I'm having a 1984 Schwinn Traveler blasted and powder coated shortly. How much stability does this plate welded to the chainstays afford, and how much instability will having it removed cause? That is NOT a crack in the frame, it's a trick of light on the stripping job I did.

In this case that plate is serving a dual purpose as the chainstay bridge, and I think it is adding quite a lot of stability. IMO it would be a mistake to take it off.

I was just thinking about those things. My Clem has one, and while I don't at present need it for a kickstand, it seems like it stiffens up the frame. That bike has crazy long 22" (!!!) chainstays, yet it doesn't feel mushy at all. I was half thinking I need to braze one of those plates onto my PX-10! Maybe that would stop the powershifting.

Thanks, I will leave it on. I did removed the 'lips', so that it's now flat.

Even frames that weren't really intended for use with kickstands had a tube brazed there for chainstay strength. It also provides a place for attaching the leading end of a rear fender. Your plate doesn't provide as much tire clearance as a piece of tubing would, but you wouldn't have to worry about crushing the stays with a kickstand clamp either.

There was a trend that started in the early to mid 80's that high end racing frames did away with the chainstay bridge. This was partly to shorten the chainstays by allowing the rear wheel to get closer to the seat tube, partly to save weight and partly to express the skills of the frame builder who could still provide a stiff rear triangle without the need for a chainstay bridge.



As has been advised - if you have one, best to leave it.