Jeff54

This is a toughie. mounted on a 1946 Schwinn DX that original owner 'restored'. Yet created a fantasy cycle of some sorts. Wrong paint schemes, actually 2 different types of Schwinn's designs 50's on fenders and autocycle or? on frame . And although the 3 speed kit fully mounted it doesn't work properly. He'd cut off the end of chain guard but you can run this machine with it except only on the large cog otherwise it grinds into the chain guard. However the guy also stuck on a different chain guard as it's not a DX guard and the original would probably work with this system. It's not as long and wouldn't have the guard in the way when down shifting into smaller cogs. He'd chopped end of guard but wouldn't have made any difference, it's shifting into smaller cogs the problem, grinding on it. His, 'fantasy' scheme, due to wrong chain guard failed.


Regardless It's the friction shifter that I can't discover who made or what? It's not the same as what was used with the 1951 simplex Tour De France model yet perhaps, an earlier version but hope yawl can help figure out who made it.


For lack of a better description, Simplex's 1951 top of knob was flat while this one is topped with a tear drop like configuration. The Chrome or nickel has lifted too much to read whatever name is on the shifter's cup.


He also laced newer china rims to an old New Departure D coaster brake hub, maybe some type of kit from the 50's? Do you think it took some sort of special hub or freewheel set to mount the 3 cog freewheel on the hub?
Tks

Jeff54

Ikes! I must have found a black hole in time, space and bike knowledge.

zukahn1 

The add on Simplex 3 speed was not designed for this type coaster brake bike, it was designed to add additional gears to a 3 speed IGH with rim brakes. I'm surprised who ever built this was able to get it to work at all on this bike.

Jeff54

The whole arraignment surprises me. And I just discovered that it's not the 1951 Tour de France but 1947 model without an extra cable to adjust chain tension and metal verses plastic pulleys. (I've since realized, obviously, I wasn't paying attention to all the stuff I'd looked up)

Perhaps that splains why the friction shifter's top knob is round verses flat. Anybody know?

I only took it for a quick test ride and it was grinding into the chain guard when down shifting, but it does shift. Yet I pulled the guard away a little and it stopped grinding. Albeit it needs some tuning I haven't time for yet, b/c it'll only shift into two gears. It's got plenty length in the cable to adjust it in.

Now the thought of an 1947 presents the possibility that it's been on this bike for all that time. Personally I've never seen a freewheel that'll mount up on a New Departure D coaster brake hub, but this hub would be of the standard stock issue for Schwinn in 46:



P7280046.jpg


Potentially a rare item, set of 3 pieces verses the shifter and derailleur 2. . There's another bracket that appears to be doing nothing, mounted midway the dropout stay not sure what it is; perhaps a guide for the chain but mounted up-side down, yet it wouldn't reach the chain on top or bottom. However, whatever it is, it appears to be part of the whole system to do with this simplex. .

P7280044.jpg
P7280043.jpg