Dahm

I haven't really posted here in a long time because.... I've been out riding! However, I'm onto a new project now - I'm converting an old (1980's?) Schwinn Varsity Deluxe into a fixie.

Now, I have a couple questions before I go out ordering all this stuff and spending money.. I've done some searching online for a handful of hours but my eyes hurt and I need answers


- What size bottom bracket will I need (65mm x ???, 68mm x ??? I have no idea)
- What kind of crankset should I be looking to pick up that will fit said BB? I know I need 165mm arms, and I'm looking for something between 42t and 46t. However, the details are above me and I have no idea.
- 1/2" Pedals to fit cranks? It should be self explanatory however it really depends on the crankset

These are really the only two things I still need to know, and any help would be greatly appreciated.


Thank you.

tmh657

Convert a better frame, IMO. There is no 65mm BB. 68mm is a standard BB shell width. I have no idea what a Varsity has but you could find that info with a google search.
You would need to pick a crank and then a BB.
You wouldn't get an Octalink BB and then decide you want Sugino 75's on it.

You say you spent a handful of hours searching online. Did you find out anything on your own? If you tell us something that you found out it would help us to help you.

dayvan cowboy

i don't know about the specific model but don't varsitys have american bottom brackets? if so, you'd need an adapter to run a normal bottom bracket/crankset. the adapaters aren't too expensive.

TejanoTrackie 

The OP probably has one of these >>>> https://www.sheldonbrown.com/opc.html

Dahm

Actually, I don't have any crank or BB. I picked JUST the frame (with headset, post, and fork) for pretty cheap. This is just a practice/test bike, which is the reason for the "not so great frame". I'll be doing a MUCH better build when I know what I'm doing more when it comes to fixed gears.

I have read online that my Schwinn Varsity frame probably does have an American bracket, and I have seen the adapters, so I guess that is one thing I will have to pick up. I just first wanted some insight as to what size bracket I need (have a few other tabs open trying to find sizes right now).

Apart from just the size (which I can find on my own most likely), I did want to know what kind of BB to use. I think I've stumbled over that information while searching - Shimano UN-54 BB. Can anyone confirm this?

Working with older frames like this can be tough...


EDIT!!

Parts list -

- Shimano UN-54 BB - WOULD THIS STILL BE IN AMERICAN? OR WOULD IT BE "FIXED" TO EURO STANDARD NOW!?
- FMF Bottom Bracket Converter

Any suggestions on crank with 165mm arms? UN-54 is square taper.


The adapter is 24TPI, with a 1.370" hole.
The shell of the Varsity is 65mm wide.

^ Translates to... eh? ^

DC_United_Fan

As was posted above, the BB you run will depend on selecting a crankset. If you pick a crank with a square taper JIS interface, you can use a Shimano UN-series BB. If you decide to go with a Miche or a Paul Components, you'll need a BB with a Campy square taper. If this is a mess-around fixie project, I would recommend you go with an All City 612 or an IRO crankset...maybe even a Pake. All of these would use a square taper JIS BB. Then you just have to figure out your chain line to order your required spindle length....you have thought about your chain line, right?

Dahm

Chain line - I have thought about it, but maybe you could provide me with a bit more insight on that too eh? I forgot to mention it earlier.

I haven't been able to find this information online for 2 days now, so maybe one of you can answer this:

Is the Vuelta Pista Track Crankset (https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product..._200276_200376) compatible with a square taper JIS BB like the UN-54?

I like the Pake Track crankset price (its about the sale as VP). I'll look into that on as well. Its either that or the VP depending on the fitting of the VP.

DC_United_Fan

Yeah, from the discription, it seems to be a JIS taper crank. Normally if it's not a JIS taper they will say so in the discription, but it might be worth a toll free call to Nashbar to verify.

Before we get too deep into the chainline convo, what rear hub do you plan on running?

Dahm

I was considering just getting the "nashbar" fixie hub, because it seemed like it would be pretty soft on the pocket.

(https://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Produc...2_174018_-1___)

Or a Vuelta wheel set that's got a pre-fabbed hub, 16t cog, etc.

(https://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Produc...2_260679_-1___)

^ It never said online, but I'm going to go ahead and assume these are 700C ^

What might you suggest?

DC_United_Fan

Either of those options should be fine for what you're trying to do. The crank discription doesn't give a spindle length recomendation, but for a decent chainline (Track standard is 42mm) you can probably go with a spindle length of 103-109mm and be good to go...might not be perfect, but it should run fine with out too much noise or excess wear on the parts. Again, a quick call to Nashbar may help clear this up a lot better than I can.

dsh

Sugino XDs are pretty cheap and easy to find in 165. I've been happy with mine on the beater bike (a '74 Sport Tourer conversion).

