fixing up old tandem. Is it worth it?
 

Hi all I know that this may be a question better suited to the classic and vintage forum, but I figured it being a tandem I would start here and see what everyone thinks. So I had posted a WTB ad on craigslist and ended up getting an e-mail about a vista tandem we settled on a price of $50. I went today (despite the weather) and picked it up, but after getting it back I am starting to have second thoughts..

Pictures:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...1/DSC02029.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...1/DSC02030.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...1/DSC02031.jpg

As you can see there is quite a bit of rust. The guy said it has been in his workshop for 10 years or so, so it must have not been in great shape when he put it away. From my brief look at it I noticed that the cranks were in different positions from each other, which from my limited knowledge of tandems seems not right. It is just a internal 3-speed I guess with a coaster brake. Also the shifter is on the stokers bars. Just lots of little weird things, but I dont know if is worth investing money into. What all do you think I would need to get it in a decent shape? Thanks for any info

Kyle

P.s. cross posted in tandem forum

Hey when dinner for two with wine costs $50 plus, how could any bike that amuses you for a few hours not be a good buy at the same price. The paint actually looks pretty good so some sweat on the chrome parts will greatly improve the appearence. More importantly, if it convinces you that you want a better tandem, youve made a good buy. Tandems are like canoes, they challenge the strength of relationships, trust, and forgiveness. Enjoy the ride. You apparently got a three speed hub which should make it much more ridable than a single speed. Tom

At the very least I would clean it up and see what I had... The cranks look to be "out of phase" which is the way some people set their tandems up. It is possible that the timing chain slipped (after another look that may be it) I suspect that the 3 speed might be an add on? Tandem 3 speed length cables are not easy to find. (I have had to make my own before)

Aaron:)

Good call Aaron. Out of synch cranks used to be widely touted as smoothing the power stroke, but many of us got knee problems as the main push off of a twoperson bike was tossed onto the leg power of a single captain. I'd suggest adjusting them to in-synch. Perhaps I should claify why its important for you to decide if you are a tandem fan. My purchase of a Santana some 23 years ago was with the hope that "we" would like it and we did. The bike is still going strong with some 30,000 miles or so on it and with the same wife on the back that started when the bike was new. Ride on. tom

this is what i did with my beater tandem

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n...ndembefore.jpg


http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n...andemafter.jpg

so here is another question. If I replaced the rear wheel could I set up more gears? I mean for our cruising needs the three speed probably will get the job done, but I am just looking for more options here. I will be probably stip it down and try and clean it up first and see how that goes. Thanks for all the tips so far keep them coming

You "could" get up to 14 gears in an IGH (Internal Gear Hub) That would be the Rohloff and it would set you back about 30-40 very fancy dinners;):p I would clean it up and "give it a go" and see if you need/want more gears.

FWIW my bride and I recently joined the tandem culture, picked up a 200? Raleigh Companion in a barely ridden condition for less than $500. Now we just need to both be home at the same time...:rolleyes::o But once spring is sprung and Prom season is over it should be feasible. I raced tandems in my distance past and we used the out of phase cranks to keep the power band smooth.

nhsilverback,
Killer job on that tandem!

Aaron:)

I like it!!

[QUOTE=nhsilverback;6293833]this is what i did with my beater tandem

Holy crap! I just love what you have done with that! Did you find white tires or just paint them? I'm diggin' the little BMX type bars on the front as well. Sweet!

And to the OP......It is totally worth it! I'd love to find a tandem for that price. The frame looks to be in good shape. All of the rusty parts (if they don't clean up) can be had pretty cheaply. I am always astonished at how cheap all the Wald stuff is especially concidering they are made right here in the good ol' US of A. They have those Fenders, goose necks, bars.....almost the whole shabang! I say go for it! Don't let a little rust dismay you (as long as the frame is solid).

Nice score!
Kelly D

Is it worth $50- probably yes.
Is it worth investing a lot of money to make it into a first class riding machine- probably not.
Is it worth investing a lot of money in to restore it to like-new condition as a show-piece- probably not.

Any old ridable tandem will go for $50-$200 or so. So you definitely bought at the low end and in the right place at the right time could double your money. And if you just want to do an occasional around-the-block, that's the way to go.

As far as using it for serious riding, there's a lot of "ifs". Is it the right size? (My Huffy is on the smallish size) How does it feel? (my Huffy is pretty flexible) How's the weight? Is everything working, or do you have to start replacing wheels and hubs just to go around the block?

