Classic & Vintage - 26" wheels for Schwinn

Hi,

In the other thread I asked about a dying Sturmey-Archer AW hub. I may need a new or rebuilt hub, the old one might be toast, so may have to do some wheelbuilding :eek: (never done it before). Are there any appropriate alloys available to replace the 26" steelies on my 1978 Schwinn Speedster 3 speed?

[edit] I guess I mean 'rims'. Unless someone sells the right wheels built up with an old-timey SA hub (but I suppose this would be a very expensive custom job & anyway this is a low-risk opportunity for me to try building a wheel).

Thanks,

--Rich

I've never owned a three speed until just recently, but I picked up a 1965 Schwinn Sprint three-speed at a Junktique sale the other day. I'm going to measure and see how close in diameter the S-6 rims are to a mtb 26" rim; if it's close enough that the brakes will work with mtb 26ers I'm going to build up some mtb 26" rims with the hubs on the Sprint. I'm hoping my daughter will use this bike, and I want her to have aluminum rims-

If you want to not build a wheel, why not find a SA hub that is good and transfer the internals to your wheel?

Aluminum rims would be nice, though.

I just went down to my basement, the S-6 rims have too large a diameter for 26" mtb rims to be compatible with the brake reach. Oh well-

Thanks 'wellbiked', good to know.

Thanks 'rabidkoala'. I just bought a NOS AW, may try this. Does everything important come out easily? I was concerned that the hub shell might have something important that's getting chewed up permanently attached to it, like the ring gear, for example. [edit] the ring gear cannot be attached to the shell.

-Rich

Thanks 'wellbiked', good to know.

No problem at all, I'm glad you posted this because I had been meaning to check that. And for some reason I said my bike is a Schwinn Sprint above, but it's a '65 Schwinn Breeze-

I've never owned a three speed until just recently, but I picked up a 1965 Schwinn Sprint three-speed at a Junktique sale the other day. I'm going to measure and see how close in diameter the S-6 rims are to a mtb 26" rim; if it's close enough that the brakes will work with mtb 26ers I'm going to build up some mtb 26" rims with the hubs on the Sprint. I'm hoping my daughter will use this bike, and I want her to have aluminum rims-

You're talking 597mm vs 559mm. The brake will have move 19mm or 3/4".
The more common 590mm rims would give you a better chance of fitting.
I did a test install of a 590 tire on my MTB (I thought it would be a near ideal "street tire" if it fit) . The canti's were just pushing at too severe of an angle against the rim.

You're talking 597mm vs 559mm. The brake will have move 19mm or 3/4".
The more common 590mm rims would give you a better chance of fitting.
I did a test install of a 590 tire on my MTB (I thought it would be a near ideal "street tire" if it fit) . The canti's were just pushing at too severe of an angle against the rim.

Would there be 590mm diameter rims out there that are aluminum?

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/rims/590.html
Harris Cyclery has them listed.

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/rims/590.html
Harris Cyclery has them listed.

Hey, thanks for that! And they also carry the tires. Hopefully that will work for duffer1960, too-

700c is a good fit for schwinn lightweights, but I don't use caliper brakes.
http://homepage.mac.com/unsavorycharacter/MVC-910F.JPG
I've used 26" (559) too.
http://homepage.mac.com/unsavorycharacter/MVC-877F.JPG

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/rims/590.html
Harris Cyclery has them listed.

As far as I know that is the only source for those rims.

I could try the 590s easily. I bought an old Hercules for my nephew to ride when he visits at Mom's. It has a good set of 590s and an AW hub. I'm not sure the brakes will reach; they're already at the bottom of the slots. 700c? Never thought of that. I own one bike with 700c wheels, has 126 spacing in the rear though, so wouldn't be easy to try it w/o buying something. Maybe could try the front wheel on for fit. Thanks all

"I'm not sure the brakes will reach; they're already at the bottom of the slots."

Ifyou're going to a "taller" wheel, they have to move up! Maybe it'll work!

When I made my attempt, it was for the front wheel only to save a little weight/rolling resistance. I still had a big knobby on the front at that time. I wasn't going to mess around with the gearing/swapping hubs to wheels etc. on the rear.