Dahm

Apparently the BB on the Schwinn Varsity should be 65mm x 115mm. Does this affect the spindle at all? (I'm a little lost on the spindle business). Apologies for my spindle ignorance.

tmh657

Does it look like this?

https://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1...0/1980_13.html

Dahm

Yes, that's the frame I've got. Don't know about the other components, as all I have is the frame, but there's a 95% likelihood that that's the one.

Why?

EDIT:

I have a final parts list down - if you see something that you know for SURE is not compatible, PLEASE let me know. I'm going to call nashbar tomorrow to make sure the crank and BB will work together, but other than that.. it should be fine. (1/2" pedals on track cranks?? Anyone?)

SHIMANO BB-UN54 BOTTOM BRACKET (SQUARE TAPER) (65mm x 115mm)

Vuelta Pista Track Bike Crankset (46t, 165mm)

Nashbar Time Trial Handlebar (26.0mm.. I'll make it fit the 25.4mm quill I've got)

Vuelta Single Speed Road Bike/ Track Wheelset (16t cog)

Vuelta Single Speed Chain (112 links, 1 1/8")

Nashbar Cage All Purpose Mountain Bike Pedal (1/2")

dayvan cowboy

you need the bottom bracket adapter as well.

The standard pedal diameter on all cranks besides one piece cranks is 9/16" not 1/2 inch. Those pedals you listed are 9/16 so they'll work.

Dahm

I was under the impression that since this was a totally new bottom bracket, the adapter wasn't needed?

Ehh.. this got me all confused again. The Shimano UN-54 BB is a Cartridge-style European BB. Isn't the adapter just for American ---> Euro, and since my BB is already Euro, I'm okay?

Retro Grouch 

For a Varsity think BMX parts. You could go high tech with a BMX 3 piece crank but, if it was my bike, I'd just slap a one piece crank onto it with a BMX chainring.

If your Varsity is fairly complete, I'm thinking the wheelset is the only other thing that you'll have to buy.

If it's not complete - good luck. Varsities have non-standard sized seatposts and stems and such. It might not be the easiest frame for a first conversion attempt.

Dahm

Thanks for that idea. I'll look into that right now.

Fortunately, I have the seat post, I've sourced a bracket for my seat, and I've sourced a fitting quill stem.. so all those hard to find parts I've got *phew*.

I'll let you know how my search goes for BMX stuff.

TheBikeRollsOn 

I think the BB should be 65x107 if you can find that. The link you posted is for a 68x115, not 65.

I think it might be kind of hard to find a 65x107.

Dahm

Why 65x107? Don't you mean 68?

My original 65x115 was a typo, I mean't 68x115, and here is my answer:

"I converted the bottom bracket on my '74 Varsity using the TruVativ converter bracket sold by Harris. It worked very well; accepted the Shimano UN-54 68mm x 115mm spindle length bottom bracket with no problems. I installed a set of light weight aluminum cranks and ring gears off of a '75 Le Tour. The UN-54 BB has the square taper which will match up with a whole host of crank sets both new and old."

Sounds like I need either the FMF or TruVativ converter, the UN-54BB 68x### BB, and then I can use any 3 piece crank I want to that fits the square taper from the UN-54.

### - Determined by crankset

TheBikeRollsOn 

I saw this, maybe you mistyped or something as 65 would be a weird size bb shell. But if it is indeed a 68 then you need 68x103-109, the spindle length, (which is the 103-109), will determine the chainline. So a 68x115 will probably not give you an acceptable chainline.

Dahm

Yeah, that sounds better.

I've estimated I'll have around a 42mm chainline.. So probably I'll start with 103.

* Problem * Shimano UN-54's only come in 107.. Oh well.

I might use an IRD 68x103

Dahm

Sorry for the double post, but I'm ending the thread so I think it warrants it.

I went to my LBS and had an hour long conversation, full of catalogs and ordering, and I have everything I need to build up my bike.

Thank you so much for everyone that helped, as the information was very valuable when talking to my LBS.

bbattle

Be sure and post pics when you get the bike up and running.

arshak

No such thing as "American" the type is probably "English", as in Brit. There are three types of BB's: French, Italian or English. French BB are pretty much restricted to older French bikes like Peugeot or Motobecane. English BB's are 68mm where as Italian or Campy BB's are specified at 70mm