Classic & Vintage - Varsity restoration in Noo Joizy

I got a Varsity at the dump a few weeks ago. I put it in the garage until today. I finally put it on the repair stand and started working on it.

I'm so impressed. I have a vague memory of how they ride, and I didn't like it. But the quality is like something we will never see again in the history of the human race. Nearly everything is built like a tank. Just as an example, the spoke protector fits extremely well, is very heavy and has a rich chrome coating on it. I am not taking this off the bike.

The rims are somewhat beaten up. This bike was, of course, designed for the abuse a 13 year old boy would dish out. The front is worse than the rear. The front rim has a low spot which I won't bother trying to fix. It would take Herculean force to bring it back into shape, I think.

The spokes on both wheels had pretty much no tension. The rims are so heavy that the wheels still work anyway. So funny. Some nipples didn't want to turn. I used copious amounts of WD-40 and ATF to free them. I managed to free them all but one. I broke the spoke while turning the nipple several turns. I don't stock spokes in my shop, but I was able to scrounge a good spoke from a trashed wheel I have lying around. Score! And now guess what. I noticed that the spokes are high quality and double butted. See, double butted spokes really are good. I'm so amazed that Schwinn went through that expense, but the Varsity is all about durability.

The derailleurs are all steel and are still in working order.

The brakes are fine. They're the only aluminum part on the bike!

The bike came with a Blackburn rack, which I'll be taking off. I plan to call this bike my own for a while. Then I think I'll sell it, because I don't expect to have much fun riding it. Sorry, Varsity lovers. But hey, I may change my mind. One problem, though, is that I already have five bikes I call my own, and I have about 15 other bikes I'm restoring and repairing for other people. I lost my job a couple of weeks ago and have fallen into the bike repair business in my basement. This is almost like a fantasy. I have a waiting list of bikes for repair, and I'm having fun.

I'll post pictures soon. I hope you folks can help me identify the year. I'm not a Schwinn expert.

Tom,

It sounds as if you are about to Schwinn! Don't worry, plenty of grace around here!

Take a look at the serial number which should be on the bottom of the headtube above the headset. The two letters reveal the year and month of the frame manufacture. If you don't have a serial number there, look on the left rear dropout, in which case you would then have a mid '60s and earlier Varsity. After about 1975 they added a four digit stamped number to the headbadge, which is also a date code.

There's something about the ride of the EF frames that is amazingly appealing. Despite the high mass, once you get that baby moving, it will really roll. It doesn't mind bumps, cracks, nor unevenness in the pavement. The Continental's tubular fork is nicer then the Varsity/Collegiate flat bladed one, and if you can add aluminum rimmed wheels, that makes a nice improvement as well.

Best of luck on this and all your projects and on future job possibilities.

Hi Tom,

Again, sorry to hear about the job situation, but at least the bike business will help mentally, if not also help financially bridge the gap.

Yesterday I came across a Schwinn ('80 Collegiate Sport 10) left behind by a 'displaced worker' chained to a post in the basement of a soon to be torn down storage bldg. I was there to collect some other stuff when I came upon the bike. Been there a long time, but in fine shape. I asked the bldg manager, and he will let me know shortly if the owner wants it, or it becomes mine. Sad situation, but I may benefit.

Fibber, thank you. Before I had that job, I was an independent computer consultant. I was just getting off the ground, then I put the business aside to take the position that I just lost. So rather than looking for a position, I've decided to pick up the business again and to build it so it becomes an adequate source of income.

My town is very well connected through blogs and a messageboard, so lots of people know what I'm up to. As a result, I've gotten a ton of people who want to support me in both the computer business and the bike business. They're encouraging me to open a bike shop, and I don't know if I'll do that, but it's a thought. In the meantime, they're bringing me computers and bikes to work on.

Pastor Bob, in your first sentence, you either left out a verb or you used Schwinn as a verb. Which is it?

I'll consider what you said about the ride, once I get it going. I have some light 27" wheels I can throw on for a test ride. Once I got going rebuilding the wheels with the heavy rims, it build right up as if the rim was some high quality Mavic rim or something. Too bad Schwinn installed imported brakes and derailleurs, because if they made those parts themselves, they would have been of higher quality than the Huret derailleurs and Weinmann brakes.

