New to road Bikes
10-28-09, 08:40 AM
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New to road Bikes
Hey guys, this is my first time posting a thread on this site. I hope your knowledge can help me out with my new/old bike. I received a bike from my friend that has just been sitting around in his backyard getting abused by the weather, good thing CA weather isn't too bad. The front of the bike has an emblem that says "American Eagle" and the words "Sports Special" right below the seat. The number underneath the bike says KS101479. The only problem with this bike is the stem shifter, it does not shift down to the two smaller gears on the rear tire. I kinda like the old school shifters, but i was wondering if it is worth/easy to fix it or just replace it with something else? I guess overall, is it worth restoring or add new parts to it? Thanks in advance guys, ill probably take some pictures of it tonight. Please excuse my lack of knowledge when it comes to bikes. It's a hobby i really want to get in to.
10-28-09, 08:44 AM
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Great place to start, and welcome to the forum.
The shifter problem is more likely a cable problem, either a bad cable or the adjustment. If you disassemble the shifters, lube 'em up, and re-assemble, they should work.
A cable set is available at WalMart for 4.88 (Bell) and would provide you some new housings, cables, etc. Be careful you don't cut the wrong end off, etc. I recommend this $5 fix for situations like yours.
Be sure the front derailleur and rear derailleur are clean, lubed, and moving freely. Clean and lube the chain, get the tires up to snuff and try it out.
Pictures are a must. Good luck and let us know how it comes out. We're here to help.
The shifter problem is more likely a cable problem, either a bad cable or the adjustment. If you disassemble the shifters, lube 'em up, and re-assemble, they should work.
A cable set is available at WalMart for 4.88 (Bell) and would provide you some new housings, cables, etc. Be careful you don't cut the wrong end off, etc. I recommend this $5 fix for situations like yours.
Be sure the front derailleur and rear derailleur are clean, lubed, and moving freely. Clean and lube the chain, get the tires up to snuff and try it out.
Pictures are a must. Good luck and let us know how it comes out. We're here to help.
10-28-09, 08:49 AM
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Hello welcome to the forum and your ned addiction *giggle*. can you post a few pics? if the bike shifts but will not go into the two smallest gears it is likely something simple. it likely if the bike has been stored outside it is just a rusty sticky cable. meaning the wire cable is binding inside of the black outer housing. or the derailluer could be slightly bent inward. sten mounted shifter may indicate a lower end bike but not always. post some pics and someone can tell you more.
OH some carwax and lots of elbow grease will help alot to make it look good again
Trina
OH some carwax and lots of elbow grease will help alot to make it look good again
Trina
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
10-28-09, 08:52 AM
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I'm diggin this quick response thing guys! I put some air in it last night and they held up for the past 8 hours, so lets hope that'll last. Yeah i fgured i would spend tonight cleaning the thing out to be able to admire its beauty. Cable set sounds very inexpensive, you know where i will be in a few hours!
Robbie, if u know anything about this bike, think its worth a restore?
Robbie, if u know anything about this bike, think its worth a restore?
10-28-09, 10:10 AM
#5
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i once had an american eagle pass through my hands. i dont know how old your is, T-mar will. but it sounds like yours is an entry level bike. the american eagle brand became nishiki ( i don't know when)
i wouldn't dump too much money into it, make it a solid runner (repack/adjust bearings, maybe new cables/housings, and fresh brake pads), and just ride it, and enjoy it.
i still have a nishiki custom sport that i ride all the time. it is hi-tensile gaspipe ,steel rims, super heavy entry level...but is a suprisingly smooth ride . i think the heavy weight kinda numbs the ride.
oh, and if you are near me (bay area) i can help you tune it up, and get her running.
i wouldn't dump too much money into it, make it a solid runner (repack/adjust bearings, maybe new cables/housings, and fresh brake pads), and just ride it, and enjoy it.
i still have a nishiki custom sport that i ride all the time. it is hi-tensile gaspipe ,steel rims, super heavy entry level...but is a suprisingly smooth ride . i think the heavy weight kinda numbs the ride.
oh, and if you are near me (bay area) i can help you tune it up, and get her running.
Last edited by intron; 10-28-09 at 10:22 AM.
10-28-09, 10:29 AM
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i once had an american eagle pass through my hands. i dont know how old your is, T-mar will. but it sounds like yours is an entry level bike. the american eagle brand became nishiki ( i don't know when)
i wouldn't dump too much money into it, make it a solid runner (repack/adjust bearings, maybe new cables/housings, and fresh brake pads), and just ride it, and enjoy it.
i still have a nishiki custom sport that i ride all the time. it is hi-tensile gaspipe ,steel rims, super heavy entry level...but is a suprisingly smooth ride . i think the heavy weight kinda numbs the ride.
oh, and if you are near me (bay area) i can help you tune it up, and get her running.
i wouldn't dump too much money into it, make it a solid runner (repack/adjust bearings, maybe new cables/housings, and fresh brake pads), and just ride it, and enjoy it.
i still have a nishiki custom sport that i ride all the time. it is hi-tensile gaspipe ,steel rims, super heavy entry level...but is a suprisingly smooth ride . i think the heavy weight kinda numbs the ride.
oh, and if you are near me (bay area) i can help you tune it up, and get her running.
