I want to thank everybody in here right off the bat, i have learned boatloads about cool bikes and repairs from all your threads. Special thanks to pastor Bob who's tutorial on overhauling a super sport freewheel I have already learned by heart. That said, mine is (I believe) just slightly different than the freewheel he showed. I have taken it apart, replaced bearings, and reassembled as instructed. I can't lock the bearing race without the whole freewheel binding up. Too much grease? Grease in the wrong places? This freewheel says Schwinn approved and has an RO on the bearing race. The freewheel is a 5 speed 14-32t which has seemed to prove a little more costly and difficult than I had hoped. Should I chuck it a get a cheap (though likely much lighter) 14-28t 5 speed replacement. Will the 14-28t tune up okay after its installed? Same chain?
Somebody please help me with this. Oh yeah, How do I remove this brazed on kickstand? The next paragraph or 2 will be about my finding and restoring efforts. If your not interested, go on.
I answered an add for "Blue schwinn" $70 in hopes of finding some late 70's early 80's schwinn road bike that I could buy cheap, learn on as I fix it up, then disregard it or pitch it if I screwed it up. When I met the seller, he told me it was a Continental, but the decals had been removed. He rattled off a bit of work he had done on it (All Lies!), & begrudgingly took my $55 offer. I saw the Chromolybednum(?) sticker and the aluminum Weinmann rims on it, that did not mean much to me except I was pretty sure it wasn't a Continental. All said it had lots of rust on the cranks and pedals. Some rust elsewhere. Over the next 48 hours I found out it was a Super Sport built in fall of 1972, sold in Champaign, IL. All original except the Brooks saddle, decals, and original tires were not there. It also had a quill stem and seat post that were totally seized. Ahhh!!?
I stripped it down and bought a jab saw after trying and failing a few other methods. It worked. After probably 12 hours total sawing I had removed both and ready to start on the frame. Fast forward 3+ months and I have full cleaned, polished all the parts. Light polishing, no high power grinders or nothing. Bought new seat post, & quill stem to fit off eBay. lightly polished paint and treated inside frame with Corrosion X. Spent a few hundred dollars in tools on the in between time, and collected several more vintage road bikes. Bought all new consumables, except for BB and headset. Last week I put it together. It went okay, funny derailleur housing sizing, "S stick" handlebar shifters don't line up well with cable guides. Minor stuff. After it was rebuilt, I took it on a ride that lasted 30 wonderful seconds before I got a pinch flat. Got in a hurry installing the tires. Haste makes waste. Then I decided well I'm not going to need it really soon so I will overhaul this grinding freewheel!! Great idea. Now I'm stuck.
I know you guys want lots of pictures. I will oblige. Its the light blue color and itching to get out of the closet. I was going to use it as a gravel bike, but I think she deserves better. Thanks again for all the guidance so far. Thanks in advance for the help here.
P.S. Don't laugh too hard at the bikes, I'm just getting started and I pretty much just ride for the exercise. I'm too chunky for really lightweight frames @ 6' 245lbs. The SR is SUPER FUN!!! My first with all sealed cartridge bearings. Roll On!!
Regards,
Eric P
Bikes: 2006 Trek 1600SLR, 1985? SR Semi pro Racing, 1972 blue Schwinn Super Sport, 1977 Black Super Le Tour 12.2, 1998 Orange Specialized Stumpjumper M2 Pro