to use brand-new rim tape. This will keep the spoke heads from poking holes in the inner-tube.
You should note that the rims are chrome-plated. While this helps prevent rusting, chrome makes for a pretty crappy braking surface. Be aware that most chrome polishing compounds leave a protective coating. This coating will make the braking surface super slick, so if you use a compound, make sure you remove the coating from the braking surface with some acetone.
Speaking of braking surfaces, don’t skimp on new brake pads. I’ve used Kool Stop pads for years and have been very happy with the results. They may not be period-correct, but I prefer good braking over being “correct.”
The other big maintenance items are the chain, the cables, and the bearings. Most of these bikes weren’t ridden enough to cause significant chainring and sprocket wear, so you should be able to just replace the chain. The teeth on a worn sprocket look like shark fins . If you see this type of wear, the chainring and sprocket will need to be replaced with the chain. If you don’t, the chain will be prone to skipping.
You should be able to find new cables in the right color. Old cables will be prone to sticking, so go ahead and replace them too. By the way, DON’T use grease on the cables! There are lightweight lubes designed for cables. Heavier grease will cause the cables to stick and you will be very unhappy with the results. When cutting the cables to length, use a dremel cutoff wheel or a special cable cutter. Normal dykes will cause the cable to fray, no matter how careful you are with them.
There are bearings in the crank, the headset and the wheels. None of them are sealed, so they are prone to losing their grease and rusting. They should all be taken apart and inspected before riding the bike any distance. If you are lucky, they can be cleaned and regreased. If you aren’t lucky, replacement bearings are cheap and readily available at the bike shop. By the way, there are specialty tools which make it much easier to take these apart. at the very least, get a proper set of headset wrenches and a set of spanners for taking apart the bottom bracket. These are worth every penny.
Most three-speed hubs are pretty robust and should last a really long time. The ones equipped with coaster brakes are a bit less robust as these are wear items inside the hub. They are prone to overheating on long downhill runs, but these bikes rarely see that type of use, so it’s usually not a problem.
Bottle dynamos are their own form of voodoo. There are lots of things that can go wrong, so most people just switch to battery-powered lights. Since they use the frame as a ground, it’s easy to screw up the circuit by improperly mounting the bottle or the light. They also provide a lot of drag and wear on the tire. All that being said, having light on demand without worrying about charging batteries is nice. Just remember there won’t be much light since they don’t put out a lot of power.
With the way it is equipped, I think it originally had a rear rack in addition to the front rack. If it were mine, I would start looking for a proper replacement.
Keep in mind that the bike really isn’t worth much. If you are expecting thousands of dollars, you are going to be really disappointed. Three to five hundred is about all you are going to get if you ever decide to sell.
"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
04/05/2017 at 09:55, STARS: 0
Thanks, and same here. I’m debating about even washing it, because it looks great as is, lol.
"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
04/05/2017 at 10:03, STARS: 1
Find a different bike shop. With the right tools, spokes can be purchased as blanks, cut to length and threaded, right there in the shop.
The hub will be an internal three-speed. Likely a sturmey-archer. https://www.google.com/search?q=sturmey+archer+3+speed+vintage&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi6-vfTvY3TAhUM9YMKHSMJA58Q_AUICSgC&biw=1536&bih=774
"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
04/05/2017 at 10:06, STARS: 0
Ha, thanks for the info! And I wasn’t even thinking about $300-$500, I was thinking like $100, at most. I figured the brand name, and the year, to be ideal for people or collectors. Plus it looks really nice and retro. I saw on eBay people asking for $200 to $800, which I figured was way too much.
So it might of had a rear luggage rack? Most pics that I saw had either a front or rear one.
"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
04/05/2017 at 10:07, STARS: 0
This bike will not have cantilever mounts, so cantilever or v-brakes are not an option.
However, the old caliper brakes on this bike are easy to work on and very robust, if not very effective. Cleaning up the rim braking surface, a new set of pads on the calipers, and some adjustments and he should be good to go.
Conversion to a different style of hub wouldn’t work out. He’s better off cleaning up the hub that he has. It might need to be flushed and re-oiled, but these things are usually very robust and last a long time with minimal maintenance.
"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
04/05/2017 at 10:10, STARS: 0
I’m really curious on what kind of tape is currently on the handlebars. I like the feel of it, but dont recognized it.
"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
04/05/2017 at 10:13, STARS: 0
Cant view the link currently, but it is indeed a sturmey-archer 3-speed.
"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
04/05/2017 at 10:18, STARS: 0
I was thinking it might since my Panther did, but I found the catalog and it appears the Corvette only came with a front rack.
http://schwinncruisers.com/catalogs/1959.html
http://schwinncruisers.com/bikes/corvette/
"bob and john" (bobandjohn)
04/05/2017 at 10:25, STARS: 0
wasnt saying to convert the hub, but maybe replace it with a somewhat more modern unit.
Its been a while since I’ve worked at a bike shop, have to say, havent heard of cutting down spokes. (granted, i was also in a smaller shop, but still)
i know about the old u-brakes, a few companys still made them. (at least they did when I was working...which was...jesus, almost 6 years ago)
"Berang" (berang)
04/05/2017 at 18:51, STARS: 0
If it’s done proper old school it’d be a cotton tape that’s been shellacked. Or it could be hockey tape. If it’s plasticy it might be old Hunt Wilde vinyl tape.
"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
04/06/2017 at 07:29, STARS: 0
I think it’s that cotton taped one. It’s definitely feels like it’s raised.
"torque" (torque01)
04/11/2017 at 01:27, STARS: 0
they make multi speed up to 8 gears now
You mean 14 speed (Rohloff) or infinite (NuVinci CVT)?
Though yes, for practical purposes 8 speed Shimano Nexus internal hub is plenty & you’re right about needing to be mindful about the hub width as well to ensure it will fit the dropouts for the frame
"torque" (torque01)
04/11/2017 at 01:31, STARS: 1
Sounds like a (relatively common) internal 3 speed rear hub. Lots of old cruiser style bikes had them. I think Sturmey Archer were the most common brand (at least in the US) for these. Now SRAM or Shimano are the most common
"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
04/11/2017 at 06:31, STARS: 1
This one is definitely sturmey archer, and the wire (?) that goes to the rear wheel hub definitely goes straight inside of it. Most bikes I’ve seen had gears and whatnot on the outside.
I’d like to keep it as original as possible. It has a certain retro charm to it.