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This thread is to show the progress so far of the 1965 Schwinn Speedster 3 speed cruiser.
When I picked it up from Teen Challenge in Albany for $15 on a half off day
Another view
Head badge
Front.
Disassembled, and some wet sanding to get more paint off
Acquired black grips, Persons USA saddle, brackets/clips, brake lever, front brake, spent sometime cleaning all this up
Persons USA saddle, the indentations were from being under another saddle for a long time at the parts guy's storage
Back of the saddle. It is a padded vinyl saddle with springs in the structure, from roughly the same era, or the 70s
Cleaned up the handlebars and installed brake levers, shifter, and grips
Reassembly going good
Another view. I still think a little red and cream pinstriped details would look amazing on the semigloss black.
Getting there... brakes and brake cables installed, new brake shoes on, wheels on, fork all assembled properly, just needs the chrome brake cable housing clips and a little plastic or alloy cable stop for the shifter cable
Rear view
Broadside view, yes I know, brake cable really needs the clips
Another view
Frontal view.
The shift cable needs a little plastic piece for the cable stop clip so that I can run bare cable to pulley then to the Sturmey Archer 3 speed rear hub, then a set of black/silver bear trap pedals like so
But without reflectors; and if these chains are the right length and not just BMX 20" wheel and small chainring sized;
however, that chain is only $15 on Amazon, and if I prefer, these 60s pedals may look fine/elegant on the bike if I can find great New Old Stock condion... instead of beat to hell, hard worn rubber and rusty..
The pedals that the bike in theory should have come with.
There are other pedals that could work, like the BMX ones but most of the available ones for the old school 1 piece crank arm threading (1/2") are ether anodized alloys, or covered in plastic and not quite the classic styled or mean looking bear traps.. there are the old rectangular rat trap pedals, similar to the bear traps but most are a dull gray patina'd color...
I am debating on replacing head badge with one that has red background, or one with black background, and if I should put white original style decals on it or leave it mostly plain except maybe for the round Schwinn Chicago decal on the seat tube... my brother is contacting friends and see if theres a local pinstriper who would want to use the bike as a pinstripe project, so that its more... Kustom, and befitting the general "Rat-Rodness" of the bicycle appearance.
I do plan on changing the tires to whitewalls.
So far I am into this project for about $133, with the sandblast and powdercoat job being more than half the cost at $75
When I picked it up from Teen Challenge in Albany for $15 on a half off day
Another view
Head badge
Front.
Disassembled, and some wet sanding to get more paint off
Acquired black grips, Persons USA saddle, brackets/clips, brake lever, front brake, spent sometime cleaning all this up
Persons USA saddle, the indentations were from being under another saddle for a long time at the parts guy's storage
Back of the saddle. It is a padded vinyl saddle with springs in the structure, from roughly the same era, or the 70s
Cleaned up the handlebars and installed brake levers, shifter, and grips
Reassembly going good
Another view. I still think a little red and cream pinstriped details would look amazing on the semigloss black.
Getting there... brakes and brake cables installed, new brake shoes on, wheels on, fork all assembled properly, just needs the chrome brake cable housing clips and a little plastic or alloy cable stop for the shifter cable
Rear view
Broadside view, yes I know, brake cable really needs the clips
Another view
Frontal view.
The shift cable needs a little plastic piece for the cable stop clip so that I can run bare cable to pulley then to the Sturmey Archer 3 speed rear hub, then a set of black/silver bear trap pedals like so
But without reflectors; and if these chains are the right length and not just BMX 20" wheel and small chainring sized;
however, that chain is only $15 on Amazon, and if I prefer, these 60s pedals may look fine/elegant on the bike if I can find great New Old Stock condion... instead of beat to hell, hard worn rubber and rusty..
The pedals that the bike in theory should have come with.
There are other pedals that could work, like the BMX ones but most of the available ones for the old school 1 piece crank arm threading (1/2") are ether anodized alloys, or covered in plastic and not quite the classic styled or mean looking bear traps.. there are the old rectangular rat trap pedals, similar to the bear traps but most are a dull gray patina'd color...
I am debating on replacing head badge with one that has red background, or one with black background, and if I should put white original style decals on it or leave it mostly plain except maybe for the round Schwinn Chicago decal on the seat tube... my brother is contacting friends and see if theres a local pinstriper who would want to use the bike as a pinstripe project, so that its more... Kustom, and befitting the general "Rat-Rodness" of the bicycle appearance.
I do plan on changing the tires to whitewalls.
So far I am into this project for about $133, with the sandblast and powdercoat job being more than half the cost at $75
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