As I said, I thought about making this a hauling bike. I'm also interested in getting as close to car-free as possible, so I want to do errands on bike. But my town (Maplewood, NJ) is hilly. The hills aren't terribly long, but they're steep. I am sure I could tow a heavy load of groceries on a Varsity, but I don't know how much fun it will be. I'm thinking about it, though. And one of my other five bikes ought to do the job well enough, so it doesn't make sense for me to hold onto the Varsity for the long term. I picture myself keeping it for a few months before sending it off and wishing it well.

I was doing a little tongue in cheek, i.e. "Schwinning" instead of "sinning." Goes along with the words in my signature at the bottom of the page.

Even if you keep the Varsity for just a short time and pass it along or sell it, you've kept it out of the scrap pile and that is a good thing! Enjoy it while you have it.

I finished and rode it yesterday. You're right. The handling puts a smile on my face. I think it's the shallow head tube angle and the long fork rake. Unfortunately, the bike pulls to the left, so I'll have to straighten the fork.

I thought to myself, hey, this isn't really slow. Then I realized I was in a very low gear but it felt like a medium gear. I was going slowly! I tried high gear. Uh, no thanks.

So you're right. It's slow but has a very friendly feel.

Other problems:

- There's a squeak which occurs only when pedaling. I've cleaned and oiled the chain well, so it must be the bottom bracket. Time to repack that.
- The rear tire has blown off twice. It's a Cheng Shin copy of an old IRC design with a herringbone tread. Is it incompatible with this rim? Replacing the tube is getting old and expensive.

Tom,
Sorry to hear about the job situation. Hopefully you will pick up something soon. Meanwhile, fixing bikes will perhaps soothe your soul and give you the satisfaction of a result of your labours. I had a Schwinn Super Sport hanging in my shed for about 15 years. It was Lemon Yellow and I kept it beacuse I had an Opaque Blue one when I was a teenager. Finally decided to fix it up and sell it-just because my shed is so full of bikes that even I can't stand it anymore. What a joy to pull apart, clean up and see the result. I suppose it is like working on older cars that you can repair rather than repace parts.

Thanks for the good wishes, jacksbike. It's really touching that you say that, and it's true, too. Fixing bikes is so rewarding for me. So now I'm in two businesses. I'm an independent computer consultant and a clandestine bike mechanic. Neither earns enough money, but I'm going to figure out how to make a living from one of them or both at once. In the meantime, fixing bikes is indeed a good salve for my soul. The radio sounds better whenever I'm fixing bikes. I'm at peace, and I have a smile on my face.

So now I'm working on my THIRD Chicago Schwinn in a row. Second was the girls' Hollywood (see my thread on that) and now I have a Collegiate I'm restoring and selling to a friend in need. I didn't appreciate these bikes years ago. I now love them.

I've decided not to keep the Varsity long. I really don't need it, and now that I've test ridden it, I got a feel for its soul. Very nice. It's dangerous to get emotionally attached to too many bikes. Someone else really needs this bike, and I need the money.

Funny, when I work on bikes in my garage, the radio does sound better ! You are not a clandestine bike mechanic. You are a computer consultant who is currently biding his time , soothing his soul, working on bikes until you find something back in your field. Keep working on the jobs-something will come up, based on your networking. In the meantime, look what you are creating !

jacksbike, you are a mensch. It's good to know you.

It's good to hear another Varsity rescue story, I too rescued a Varsity over a year ago. I was hit by the "nostalgia bug", and missed having the Varsity that I let go many years earlier. After letting loose of a moderate sum of money, along with a few E Bay/LBS transactions, and a considerably large number of man hours, I had myself a sparkling/shiny copy of my first commuter.

On it's maiden voyage after the resto, I came to realize that the warm and fuzzy memories of my more youthful commutes became a little colder and a lot sharper in clarity. I came to the sudden conclusion on why I let my original Varsity go those many years earlier, but I still ride it on occasion when the youthful urge for past glory days of commuting arises.

I thought I was done tonight. I washed my hands carefully in order to tape the handlebars.

Those bars have a small diameter, and they're steel, so they provide a very uncomfortable ride. The tape was the original tape from about 35 years ago. I put on some gel pillows a friend had left behind and taped the bars with cloth tape.

Looks very nice.

