arshile

I bought this bike recently from a friend moving out of town for a modest sum. He told me the frame was probably a Fuji, he bought it from a friend and didn't know much about it. I didn't pay attention at the time, but I recently realized that the crank is a one piece ashtabula version and the chain ring has the distinctive schwinn clover leaf design. So now I suspect it is a schwinn track frame with a fuji fork. The seat post and stem are SE racing which I believe are also Fuji related. So my questions are:

A, is it in fact a schwinn and what year/s is it likely they made track/SS frames with ashtabula cranks?

B, is this frame worth overhauling the ashtabula? Sheldon Brown suggests that these are the strongest cranks available, the easiest to repair and they do sell parts for it. Other places I have read that if the frame is valuable it is worth getting the adapter to make it a 3 piece crank, because the crank arm on an ashtabula is easily bent. I have not encountered this problem so far, but if I rode it Fixed Gear perhaps that would be an issue?

Its unusual, because I don't recall ever seeing a track frame with an ashtabula crank. And I live and work in San Francisco.

I was considering getting rid of the frame when the BB requires an overhaul and upgrading to a newer frame with a 3 piece crank, unless ashtabula's are in fact the strongest. I use this bike for commuting to work, and sometimes for longer Single Speed rides. So I would appreciate some input and opinions. Thanks.

wrk101

Overhauling an Ashtabula costs all of about 25 cents worth of grease, plus your time. Pretty much a no brainer.

What is the size of the seat post?

redxj

It isn't classic or vintage with a threadless headset. If it is a Schwinn it is probably a Schwinn Cutter and only a few years old. The complete bikes sell for $300.

arshile

@wrk101, sure overhauling the ashtabula is cheaper, no question about it, my question was whether keeping the ashtabula is in fact, stronger/better than adapting the BB to a 3 piece crank. The seat post size is 25.6. Which would seem to indicate that its a cheap hi ten steel bike? Does that indicate what model and year schwinn it may be?

@redxj, thanks for your idea, however, I mentioned that the fork and stem were non-schwinn (Fuji fork, SE stem), probably added on later, so I couldn't be sure whether the original stem would be threadless or threaded. But your guess is probably a good one, a cheap schwinn track bike, I doubt the frame is vintage or classic, except that I'm not sure that model (Cutter) had ashtabula cranks. Which makes this a mystery to me. a recent schwinn track bike with an ashtabula crank is a little strange, but yes indicates it is no doubt a low end model.

thanks.