rgvg

Picked this up today from craigslist. I was waffling over it because I have zero mechanical talent and parts might be scarce. But it was posted over a month ago and I thought what the heck I'll text and see if it's still there... and what do you know. $50 USD. From a property manager making room so getting rid of stuff abandoned by college kids. I think the rust is relatively recent as it was "stored" at the side of the house from what I could see. The hubs still seem smooth, likewise with the headset and bottom bracket. Must have been serviced at some point, I don't think the freewheel is original. Sadly the seat looks toasted. Don't know what other parts aren't original. Comes with built in kickstand!

As I said I have zero mechanical talent. Any tips would be appreciated. Like how to get rid of the rust? I would like to get it ridable to ride, not sell. Unless it's beyond my meager capacity to fix (or have fixed) in which case I might have to get rid of it...

Whatcha think?

bargainguy

I use a wire brush on small parts with rust. You can also use Evapo-Rust or oxalic acid to soak parts; heck, you can even use vinegar. Just make sure to flash small parts after soaking with WD-40 or some such, otherwise they will rust very quickly.

If the chain is rusted, I wouldn't bother trying to restore, I'd just get a new chain.

I'm not clear that the saddle is toasted. You'd be surprised at what people will pay for an old leather saddle. To some folks, worth spending $ so they don't have to break in a new one.

Good catch at $50.

wrk101

Rust treatment has been covered well over 500 times. Google will get you more information than you ever needed on rust treatment on bikes.

In a hot market like Vancouver, you could probably sell it as is for a tidy profit.

Metacortex

Great score for that price! Looks to be pretty much original except for the freewheel. Silver Mist was a one-year (1971) only color for the Sports Tourer.

rgvg

Well, attached is a picture of the seat, which, in my completely amateur opinion looks toasted to well done-ness.

It's great to have a bike that's only a year younger than I am... woohoo!!!

I will google for rust, thanks.

Yeah, I do think prices in Vancouver are a little wacky, so I'm staying away from craigslist starting today. I'm still hoping to find a cheap Miyata tourer but I think that's it for me for now... I don't really want to sell it because it's my size.

If it weren't raining right now I'd give it a good wash but the best I could do for now is to wash out the rear tire and replace the tube. The rear hub needs an overhaul, the chain is rusted, pedals, and skewers are rusted. Some of the cable housing actually looks new though the brakes need adjusting.

I'll try taking it to a coop tomorrow for some help.

rustystrings61 

I'd try something like this first, before writing off the saddle ... then you'll want some Brooks Proofide or something similar. All the old guys say to NOT use Neat's Foot Oil.

Cool bike! The Campagnolo Gran Turismo rear derailleur would probably make better eBay bait than as a gear shifter - they're heavy and clunky and yet have some collectible charm, and a SunTour V-GT Luxe or similar would work better. The cranks are lovely old Nervars, and unlike every other vintage French crankset, you can use a standard 22 mm crank puller on them. Chro-moly frame and I think fillet-brazed construction. My memory is that this was the model bike chosen for The Wandering Wheels, a group in operation since 1964.

wrk101

+10 As a rider, I would swap RDs out for a Suntour V GT Luxe. I love those old Suntour V derailleurs. Just picked up another one at the Boulder bike co-op yesterday. The GT model is my go to RD on any friction touring bike rebuild. Relatively cheap still, strong performers, whats not to like? At some point, Suntour V series will be discovered and pricing will surely go up!

Better still, you can sell that Campy RD on ebay and recoup your purchase price.

Chains are cheap, I'd toss that rusty one and replace. Rusty pedals are nothing special either.

FWIW, I sold a pristine Sports Tourer, no rust, perfect Brooks, etc., on fleece bay earlier this year for $525. Desirable bike. Filet brazed construction, one step (a big one) down from the Paramount.

Metacortex

The OPs bike has a TA crankset in the 1971-only Sports Tourer configuration with 36-54T rings. That crankset requires a 23mm puller.

rustystrings61 

Time for new glasses for me! Didn't Schwinn use the Nervars for Sports Tourers at one point?

Metacortex

Schwinn originally intended on using only the TA crankset when the Sports Tourer was introduced in 1971, however due to shortages they quickly added the Nervar crankset as an alternative. From 1971 through 1974 both cranksets were used interchangeably but for 1975 (final year for the Sports Tourer) only the Nervar crankset was used. In 1976 the Superior replaced the Sports Tourer and also used only Nervar cranksets until it was discontinued in '78.

rgvg

Took the bike to a coop to see what kind of advice they could give me and we ended up replacing the axle on the rear because it was snapped. Some more work could be done on it but it's ridable. It's a bolt on now instead of quick release due to a dearth of available axles. I'll try to find another replacement when I have a chance.

The chain didn't have any stiff links and isn't all orange anymore after zapping with WD 40 and it's not yet worn out, not yet at 50% according to their chain wear tool, so I can keep it. I realize chains are cheap but I'm trying to be cheaper...

I will try that method in the link on how to fix the saddle, as it doesn't look like it will cost anything to try anyway.

I'll just need to deal with the surface rust but otherwise the bike's looking good and is a lot of fun to ride.

Thanks for the tips, and I appreciate all the other information on the cranks. I'm amazed how much you all know about these bikes.

juvela

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Thanks so much for this very thorough explanation Metacortex!

Muchly appreciated.

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