The rear tire blew out. There is a defect in the rim that causes it to toss tires.

I started this project without knowing how much work it would take. This bike has had just about every repair a bike could ever need. I've overhauled the headset, both hubs, and the crankset. I've rebuilt the wheels by unscrewing every spoke nipple and lubricating it.

What is this thing worth? $140? I'll never get compensated for my time, but it's been a work of love.

Oh, I had to straighten the fork, too. That was fun. I hadn't straightened a fork in about 26 years. I didn't have proper tools this time, so I'm particularly pleased with the results.

pastorbob, the first two letters of the serial number are "JJ". What does this mean?

Don't anyone give me grief about crosschaining. I don't ride that way.

http://whatexit.org/tommy/green-varsity/IMG_3120.JPG

http://whatexit.org/tommy/green-varsity/IMG_3121.JPG

http://whatexit.org/tommy/green-varsity/IMG_3122.JPG

http://whatexit.org/tommy/green-varsity/IMG_3123.JPG

http://whatexit.org/tommy/green-varsity/IMG_3124.JPG

http://whatexit.org/tommy/green-varsity/IMG_3125.JPG

JJ, wasn't there a CitCom in the '70s and the main character's name was JJ?

First J = Month the frame was built (A=Jan, B=Feb..., H=Aug [skip I, not to be confused with a 1], J=Sep)

Second J = Year the frame was built (A=1965, B=1966..., H=1972 [skip I, not to be confused with a 1], J = 1973

Thus the Campus Green frame was built September 1973.

Try to sell it at Princeton for top dollar!

Ah, JJ -- 'Good Times' was the show and a very young Janet Jackson was also part of the cast. He didn't start out as the 'main' character -- It was about the Evans family living in the housing projects in Chicago. It stared John Amos (Gordy the Weatherman from The Mary Tyler Moore Show) and began as a star vehicle for him. The public loved JJ and the focus shifted.....
http://tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:riKeRgng1W7t6M:http://www.tvland.com/shows/goodtimes/images/JimmyWalker.jpg

Thanks, pastorbob! My guess was off by only one year.

Do you mean sell it in Princeton the town? Or is there a bike shop or swap organization I should know about? Are Princetonians known for loving old bikes?

Thus the Campus Green frame was built September 1973.

Try to sell it at Princeton for top dollar!

Maybe if it were Campus Orange!

Tom, you're not originally from NJ, are you? I cover garage sales in the NW quadrant of the state, and sometimes venture into your territory, so if you want old Schwinn's let me know. I can buy and store themfor you as long as you promise to pick them up! That said, the garage sales have not been particularly fruitful, compared to years past. Maybe it'll pick up in the fall when people realize they went another year without riding their 1985 Miyata.

As a tip, I met a British bloke in Summit who sells mostly Schwinn city bikes in NYC. He says it can be lucrative, but most buyers want a 'stealth' bike (i.e. dirty and some surface rust) to deter theft. He simply gets them mechanically fit without doing much cosmetic work on them. You're close enough to the city to give him some competition.

Northwestern NJ, as in Netcong / Budd Lake (out I-80?). I was out there riding a few weeks back.

Tom - I lost out on that Collegiate that I had my eye on. The owner was located, and hauled if off. I offered to buy it, but he knew what it was worth.

Thanks, pastorbob! My guess was off by only one year.

Do you mean sell it in Princeton the town? Or is there a bike shop or swap organization I should know about? Are Princetonians known for loving old bikes?

Many years ago (almost 30) I lived in Princeton while a very poor student at the Seminary. But there always seemed to be plenty of cash floating around among the University Students next door. My guess is they would pay top $ for a vintage ride.


Maybe if it were Campus Orange!

Very true! Especially if you were selling to one of the University alumnus!

I've really developed a love for Varsity's...such a smooth ride...like a big Lincoln town car.

Here's a '74 that I'm converting to a balloon tire crusier/grocery getter.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=111070&stc=1&d=1247594229

These frames make a great platform for trying new things.

Thanks for the tips, guys.

junkyardbike, I've lived in NJ since 1987. But how did you know I didn't grow up here? I grew up on the upper west side of Manhattan.

But how did you know I didn't grow up here?


Because you called it "New Joizey" :rolleyes: ;) :lol:

...you do know what a Jughandle is don't you? ;)

...if not, we're gonna have to revoke your New Jersey credentials.

