AlanKHG

I picked up this Schwinn World Voyageur on craigslist today. It appears to mainly need a cleanup & tires. The wheels could use tensioning, too. I have some Paselas coming.

Here are photos in a kitchen that's probably contemporary to the bike:





So what are your tips on cleaning up the bit of pitting on the chrome up front? The same question holds for the faded finish on the front derailleur & clip. And can I get that white scraping bit off the top tube?

I have some Mother's aluminum polish on hand, if that'd be useful.

pastorbobnlnh 

Mothers or Blue Magic or any other good metal polish used with fine bronze wool will remove most of the rust on the chrome. You can also use it on any of the aluminum bits. The paint should come back to life using ScratchX and the Meguiar's 3 Step process.

It will be a really fine looking ride when you are done. Great find!

gtownviking

I used this stuff with incredible results....it's a wadding polish....just tear off a small piece and buff away the wipe with a a clean cloth.

wrk101

What a terrific find! On painted surfaces, get some polishing compound at Walmart or your store of choice. It will be sold in the car wax section.

I would not ride it without having all the bearings replaced and new grease. Otherwise, you run the risk of damaging hubs and bb.

AlanKHG

Hmm, San Diego is silly and doesn't have a bike coop. I guess it's time to bite the bullet and buy some cone wrenches and grease myself.

mkeller234

I'd suggest buying decent cone wrenches. I started out with the cheapo ones and they were to thick to be useful. I bit the bullet and bought some of the park tool wrenches and have been much happier with them.

khatfull

I got some Cyclepro cone wrenches (2 x 13mm 2 x 15mm 2 x 17mm I think) from a forum member. I don't know where they stack up with the Park ones but they sure do the job and I can't imagine not having had them before. Costing $2 each was nice as well.

There simply IS not substitute for proper tools (and note I said proper...not everything has to come from Park )

mkeller234

Very true, not everything I own has blue handles. I didn't say it earlier, but that is one really fine Schwinn. Take good care of it!

AlanKHG

Hmm.

The more I think about this bike, the more I realize that it is silly that I also have a mid-70s Miyata Professionnel that I've been riding for the past couple of years that I'm about to get shipped out from my parents' house. But that bike was already missing some original parts, and I think I've settled on putting STIs and such on it.

Is it really reasonable to have two 23" orange 1970s Japanese road bikes equipped with first-generation Dura-Ace?

mkeller234

Absolutely not.... I will take the Schwinn off of your hands! Actually, that is a nice "problem" to have. N+1

bikemore 

You are just getting started. Google "how many" site:bikeforums.net to find out where people top out

Actually if you use bikes for transportation it is really a good idea to have two bikes (they don't have to orange or have first-generation Dura Ace). It makes keeping
appointments and such a lot easier if one breaks down, is crashed, or stolen.

sailorbenjamin

At one point I had 4 green Raleighs and 3 black ones in the keeper fleet. Several more passed through my hands as flips or parts bikes. Now I have a much more sensable outlook on life. I'm down to 2 greens and 2 blacks... and some reds and silvers and a yellow Schwinn and an ond Roadmaster that isn't really any color.

sailorbenjamin

Actually, having all your bikes the same color makes furniture choice easier. This orange modular sofa from Ikea would look great next to your chrome bike rack;
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S49831299

3373jones

Cool bike! glad to see a BF member grabbed it! (i was tempted). Looks like its in nice condition too!