Bicycle Mechanics - A RATCHET IN THE CRANk ???? Schwinn bike.

I just picked up a Schwinn 10 speed "World Tourist" bike at the local thrift shop. To my amazement, it has a rachet in the crank. When you pedal backwards, it ratchets, like a freewheel. I thought I'd seen it all by now but this one was a new one on me.

What the heck for?

What is the vintage of the bike?

Sounds like Shimano Front Freewheeling system.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/shimano1982/pages/35.html

1982

I noticed this on my old schwinn too, and just today I read a forum on the schwinn site where someone asked about this. Someone sent me that link above too. Then i saw an ad for a schwinn on Craigslist that said you can shift gears without pedaling. I never knew what it was about until today, when I found 3 mentions of it online without even trying. weird eh?

There is one hazard to these things that you should be aware of if you do your own mechanical work. As long as the rear wheel is turning, the chain is also moving, even if the cranks are stationary, which is the opposite of the normal rear freewheel/freehub design.

Be aware of this and watch where you have your fingers when lubing the chain or doing any drive train work.

I saw a bike like this at the dump.

just left it there as it was wrecked

Apparently you could shift while coasting.

Thanks for the info. This is exactly what I have. I was planning on fixing it up and giving the bike to a local imimigrant family in Grand Rapds, MI that the local churches support. This isn't any kind of hot collectable is it? I couldn't find any like like this on ebay.

Thanks for the info. This is exactly what I have. I was planning on fixing it up and giving the bike to a local imimigrant family in Grand Rapds, MI that the local churches support. This isn't any kind of hot collectable is it? I couldn't find any like like this on ebay.
Good show and a wonderful idea. No, there is nothing particularly collectable or desirable about these. Put it to good use.