Schwinn parts questions
07-21-11, 02:48 PM
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Schwinn parts questions
Good day to all. I have some questions about the sizes of various parts on my recently purchased Speedster. It is a 1972 model if that helps.
I need new brake pads, will Koolstop Continentals work?
What size is the seat post? I think 13/16" I plan to get a Wald 13/16" with a 7/8' clamp area so I can use generic single rail seat clamps I have rolling around my tool box.
If I need it, what head tube bearings kit do I use?
What is the stem size? Might replace it with an alloy one that looks the same if I can find it
What diameter is the clamping area on the handlebars. Again, might replace the steel with alloy from Soma.
I read that I need a 28 tpi bottom bracket kit if I need to replace the bottom bracket; who currently makes a decent kit. I am thinking I should avoid the pyramid one and go for the sunlite kit if it is necessary to replace the bottom bracket. Harris Cyclery claims to have a Tange kit, is this just a sunlite kit?
Sorry for the long winded post. I have never worked on an old Schwinn before, so I am probably going to be asking a lot of dumb questions. Most of the parts are just fine on it, but if I can find parts that look the same but make it less prone to rust the better. I plan to turn it in to my daily rider. Hell, if I get adventurous I might even convert the wheels to alloy 590 so I can get better tires and avoid rusting/more maintenance.
All the Best,
Erik
I need new brake pads, will Koolstop Continentals work?
What size is the seat post? I think 13/16" I plan to get a Wald 13/16" with a 7/8' clamp area so I can use generic single rail seat clamps I have rolling around my tool box.
If I need it, what head tube bearings kit do I use?
What is the stem size? Might replace it with an alloy one that looks the same if I can find it
What diameter is the clamping area on the handlebars. Again, might replace the steel with alloy from Soma.
I read that I need a 28 tpi bottom bracket kit if I need to replace the bottom bracket; who currently makes a decent kit. I am thinking I should avoid the pyramid one and go for the sunlite kit if it is necessary to replace the bottom bracket. Harris Cyclery claims to have a Tange kit, is this just a sunlite kit?
Sorry for the long winded post. I have never worked on an old Schwinn before, so I am probably going to be asking a lot of dumb questions. Most of the parts are just fine on it, but if I can find parts that look the same but make it less prone to rust the better. I plan to turn it in to my daily rider. Hell, if I get adventurous I might even convert the wheels to alloy 590 so I can get better tires and avoid rusting/more maintenance.
All the Best,
Erik
07-23-11, 04:42 PM
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Hi, I'll try to answer...
Kool Stop Continentals - I bet they'd work. Pricey. Be advised that nothing will help much on wet chrome-plated rims.
Wald 13/16" seat posts - Yes, those are basically made for Schwinns. They're not very thick, don't sit hard if you're heavy and a lot of post is sticking out of the seat tube.
Headset? I don't know. I've seen others say 'BMX size'. This makes sense since BMX bikes were made from Schwinn balloon tire bikes. I've never replaced a headset, can't offer any more fact or opinion.
If it's bearing balls you need, "Most headsets use either the 5/32" or 3/16" size."-- (Sheldon Brown). Sorry I don't remember which for this bike. You can remove the cage (if any) and replace with loose balls.
Stem is 21.1 mm. BMX/Cruiser size. Difficult to find good road-style alloy stems.
Handlebar clamp is almost universal 25.4 mm / 1" until recently.
I hope you don't need to replace the BB. You can replace the caged balls with loose 1/4" (i think) balls. I bet it'd run pretty well for a long time even if it doesn't look so good inside. Gosh, I hope Tange isn't a rebadged Sunlite...
Good luck. I had a coaster-brake Speedster when I was a lil' shaver and a few years ago fixed up 3-speed Speedster and rode it for a year or so. Easy to work on. My later-acquired 1987-ish Schwinn Cruiser Supreme is like the bike I wanted the Speedster to be (wider range gears, better wheels and tires), so I let go the Speedster.
Kool Stop Continentals - I bet they'd work. Pricey. Be advised that nothing will help much on wet chrome-plated rims.
Wald 13/16" seat posts - Yes, those are basically made for Schwinns. They're not very thick, don't sit hard if you're heavy and a lot of post is sticking out of the seat tube.
Headset? I don't know. I've seen others say 'BMX size'. This makes sense since BMX bikes were made from Schwinn balloon tire bikes. I've never replaced a headset, can't offer any more fact or opinion.
If it's bearing balls you need, "Most headsets use either the 5/32" or 3/16" size."-- (Sheldon Brown). Sorry I don't remember which for this bike. You can remove the cage (if any) and replace with loose balls.
Stem is 21.1 mm. BMX/Cruiser size. Difficult to find good road-style alloy stems.
Handlebar clamp is almost universal 25.4 mm / 1" until recently.
I hope you don't need to replace the BB. You can replace the caged balls with loose 1/4" (i think) balls. I bet it'd run pretty well for a long time even if it doesn't look so good inside. Gosh, I hope Tange isn't a rebadged Sunlite...
Good luck. I had a coaster-brake Speedster when I was a lil' shaver and a few years ago fixed up 3-speed Speedster and rode it for a year or so. Easy to work on. My later-acquired 1987-ish Schwinn Cruiser Supreme is like the bike I wanted the Speedster to be (wider range gears, better wheels and tires), so I let go the Speedster.
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