Bicycle Mechanics - headbadge removal

Hey guys, I have a Schwinn Sprint from the 80s that I bought for $15. It's all rusty and I don't like the shade of blue so I'm planning on repainting it. I just wanted to know how you get the headbadge off? It's the kind that has 2 very tiny screws in it, I just don't know how to get them out as they obviously are too small for most screwdrivers. Thanks.

Either find a litlle tiny screwdriver that fits the screwhead (try one for eyeglasses, get it in the local drugstore where the reading glasses are) or grind off the head and then remove the remains with a pair of needle nose pliers or if it turns out to be a rivet drive it into the headtube.

Or if that's too much hasle you can just mask off the badge.

You can get smaller screwdrivers at any hardware store, home center or Sears. I have seen the Schwinn headbadge screws, and I don't think you need a jeweller's or eyeglass screwdriver. These would probably be too flimsy anyway.

Hey guys, I have a Schwinn Sprint from the 80s that I bought for $15. It's all rusty and I don't like the shade of blue so I'm planning on repainting it. I just wanted to know how you get the headbadge off? It's the kind that has 2 very tiny screws in it, I just don't know how to get them out as they obviously are too small for most screwdrivers. Thanks.


Since you say you are repainting anyway, I'd try:

1. Sloshing a little paint thinner (or WD40, acetone, or ???) on first, and

2. Heat it up with a hair dryer or hot air gun to soften up any gunk or paint that may be keeping it
from breaking loose. Ah, don't blow yourself up with the heat and the solvent ;)

3. Also, as with any stuck screw or bolt, it may help to tap it with a punch and a hammer. But, you'd just need a tiny little hammer and a tiny little punch.

It only makes sense that you are going to need to match the correct screwdriver to the screw to stand a good chance of breaking it loose. Sears or most hardware stores sell jewelers screwdriver sets.

If the screws don't work or its actually rivetted... well, what I did on my old Raleigh was to get a small titanium drill bit and just drilled the rivets out... probably just jb weld or something it back on later.