Klunker Build
 

I have been hankering for a Klunker for a few years. So I picked up an old Schwinn DX with a "The World" head badge. The bike was in decent shape for being over 70 years old. It had mostly original or at least period parts and a flat black rattle can paint job and good riding but dry leather saddle. It is structurally sound except for the stay bridges being mangled. I welded a derailleur hanger on the rear dropout because I'm old and I want gears. Sourced a Sachs drum brake hub on a Sun rim, a chrome fork with canti bosses and pedals from eBay. New grips, cable stop, bottom bracket adaptor and headset from Amazon. The rest of the build came out of the parts bin with mostly mid 1980's parts including a Suntour Cyclone M II rear mech and a Biopace crankset. 5 speed 14-32 freewheel shifted with Shimano EM thumbies. Gotta do something about all of the wire ties though. I gave it a faux "survivor" paint job including cream colored "socks" on the rear. It is very fun to ride and surprising nimble coming in right at 33 lbs. All the original parts were saved so she can go back to where she started by grinding the derailleur hanger back off. Sorry for no before pics. Last pic is from the shakedown cruise. 8 miles of hilly trails. Made me thankful for that 32 on the back.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e1ea48199d.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3c5d182250.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...19ca3ce541.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...20303e08cc.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9b62ac188b.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4983dd460b.jpg

Arnold Schwinn would be proud...nice work!

That is beautiful. Nice work.

Wow! Very nice!!

Looks like a period Klunker with a few upgrades. Could have fooled me there with the paint job.

Are the Deco speed lines also part of that faux factory paint job? They look spot on.

-Kurt

Good job on everything! Looks great for trails & gravel. Suggest Continental Grand Prix or Schwalbe Marathons for pavement. Don

Beautiful job, a well lived bike restored, ride on, ride on.

In the '70s there were a couple of dozen "klunkers" in Marin County.

There are now many times more "tribute" klunkers than there ever were originals.

Thanks for all of the props guys. Here is a mock-up pre-paint pic. And bare frame on the scale.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2f31dba991.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e6a361e81f.jpg


Glad you posted on this thread, hope you find it a fitting tribute.


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Yes, I am retired but run a small decal business out of my home. The stencils were easy enough to make by copying pictures online.

Thanks for the suggestions. I have a set of Maxxis DTHs that I was originally going to put on it but I really like the look of the big knobbies. The Nevegals are actually not terrible on the pavement due to the ramp shaped center lugs. We are doing a 25 mile gravel, broken pavement ride this Saturday, we will find out for sure then.

MrK

Schwinn's first name was Ignaz. Adolph Arnold was his partner. Ignaz bought out Arnold, but kept the name.

Gotta love the lines on those Schwinn DX's. Very nice work on the paint job.

Also cool to see an OG Klunker rider posting on the forum!

Nice job, the paint fooled me.

Those Nevegals are meaty tires! I have one on the front of a 90s Stumpie and the traction is insane.

Excellent job!
Nice looking paint and nice choice of components, but not too precious to take out in the dirt.
Brent

This is a smoking hot bike; very, very nice work and a real tribute to the early days of the mountain bike.

Just an update for those following along. Nevegals and 25 miles of country road are not a good idea. It was a fun ride though.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6a54b2e1d1.jpg

Ever consider putting on bullmoose bars?

Yes, I did. I actually had a set of bullmoose bars in my eBay cart for a few days but opted to go with what I had in the bin. I was trying to keep it a budget build and spent more than I wanted on the initial bike/ frame. The bar/ stem setup that is on it came off a mid 80s women's Panasonic city bike that I originally bought for my wife. The Shimano 333 gear was beyond my ability to fix but the stem has a good look to it. I will eventually replace the bar with something a little wider and straighter. And hopefully lighter.

Great job! I would not have guessed it was 70. I better take some befores of my projects. I have about three so it will be an accounting challenge. :)

77 actually. The frame is a 1941 model. I wish I knew it's complete history from when it rolled off the line in Chicago until it ended up in my sweaty hands in East Texas.

Maybe the bike Gods are telling me I should have left it a single speed. Has anyone had any luck banging a derailleur cage straight?


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f7246ac26d.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f93004a2ea.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...aee0bfc3a1.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7f845802d0.jpg

Tis but a flesh wound. If you're up to re-brazing that derailer hanger onto it, I've got the M-II GT to replace that one with.

Let me know if you're interested. Though, to be honest, it looks as if the main parallelogram of the RD is fine, Maybe it's twisted and I can't see it, but it's worth inspecting to see if you can replace the cage and continue on.

-Kurt

Start with a chainsaw? Then a string test should give you some direction as you buff it out. :eek:\

Nothing a new gear couldn't fix if Kurt's plan fails.

Yikes! That sucks!

A few years ago I received a bike that had a Suntour Cyclone with a bent cage:
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...91b2405f6f.jpg

I carefully bent it back, like a total cheapskate, and continue to ride it. It shifts great. Yours looks a bit worse, though.

The bike:
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7ab2423a4a.jpg