Justsomedude

Looking at a 73 Schwinn Super Sport
Always had a weakness for these...the orange ones.

It's in very good shape with no Chain, Saddle, Tires or Brake Pads (all cleaned and lubed).
Weinmann Wheels/Center Pulls

I have an extra saddle and Brake Pads
Was thinking about just picking up a 27" Fixed Wheel, Cog/Lockring. Chain Ring and Tires.
From the reading I have done, these seem like good candidates for conversion and people have gotten them down in the 25lb range.

Any thing I'm forgetting?
Any surprises with these bikes?

hairnet

They are rather beefy frames but I'm sure they make nice casual riders, not so bad if you can do it on the cheap. Does the one you're looking at have ashtabula cranks?

Justsomedude

I'm looking at it in person in the morning.
If it's tight mechanically I'll get it.

It is a one piece crank but the seller seemed to think it wasn't an Ashtabula.
Were there other one piece cranks going onto Super Sports?
Or maybe aftermarket one piece?

The bike had been in storage for a good 30 years.
The seller cleaned it out repacked bearings replaced cables etc..
Says it doesn't have a lot of usage wear, just storage wear.

I just read the old "How to make a Suicide Hub safe" and the Sheldonbrown article again...
considering picking up a few parts and some Red Loctite

I had a Schwinn Tandem in the 70's and worked on it (I was 10) and I remember those big heavy cranks.

TejanoTrackie 

Ashtabula is the type of crank that is one piece, not a brand. All the fillet brazed Schwinns like the Super Sport that I've seen had 3-piece cranks with a threaded bottom bracket.

hairnet

This is what I found.

Schwinn 1973 Cycling '73 -- Super Sport

TejanoTrackie 

Interesting. Too bad you can't get a good look at the bottom bracket in those images, but that sure does look like a one piece crank. I have a 1975 Schwinn catalog, but it doesn't show a Super Sport model, only a Sports Tourer fillet brazed frame with an alloy 3-piece crankset that look a lot like a TA.

Justsomedude

They can be converted with a $25 kit.
Im not in a rush to go that far.
This bike has original pedals and looks like the one pictured in the catalog.

Justsomedude

One more thing....been reading a lot today.
Ashtabula WAS a manufacturer.
And made lots of 70's Schwinn parts.
But "Ashtabula style" cranks were often not so great.
i'll figure out more when I see it

Justsomedude

https://www.bmxsociety.com/interviews...BMXsociety.pdf

Justsomedude

I'm holding off on this for now and doing some math (weight and $$$).
Maybe this will help some one else.
I ultimately want a vintage bike so it won't be ultralight whatever it is.

This bike is $100 with no Saddle.
Will have to cut off the Kickstand to drop a pound.
If I want Presta valves I'll have to replace both wheels right?

Harris sells 27" 'better quality' Fixed wheels for $105 (drilled for Presta) and a cheaper one for $80 (single wall schrader).

If I keep the one piece crank I have to use a BMX Chainring which are cheap OR use an adapter (more weight and slightly more money).

Changing out the Crank will also require new adapter from Harris, BB, Crank, Pedals, Clips.

This could quickly become a $600 bike.

Riding it heavy with a 'suicide hub' would make it a $200 bike.

Thoughts?

Spoonrobot 

Note that the stem may be 21.1mm or 21.16mm (.833") diameter and not the more common 22.2mm (.874") size found on the vast majority of threaded forks. This can be an issue if you plan to replace it or if the bike does not come with a stem.

I would not recommend converting that bike. The older Schwinn models are nice if they are very cheap and have all the parts but they are very heavy and ride heavy. For $200 you could probably get a nicer, lighter lugged bike from Craigslist or the C&V forum. You'd have a better starting point if you were dead-set on converting.

Although it really depends on what you want. If you're interested in getting a fixed gear just buy a complete bike or find a better frame that requires less parts to convert.

If you're interested in having a 1973 Orange Super Sport fixed gear then spend the money and get what you want.

SquidPuppet

It is (was) a Brand name. The Ashtabula Bow Socket Company began forging cranks for Schwinn in the 1930s. Later they went on to forge forks, stems and kickstands as well. Their name changed over the years to things like "ABS" and "Ashtabula Forge". In the '70s they even made BMX components. Since then, other companies have made forged one piece cranks, and they have been (incorrectly) identified as Ashatabula cranks. It has become an accepted, albeit incorrect slang term.



Here is better pic of the '73 Super Sport Ashtabula crank. I always liked the yellow myself.

SquidPuppet

The whole thing can be removed without cutting if you want to.

PorkchopBMX.com sells an excellent one. Pretty cheap and weighs almost nothing.





Go for it. Old bikes are cool.

300# Gorilla

Have one, did it, LOVE IT.
Bought it as a striped (mostly) frame. Put a single speed freewheel on an old 27" wheel and re-dished it, townie bars in the 21.1 SA stem (the Schwinn Approved version of 7/8"). You can use the front inner ring (39t), just unbolt the outer ring, or any one piece sprocket will do (42t Wald), I think Redline makes a spider for a one piece crank. 1/2" BMX peddles.
Yes the crank and kick stand add a pound or two, but this is not heavy like a Suburban or Varsity. The bottom bracket is lower than on a "modern" bike, you will touch down the inside peddle on a turn (so learn to keep the inside up), but my 26" frame sits lower than most 25" frames. And the Schwinn one piece crank is bomb proof. The kick stand is... handy?
Sorry, not very coherent, lets try... ME LIKE!

Anything I can do, let me know. Now DO IT, DO IT NOW!

steady407

I say do it and make it a townie!

Justsomedude

You guys are a bad influence!

My ultimate goal is to build a bike that makes me quit Bike shopping...I know that's a tall order.
I have an SE Lager that gets me around and looks OK.
When I get the Pedals sorted out it's a decent ride.

But in my other hobbies of music, archery, knives...I find an old funky guitar, bow etc...and make it mine and use it forever.
They are never modern, not the most collectible but semi collectible, something non-original that makes it a 'user' and not a showpiece.

In search of that bike.

Unkle Rico

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahah Shea right.

Justsomedude

I can dream can't I??

300# Gorilla

It is always tempting to try to find the perfect ride, what everyone says is best, and what really is best for you. This is the classic point you will need to cover.
Think of it as the Morseth of bikes.

europa

That's full screaming nightmare territory.

Justsomedude

Nah...I've got a great wife.
I don't shop any more but I can still look around

Justsomedude

But seriously...once I figure out what I like bike-wise, I'd be set with one bike.
And because it wouldn't be a 'fancy bike' I wouldn't need a 'rain bike'.
And after a few years I would quit replacing accessories

300# Gorilla

I understand, I want to experience for myself the difference between a classic steel frame and an aluminum or a modern steel or titanium. Wide comfy tires vs. narrow fast. Every bike seems better than the last, then ride an old favorite and appreciate it all over again. My favorite is still the old Super Sport (you can abbreviate it as 5S for Schwinn Super Sport Single Speed).

Also I saw a great solution for the 21.1mm stem, they took a threaded to threadless stem adaptor and turned it on a lathe down to 21.1mm. I really changed the look and opened all kinds of options for bars.

I also have a basement full of interesting bikes that I do not have time to appreciate. Now if I could just bring myself to part with them. The Super Sport could do it if I can do my part.