As far as cosmetic restoration, given that these things are not uncommon, you'd do well to be very picky about what you start with to minimize the work and maximize the results.

My guess on the sync issue- somebody had the chain off and didn't know the difference.

Cool I'm not the only one here with a classic tandem..Here's a before and after of mine.
My cranks were out of sync at first also..I was'nt going to complain for "free"
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/d...g/DSCI0149.jpg
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/d...g/DSCI0153.jpg

It's not much of a hill climber but it's great in the neighborhood..

I wouldn't spend a ton of money on it, but I'd sure clean it up and ride it around a bit. It looks like a lot of fun!

Nice find.That doesn't look to be all that bad.The frame/paint looks to be ok.You can always find the rest(chrome bits)easy enough.Just find a decent donour (single)bike for the fenders,rims,stems,handlebars,etc...
Once you get it going,you'll love it.A tandem is alot of fun.Here's a pic of mine.It's a 1971 CCM with 26 x 1 3/8(EA3)wheels.I swapped in a Sturmey AW hub to make it a bit better but it's all pretty well stock(except for the forks).
You'll also have to get used to people stopping you all the time to see if you will sell it to them.:)
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...coftandem1.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...coftandem2.jpg

Your new bike has pleasing lines and looks like a crowd pleaser. I've had a couple old beater tandems over the years. Once when riding it around the neighborhood I gave a ride to an 80+ woman who'd just lost her sister and was distraut. It was her first bicycle ride ever and she loved it. A handicapped man rides with me now at times and he really looks forward to our rides, not being able to steer one properly himself. There are numerous sightless riding programs where blind folks team up with tandem captains so they can enjoy the pleasures of cycling. What you have there is a rolling party and a great tool for shopping as well. You can search on ways to de-rust it and do it little at a time. Have fun.

Not finding the link right now, but Sheldon Brown (I think) has an article about fixing up old tandems like this. If I remember, one of things that he mentions is replacing the blade fork with a heftier uni-crown one for better stability and control.

About all I'd do to this tandem is change the rims to a set of cruzer/M/B cheep alum rims.(I'd look for compleat wheel sets used)This one is a low end park cruzer type of bike.On the up side---$50 was a good buy.We have a low end tandem we often "throw" in the pick/up and hall around just to have fun on.

"What all do you think I would need to get it in a decent shape?"

Start with a complete tear down, cleanup & lube. All you will need is a tub of wheel bearing grease and some time and patience. For the rust, a bottle of Oxalic acid crystals from your local drugstore will mix with water to give you an effective rust removal solution (do a search). You will have a nice tandem cruiser for a minimum investment. Just stay away from hills! Don

Here's my 3 speed tandem, modified with a longer stem for my height. Sooner or later, I'll build a 7 or 8 speed wheelset with alloy rims, and a pair of sprung Brooks. Loads of fun to ride, gets used every week.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...2/P8170007.jpg

"About all I'd do to this tandem is change the rims to a set of cruzer/M/B cheep alum rims."

I guess it depends on what you mean by cheap. I'm pretty sure the steel rims on bikes of old were tougher than any aluminum rim you'll find on a Walmart-type bike now. The wheels on my Huffy tandem are more heavily built than standard balloon-tire wheels, though, I'd keep 'em like they were.

I have the opportunity to buy a very good condition Gitane Tandem with Mafac Cantilevers that was about right for me and my girlfriend... 6'3" and 5'5"... I didn't have the space at the time... damn.. I wish... don't have his contact info either.

Thanks for the compliments
i used a cheap old beatup mtn bike a s a doner
wheels, derallier, brakes
couple cans of paint
new tires and handlebars
great fun bike for just crusing around the neighborhood
the kids get a big kick out of riding it

If you have a girlfriend, read this thread and then go "fix" your tandem.

I am thinking about going ahead and making this a single speed, losing the fenders, going with different handle bars and hopefully fixing up the saddles and keeping them. we are not planning on doing long distance stuff this is just going to be for cruising around so I dont think a three speed v. a single speed is going to be a huge difference. I would also have to ad a brake since I would be losing the coaster brake. It seems like the bottom brackets are rusted to much to save, but I dont know if they will be a standard bottom bracket or if they make weird tandem bottom brackets or anything.