Tandem Cycling - Sears Tandem

I just got this from my neighbor, I believe its an early 60's Sears Tandem. Lack of emblems or stickers is making it difficult.

But Im looking to restore it. Go with a ratrod style flat black with pinstripping.

Anywho, heres the pictures.

Nice to see a retro tandem getting restored!
It'll be quite the project.
Enjoy!

Whew, first day of resto complete.

I took the seats off. I think Im going to recover them and paint the bottoms. The seat posts seemed to be rusted into the frame... Going to have a fun time trying to get those out, along with the steering.

The fenders are in nice shape but need some TLC on the inside. The front handlebars I was hoping to clean off the rust and recover the chrome. But the rust is straight down to the metal. Ill have to settle for chrome paint until I can afford to rechrome them. The back handlebars cleaned right up, real nice.

I'm having some issues taking the pedals off. Those little turds are rusted right on there. The bearings look good though. And I think I can clean the rust off the gears.

After I get all that stuff off, I can begin painting. So thats pretty exciting after only one day.

Good progress!
Penetrating oil and leaving it on for 24 hrs or more 'may' help loosen seatposts/pedals.
Front handlebars could be nice in gloss black 'til you want to re-chrome.

I don't know about replacing those handle bars those are pretty cool!:) You could double someone one onthose though in this case it would be triple. If Possible I'd see if you could get a really long banana seat to fit both of you;)

Oh heck no!!! No way I would get rid of the handlebars. :D

I was actually thinking of slapping on some banana seats to see what it would look like. But the seats I have now are like they are specially made to mount onto this particular bike.

Day two should begin tomorrow. Going to spray some more WD-40 tonight and let is sit some more. I cant wait to ride it. My lady friend is pretty darn excited too.

Hot dang!!! I was able to get the pedal assemblies off, and the seatposts. I learned that if you take some wrench clamps, and whack away at them, they pop out. But the front one gave me alittle more trouble and I ended up messing up the metal, and screwing up my clamp... Small price to pay to get this thing in working order again.

So, I just need to take off the second chain, and clean up the metal. And this bad boy is ready for some paint.

Ill get some more pictures ASAP. And Ill host them myself so I get get some better resolution.


EDIT: Well, end of day 2

I decided to try and clean up the sprockets, it went well for two thirds of them. The biggest was by far the worst, and will need to be rechromed sometime. But like the handlebars, I will paint them chrome until I get the cash.

Heres a picture.

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6546/1000738jx8.th.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000738jx8.jpg)

What is this.... Day 3?

Well, I got the rear hub all cleaned up and regreased. Didnt realize that it was a coaster brake hub. So that was interesting.

I also cleaned up the seatposts, now they slide real smooth.

Got to painting the frame, ran out of primer. Ugh. But I didnt have the paint I needed anyway. So back to the store tomorrow.

Both tires still held air. But I accidently popped the back one :rolleyes: .

And yet, some more pictures. Enjoy.

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1398/1000743ui0.th.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000743ui0.jpg)

wow! That was some Rust you started out with!

Well, I painted today. It looks nice and clean. Started putting it all back together.

I put the seats on, and the handlebars. Then I put the pedal assemblies back on minus the pedals.

I went to put the chain on. But for some reason it just doesnt fit. It was one link too big. So I took one off. Now its a millimeter short.

Any ideas?

Ive been slackin on the reporting of the news.

Here is when I was out painting a couple of days ago.
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/5889/1000744my5.th.jpg (http://img102.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000744my5.jpg)


And now here it is as of today. I still need to put the chains on, and the pedals. I also need to do something about the front brake.
http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/4273/1000746fq4.th.jpg (http://img475.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000746fq4.jpg)
http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/9269/1000748vh4.th.jpg (http://img71.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000748vh4.jpg)


So what do y'all think?

It looks pretty good. But you seem to have forgotten the ribbons. And don't forget to put hockey cards in the spokes for a good motor sound.

Oh man, how could I have forgoten the card. Ok, not done yet!!!