DoninIN

I think it's an 1981, that seems to be when it was purchased for me, but if it's wrong it's close.

I've started the process of rehabilitating the old bike. If you ride along on the big chain ring, and the smallest sprocket it has a pronounced regular skip, I believe this means the chain, and or rear sprocket is worn out, this thing has thousands of miles on it.. I put new tires on it tonight, and thought perhaps I would swap the freewheel out with one from some random donor S-mart bike laying around the house. But a shimano freewheel removal tool doesn't fit in there, it's something else. What sort of tool do I need to remove this kind of cassette?

THe components all say "Suntour" or "Suntour Seven" and it's a five speed sprocket in back. Possibly I can just put a new (Or less old) chain on there and fix the problem that way.

likebike23

If it's 5 speed, chances are really good it's a freewheel. See if you can read the brand from the freewheel. It's probably a suntour winner and will use a 2 or 4 prong freewheel remover. If it's the suntour freewheel remover, hold it in place using the quick release or axle nut barely hand tight. This helps to keep the tool from slipping off and ruining the prongs. Once you break it free, loosen the nut/quick release and remove the freewheel by hand.

Scooper

It's a freewheel according to the '81 Sports Tourer specifications.

The '81 catalog has the Sports Tourer and the Traveler on the same page. Where specs are different, (T) indicates Traveler and (ST) indicates Sports Tourer.

DoninIN

Thanks for the information! I truly appreciate it, also the link to the catalog is pretty amazing, I hadn't found anything like that in previous googling. The sports tourer at the top of that page looks exactly like mine when we brought it home.

HeyPip

You should never cross chain like that. It will wear things out so fast. If it doesn't skip in other gears, just stop doing that.

Pip

Scooper

Big chainring and smallest rear cog isn't cross-chaining. The chainring and the cog are both outboard and provide a decent chainline.

RubberLegs

Schwinn was also know for using Malliard freewheels (on Schwinn Approved-Normandy HF hubs), they take their own, proprietary freewheel tool. That is what came on my 79 LeTour. Could just be the chain, take a good ruler and measure it for stretch, if out of spec, change it. At some point you should get the freewheel pulled to service the drive side bearings...hard to do properly with freewheel in place.

Pars 

Schwinn kills me. Xtra light = 30 lbs? In 1981? At least it seems they did upgrade components from the 1972 ST I had.

RaleighSport

It's okay.. my 67 schwinn lightweight is over 40

cooperryder

I was very surprised when I weighed an 83 Voyageur (not the SP version) I picked up recently at about 24.5 pounds.
It had quite a few upgraded parts, however.

RubberLegs

My Old 79 LeTour Extralite 1020 weighed in at just under 30 Lbs new...and Schwinn BRAGGED about that (well, it was a notch above entry level...) discarding the chrome hoops and going to alloy, shaved a couple pounds. Remember, MOST of the weight is in the components. A rear wheel can easily outweigh the frame! Upgraded components WILL trim the fat lady down!

Scooper

What's funny is that the Sports Tourer in 1972 with a three-piece crank and 4130 fillet brazed frame was a pretty decent bike at the time, and the Super Sport with its Ashtabula crank was a lower end version.

By 1981, they had swapped places. The Sports Tourer had a hi-ten frame and the Super Sport was a pretty decent 26 pound bike (weight with front and rear racks) with a triple crank and chromoly frame.

Zinger

The early-mid '80s Super Sport was a pretty good bike. I rode with 3 people that had them and the bike could ride with the fastest, in our area, consistently with the right motor.

And to the OP: I'm guessing you have a freewheel since I don't remember seeing cassettes around back then (correct me if I'm wrong). I'd invest in a new chain too.

HeyPip

Sorry Scooper, my mistake, I read your post incorrectly, and yes, your smallest sprocket is most likely worn. They are always the first to go.

Pip

Roll-Monroe-Co

Look at that set of bags! If they delivered that to my door, I might hit the road and never come back!