FRANKIEJ

This morning at a yard sale I picked up a really nice '62 Schwinn Traveler. I bought it because I have a 60-something Schwinn Racer that I really like, but when I ride it it pulls to one side. I checked the frame, and the stays are not in line with the front triangle. Anyway ,the Traveler is kind of to replace the Racer, which I didn't really feel like messing with straightenening the frame.

Well, I took the Traveler for a spin, and it pulls to the side even worse. I checked the frame, using the old string technique, and it is off by at least 1/2" at the seat tube, probably more. It's so bad that I could just glance at it and tell it was way off.

I have read about frame straightening techniques and that is not my question. My question is, did Schwinn make their frames to not as tight of tolerances in the early days? In addition to these two, I also own a Schwinn '59 middleweight, and used to own a '48 Schwinn baloon tired bike, and both of these pull and have crooked frames.

Have I just had an incredible run of bad luck, or is this the same as others experience with 40's/50's/60's Schwinns? I am not inclined to think crash damage due to the exceptional condition of the Traveler and Racer. Were these bike welded by cross-eyed little old ladies? Thanks a lot in advance for any shared personal experiences.

Mos6502

I had a '64 schwinn co-ed that was straight enough. You've probably just had a run of bad luck.

Poguemahone

In my experience, it's not that odd for older frames to be off a bit. It certainly is not limited to Schwinns, I just pulled a Paris Sport back into line, for example. Well, pulled and pushed. However, I suspect, as the other poster mentioned, you've had a spot of bad luck.

It could, however, be that frames were not always built to tight tolerances back in the day. However, when we get these older bikes, it's rare to know the provenance of them, how they've been stored and treated. That could affect alignment as well.

FRANKIEJ

Thanks for the posts. Maybe I've had a run of misfortune or something. I've noticed that in my collection, as Schwinn moved into the early 70's, that almost every frame I've run accross tracks straight, except the ones with obvious crash damage. I will probably try to straighten these frames up eventually, because I obsess over things such as this. I can't stand to ride a bike that pulls to one side.

jordanb

I think it's just a testament to how well these bikes have held up against the abuse that's been thrown at them over the years. Just think. If that bike had been aluminum, or carbon, or whatever, then whatever it was that bent the frame would have destroyed it and it'd be in a landfill right now.

My racer is a wee bit off. Not enough to affect riding, but enough that the hub doesn't fit perfectly and I've had some problems with it slipping and the chain becoming untensioned in the past. I need to do the work to streighten it eventually I suppose.

From what I know about Schwinn history, they were obsessed with quality under FW Schwinn, and that continued through after he died until the bike boom in the mid and late 70s, when the production numbers combined with the neglect of the factory under Franklin Schwinn (FW's son) caught up with them. For bikes imported from Asia and stamped Schwinn, and bikes made in Mississippi and Hungary after the Chicago plant was shut down, all bets are off.

pragueinspring

My 72 Varsity used to pull sharply to the left. Turns out, a trial and error three hours later, it was a crooked fork. All you need to do is He-Man the fork back into place. Yeah, it's not exact, but it works. My Varsity doesn't pull nearly as sharp to the left and I can ride it comfortably for quite a ways no handed.

pragueinspring

My 72 Varsity used to pull sharply to the left. Turns out, a trial and error three hours later, it was a crooked fork. All you need to do is He-Man the fork back into place. Yeah, it's not exact, but it works. My Varsity doesn't pull nearly as sharp to the left and I can ride it comfortably for quite a ways no handed.

FRANKIEJ

Once again, thanks to all who replied. Your shared experiences were quite helpful. I'm thinking that maybe it is just a run of bad luck, perhaps. Oh well, off to read Sheldon Brown's article on frame straightening!