Classic & Vintage - 83 Schwinn Voyageur SP: Front hub brace that screws to inside of fork?

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Sundance89
11-07-10, 11:48 AM
I am perplexed to the point of this.

I found a gem Schwinn and I am just now beginning to restore it. But as I took off the front wheel with its QR, I notice that it was also attached to the fork by way of a brace in between the hub bolts. The braces actually screw into the fork?

Is this an original part and what's the point? Is it a theft deterrent? I can't imagine having to always carry around a phillips screw driver long enough to get at these things in case of a flat. I'd just as soon go buy a Pinhead Wheel Lock.

auchencrow
11-07-10, 11:54 AM
They're called lawyer lips.
auchencrow
11-07-10, 11:55 AM
The braces help to keep the wheel on if the rider forgets to secure the QR - Recommended by lawyers!

The braces should have enough spring tension on them to just be captured by the Philips screw heads - they're not screwed down tight.

Sundance89
11-07-10, 11:56 AM
They're called lawyer lips.

So the added security was not theft but in "theory" keeping the wheel from falling off? Did they not trust QR then?
Sundance89
11-07-10, 11:57 AM
The braces help to keep the wheel on if the rider forgets to secure the QR - Recommended by lawyers!

Wow. I am somewhat of a purist in many things, but I can't imagine many folks keeping these things on. Do most take them off here?
Grand Bois
11-07-10, 11:58 AM
The didn't trust people to us the QR's properly.
auchencrow
11-07-10, 12:02 PM
But they trusted us to know what lawyer lips were for.
auchencrow
11-07-10, 12:04 PM
Wow. I am somewhat of a purist in many things, but I can't imagine many folks keeping these things on. Do most take them off here?

The brace has an integrated washer with a flange on it - good luck finding a replacement washer. Alternatively I suppose you could get a new axle , but I would just get used to them. They do no harm.
Sundance89
11-07-10, 12:13 PM
Auchen, I just quickly went to your blogspot and was blown away. Are all of those vintage bikes yours and did you do the restoration?

Very impressive.
miamijim
11-07-10, 12:34 PM
You can take them off.

I'm surprised there aren't more stringent safety mechanisms for front wheels. Of all the products out there I cant think of many that have more potential for death due to mis-assembly. As simple as a QR is there is fundamental design flaw to the design if so many consumers have issues with them.