Framebuilders - Can I straighten a leftist frame?

I have a 1971 Schwinn Super Sport that pulls quite strongly to the left, enough that it can only be ridden no-handed with great difficulty. The down tube/bottom bracket joint is offset to the left by about 5 millimeters, which is visually quite noticeable. I’ve never seen such an arrangement before, and I’m thinking this might be the cause.

Can I do anything to improve the handling, short of drastic measures like re-brazing the frame? This is not a bike I’m going invest a lot of money in. I am thinking along the lines of tweaking the rear stays or dropouts or something. I’m not looking for absolute perfection, but I would like to stabilize the ride a bit. I appreciate any suggestions.

you should be able to align that frame. I would do the traditional string check and also check the fork. 5mm is probably not going to cause a frame to pull noticeably, but it could be an indicator of the real problem.

I have a 1971 Schwinn Super Sport that pulls quite strongly to the left, enough that it can only be ridden no-handed with great difficulty. The down tube/bottom bracket joint is offset to the left by about 5 millimeters, which is visually quite noticeable. I’ve never seen such an arrangement before, and I’m thinking this might be the cause.

Can I do anything to improve the handling, short of drastic measures like re-brazing the frame? This is not a bike I’m going invest a lot of money in. I am thinking along the lines of tweaking the rear stays or dropouts or something. I’m not looking for absolute perfection, but I would like to stabilize the ride a bit. I appreciate any suggestions.

I think you have to bend in the right wing.

Is there any way you can post a photo?

As I said in your C&V thread on this issue, I don't understand how the down tube could be offset by 5 millimeters since I watched these frames being built at the factory and they were tack brazed on opposite sides of each tube in jigs to ensure tight tolerances before being removed and the fillet brazing finished. I suppose it's possible both the tack welds on the down tube at the BB shell popped loose and the finish brazing was off, but it sure seems like that would haver been noticed by the brazer, the frame put back in the jig, and the tack brazes redone.

Here's the down tube/BB shell brazing on my 1973 Super Sport, and it's right on the money.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/1973%20Super%20Sport%20CJ809208/CIMG6244sm.jpg

I would guess it was possible someone had a bad day and put the parts in the jig wrong.

I would guess it was possible someone had a bad day and put the parts in the jig wrong.

I suppose that's possible, but for brazers who built these frames day in and day out it sure seems improbable. I'd like to see a picture.

I've heard of BBs put in backwards on factory frames. Getting that much offset would require some kind of "spacer" getting in the Jig. Possibly a part that was too tight and didn't seat well?