10-28-09, 04:55 PM
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Welcome to the Forum! Looking forward to seeing your photos. From your description I agree it sounds like the gear cables need replacing, not an expensive repair. It would be worth changing the brake pads at the same time as these do go hard over time and affect the braking performance.
10-28-09, 06:17 PM
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Based on the serial number, the bicycle should be circa 1971/1972. Based on the stem shifters it could be anything up to the lower mid-range Kokusai. A good, drive side pic would aid in model identifiaction.
As stated, American Eagle morphed in the Nishiki brand. This appears to have occured during 1972, with some of the transitonal models retaining the Japnese model names before becoming Anglicized the subsequent year. These early models were all built by Kawamura in Japan and imported by West Coast Cycle Supply. The WCC logo is often stamped on the bottom bracket, with WCC(S) often appearing on the dropouts.
As for the shifting, it could be a number of issues:
1. Rusty cable. Loosen the nut on the derailleur, to free the cable. If it shifts into the smallest cogs, the problem is with the cable or housing, which should be replaced.
2. Derailleur travel limit screw. I'm assuming it has SunTour brand derailleur like most American Eagle. If so, there will be three screws at the back of the derailleur. The lowest one adjusts the outward limit of travel. Back this screw off by turning counter-clocwise. The derailleur parallelogram should move outwards allowing it to shift into a lower gear.
3. Foreign material inside parallelogram body. Check the inside of the parallelogram arms for foreign material, such as mud build-up, that may be restricting the travel. If present, clean out with cotton swab, toothpick, etc.
4. Bent derailleur hanger. Shift the chain onto the large chainring on the front. View the derailleur from behind. The cage with the two small pulleys short be vertical, in line with the cogs on the freewheel. If the lower pulley is noticeably inboard compared to the top pulley, the steel claw that holds the derailleur body to the bicycle dropout is probably bent. The claw can be removed and straightened in a vice.
5. Weak return spring. If the above fails, it is probably a weak return spring, in which case it is easiest to replace the derailleur.
Oh, I almost forgot, welcome aboard!
As stated, American Eagle morphed in the Nishiki brand. This appears to have occured during 1972, with some of the transitonal models retaining the Japnese model names before becoming Anglicized the subsequent year. These early models were all built by Kawamura in Japan and imported by West Coast Cycle Supply. The WCC logo is often stamped on the bottom bracket, with WCC(S) often appearing on the dropouts.
As for the shifting, it could be a number of issues:
1. Rusty cable. Loosen the nut on the derailleur, to free the cable. If it shifts into the smallest cogs, the problem is with the cable or housing, which should be replaced.
2. Derailleur travel limit screw. I'm assuming it has SunTour brand derailleur like most American Eagle. If so, there will be three screws at the back of the derailleur. The lowest one adjusts the outward limit of travel. Back this screw off by turning counter-clocwise. The derailleur parallelogram should move outwards allowing it to shift into a lower gear.
3. Foreign material inside parallelogram body. Check the inside of the parallelogram arms for foreign material, such as mud build-up, that may be restricting the travel. If present, clean out with cotton swab, toothpick, etc.
4. Bent derailleur hanger. Shift the chain onto the large chainring on the front. View the derailleur from behind. The cage with the two small pulleys short be vertical, in line with the cogs on the freewheel. If the lower pulley is noticeably inboard compared to the top pulley, the steel claw that holds the derailleur body to the bicycle dropout is probably bent. The claw can be removed and straightened in a vice.
5. Weak return spring. If the above fails, it is probably a weak return spring, in which case it is easiest to replace the derailleur.
Oh, I almost forgot, welcome aboard!
10-29-09, 01:02 AM
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Pics are up
I finally got around to taking pictures of my bike. Took me awhile to get productive after the warrior loss tonight... ughh! Anyways, here they are!
10-29-09, 01:22 AM
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That stem shifter is really really cool
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10-29-09, 01:30 AM
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10-29-09, 01:40 AM
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No, I was being genuine. The "333" is interesting too since that was Shimano's internal gear hub. I guess they must have used that name for other things too.
The shift levers have a neat muscle car look to them. Kind of like the Schwinn cruisers used to have.
The shift levers have a neat muscle car look to them. Kind of like the Schwinn cruisers used to have.
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10-29-09, 07:33 AM
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BSA was so highly regrded that several other Japenese companies designed similar trademarks, including SunTour (8.8.8) and Takagi (3 Arrrows).
10-29-09, 09:44 AM
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geeyawn, Thanks for the pic of the headbadge, now I know where Nishiki got their emblem from.
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10-29-09, 11:14 AM
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I can't wait for tomorrow night so i can pull everything apart and tr to clean it up. Can anybody link me somewhere that would help me tune up the bike?
10-29-09, 11:26 AM
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Yes, it has all the characteristics of an entry level bicycle: steel cottered crankset, steel rims mated to nutted hubs, stem shifters, stamped dropouts. A pic taken from the drive side would be appreciated.