...you do know what a Jughandle is don't you?

I know! I know! I lived there when they built them on Rt. 1.

Northwestern NJ, as in Netcong / Budd Lake (out I-80?). I was out there riding a few weeks back.

In fact, I do live in Budd Lake! Now all the NJ people will know which CL listings are mine (though they aren't very frequent). Next time you're going to be in the area, drop me a line and I'll treat you to a tour of some of the local hills!

Because you called it "New Joizey" :rolleyes: ;) :lol:

Bingo! Or should I say, bada-bing-o?

In fact, I do live in Budd Lake! Now all the NJ people will know which CL listings are mine (though they aren't very frequent). Next time you're going to be in the area, drop me a line and I'll treat you to a tour of some of the local hills!

Oh that's too funny! Our friends live off of Mt. Olive Rd, and I was cruising around the big town park off of Flanders Rd. on my Dahon folding bike on the July 4th weekend. We'll be back there this Sunday as my daughter is going to Girl Scout Camp with our friends two girls. Small world, isn't it?

My friend owns http://whatexit.org which has all the tests to see if you're hardcore New Jersey. I pass most of them, having been here for 22 years. Gotta have a sense of humor.

that list was hilarious! :lol:

ahh its funny and true.

That's a good lookin' Varsity. I also have a '73, built in March, Sunset Orange (I call it The Great Pumpkin). They only made Varsities as "Sports" (with drop bars) in 1973, but I turned mine into a Varsity Tourist (basically, a Suburban that says Varsity on the frame). A very good bike, but I did replace that GT100 in the rear with a later Suntour offering from an '84 World Sport. It shifts purdy nice now. As for that Cadillac ride... 40 lb. will give you lots of smooth.

Thanks, Doohickie. By the way, I'm following your blog and enjoying it.

Someone, please help with my tire-blowing problem. I will look for the defect in the rim. I've put on a nice cheap Cheng Shin, or some such, tire, hoping that would solve it. It blew. This rim, of course, doesn't have hooks. I have someone who really wants to buy this bike, but I can't ship it as it is, only because of the tire-blowing problem.

Oh that's too funny! Our friends live off of Mt. Olive Rd, and I was cruising around the big town park off of Flanders Rd. on my Dahon folding bike on the July 4th weekend. We'll be back there this Sunday as my daughter is going to Girl Scout Camp with our friends two girls. Small world, isn't it?

Did you ride part of Route 206? I saw a tallish rider with no helmet :eek: on a folding bike with drop bars, and wondered what it was doing in these parts. I encounter very few bikes on my rides, unless I head south into Hunterdon County, but I don't think I've ever seen a folding bike locally.

Unfortunately, I was driving in the other direction. If I had been on my bike, I would have had to stop to check out the Dahon!

Not me. My helmet is my constant companion. I feel naked without it! I had 4 young girls that I was responsible for on that ride, so we stayed on local streets.

I have really become a fan of folding bikes. I was in the SF Bay area on business a few years ago and was impressed by the high number of compacts on the road. Two years ago I ordered one, and really love it. It is always in the back of my Subaru Outback, and I ride it almost daily around the industrial site where I work, and then off site to one of the local places for lunch.

Thanks, Doohickie. By the way, I'm following your blog and enjoying it.

Someone, please help with my tire-blowing problem. I will look for the defect in the rim. I've put on a nice cheap Cheng Shin, or some such, tire, hoping that would solve it. It blew. This rim, of course, doesn't have hooks. I have someone who really wants to buy this bike, but I can't ship it as it is, only because of the tire-blowing problem.

Its gotta be the rim. With older clincher rims like these You should keep the inflation pressure below 50psi...if the tires still blow off, its time for new rims.

But it's only the rear rim. It has some damage, so the problem is probably somewhere where the wall is bent back into shape. I really hope I don't have to replace the rim, but I will if I have to. And of course, I would put on an alloy rim.

I suppose you could coax the bead seat back into line since it is a steel rim. I don't think I could do it with much success but I wish you the best of luck. :thumb:

I finally found a heavy old tire that stays on the rear rim. I'm not going to put more than 70 psi in either tire.

I took it out for a 7 mile ride today. The mechanics in the bike shop were impressed, which made me proud.

The one flaw it still has is that the chain skips on the smallest cog. Darn it. I'm not going to replace the freewheel and chain on this bike! I'm just going to screw in the limit screw and eliminate top gear, making it an 8-speed bike.

I'll put it on craigslist and ask for $150. Other than the worn cog, this bike is flawless and is ready for another 30 years of service.

The one flaw it still has is that the chain skips on the smallest cog. Darn it. I'm not going to replace the freewheel and chain on this bike! I'm just going to screw in the limit screw and eliminate top gear, making it an 8-speed bike.

I'll put it on craigslist and ask for $150. Other than the worn cog, this bike is flawless and is ready for another 30 years of service.

Brace yourself for the anti-vintage CL rants! Sure there's not a stiff link or two in the chain?

Brace yourself for the anti-vintage CL rants! Sure there's not a stiff link or two in the chain?

I'll let the rants roll off my back.

I'll check the chain, though it gives no trouble whatsoever in the other gears. Small cogs are most likely to give the skipping problem. I realize they are also most likely to expose a stiff link, so I will check. I can surely take care of that!

The one flaw it still has is that the chain skips on the smallest cog. Darn it. I'm not going to replace the freewheel and chain on this bike! I'm just going to screw in the limit screw and eliminate top gear, making it an 8-speed bike.


:twitchy:

did you inspect the cog? if the small cog is that badly worn how much life is left in the other 4? are you certain its not simply a tooth thats a little off on the cog and could be coaxed back into place with appropriate force?

a new freewheel is under 20 bux shipped.

It's just that I've invested an obscene amount of time getting this bike back into working order that I'm feeling cheap. I suppose I could replace the freewheel. In fact, I just found one I didn't know I had. It's a six-speed, so I don't know if it will fit. Hmm, I suppose I could put on the whole spare wheel I found and spread the frame to 126 mm. Oh, God, will this project ever end?

I'll check all those things, guys, and thanks again.

What do you think this thing should sell for? I'm in the NYC metro area.

lets see a pic. appearance is a big part of the value.

Pictures are on page one of this thread. Want me to take a picture in sunlight?

You might also try cleaning the freewheel a bit better :p

I don't think $150 is unreasonable in the NYC metro area, completely refurbished and ready to ride.

Pictures are on page one of this thread. Want me to take a picture in sunlight?

Oops i forgot about that!

I think it could fetch 150, it looks pretty clean (especially the cranks) and ready to put some miles on...but if its neutered down to an 8speed and I were the buyer I'd use that as leverage to work on the price.

OK, I cleaned the chain and freewheel to the point where you could nearly eat off them.

I inspected both. The chain has a lot of nicks on it. The freewheel doesn't seem to have hooked teeth, but it's possible for it to have them without my seeing that. It doesn't have twisted teeth. The chain did seem a bit stiff from grit before I cleaned it.

I put it all back together, and it still skips in top gear, so I guess I'll replace the freewheel.

Here are new pictures.

http://whatexit.org/tommy/green-varsity/IMG_3175.jpg


http://whatexit.org/tommy/green-varsity/IMG_3176.jpg


http://whatexit.org/tommy/green-varsity/IMG_3177.jpg


http://whatexit.org/tommy/green-varsity/IMG_3178.jpg


http://whatexit.org/tommy/green-varsity/IMG_3179.jpg


http://whatexit.org/tommy/green-varsity/IMG_3180.jpg

Nice, and even the dork plate is quality. Similar colour to my Dawes when I first got it. To English eyes, it's really strange to see an Ashtabula crank fitted to a ten-speed.

cogs dont really look all that worn...

have you tried swapping in a different chain or different rear wheel just for sh1ts and giggles?

If you plan to sell it to someone in the city, do what you originally planned: lock out the high gear. Who riding a Varsity will use it there anyway?

cogs dont really look all that worn...

have you tried swapping in a different chain or different rear wheel just for sh1ts and giggles?

I'll try, though I'm not sure I have a spare chain that's less worn. Of course, a less worn chain could alleviate the problem, or it could worsen it.

If you plan to sell it to someone in the city, do what you originally planned: lock out the high gear. Who riding a Varsity will use it there anyway?

Seriously! You probably only need the 3 lowest gears on that thing.