Aug. ‘65 Schwinn Sting-Ray J33

[musclebikemadman]

j33 = regular fenderless Sting Ray with springer.

View attachment 259996
Guessing spokes will indeed be NOS. New OH Shiny.

What is the difference between this and Super deluxe ? Just the seat and chrome guard?

 

[Chad T]

....one other thing. On the spokes. When this guy got this bike new in 1965 those zinc plated spokes would have been very shiny. You'll never get that shine on a 60 year old one and would not make sense at all on a full resto IMO.

 

[Chad T]

What is the difference between this and Super deluxe ? Just the seat and chrome guard?

+fenders and whitewalls. Not sure if anything else. '65 is a new rabbit hole for me.

Edit: Looks like whitewalls were optional. J37 = Deluxe with whitewalls. J36 = Blackwalls.

Smartly equipped with Schwinn's famous spring fork, streamlined Sting-ray saddle, chrome plated fenders, sting-ray handlebars and large rear reflector. Block Slik rear tire on J36 model. Whitewall sting-ray studded rear tire on J37 model. Flamboyant lime, radiant coppertone, sky blue or violet.

 

[musclebikemadman]

....one other thing. On the spokes. When this guy got this bike new in 1965 those zinc plated spokes would have been very shiny. You'll never get that shine on a 60 year old one and would not make sense at all on a full resto IMO.

View attachment 259998

What would you use instead? Wouldn't a restoration need to be factory correct?

 

[CRASH]

Thought I spied a screw in that back stay. Makes sense! You replacing with matching screws or the newer ones that look like rivets?

Didn't even think about the saddle. Why not upgrade for 10 bux?


View attachment 259997

$11 if bought new. I'll bet they just charged him an upgrade fee.

I'll be keeping the original screws in the fender. They are part of the story and lineage of the bike.

And, yes, @musclebikemadman I will be replacing the spokes. Old spokes lose their luster, even if you clean them up. New stainless spokes on freshly polished rims and hubs are an essential part of my restorations. I use 14g 2.0 spokes with 14mm brass nipples like the originals, and I have a spoke guy who cuts and rolls them to exact lengths for each wheel based on the measurements I give him.

 

[musclebikemadman]

+fenders and whitewalls. Not sure if anything else. '65 is a new rabbit hole for me.


View attachment 259999

I forgot about the WW

 

[CRASH]

+fenders and whitewalls. Not sure if anything else. '65 is a new rabbit hole for me.


View attachment 259999

The owner toyed with the idea of white walls because he likes the look. But if you go that route, you might as well get the guard chromed and make it a Super Deluxe. Ultimately, he decided to keep it how he had it originally.

 

[Chad T]

What would you use instead? Wouldn't a restoration need to be factory correct?

Old zinc spokes will be dull gray. Look at the catalog pics. Spokes are very shiny. When this guy got this bike it would have had shiny spokes. These bikes did not come from the factory with 60-year-old dull gray spokes. CRASH always uses new stainless which has a bit more shine but will look more like the bike did when new which is what restoration is to most people.

 

[CRASH]

And modern zinc spokes have a blue hue to them. I laced some wheels for a guy who provided his own spokes. The difference was significant to my eye. Solidified my stance that I will only ever use stainless.

 

[CRASH]

Got the bike completely tore down.

Started the chrome on its Oxalic acid bathing.

Paint came in, and my painter buddy knows a sand blaster, so I’m hoping to get the frame cleaned up and ready for primer soon.

 

[Chad T]

Very intrigued by this front fender. Looks like the stay is riveted on that? And I see indents that look like they're specifically for the springer. Is there any other attachment point for the front fender? Would love to get a better look at it.

 

[musclebikemadman]

Very intrigued by this front fender. Looks like the stay is riveted on that? And I see indents that look like they're specifically for the springer. Is there any other attachment point for the front fender? Would love to get a better look at it.

it also attaches to the pivot bolt on the springer. There is a bracket on the bolt and the fender is bolted to that.

 

[CRASH]

Very intrigued by this front fender. Looks like the stay is riveted on that? And I see indents that look like they're specifically for the springer. Is there any other attachment point for the front fender? Would love to get a better look at it.

That stay isn't rivited, it was just a rusted on nut I couldn't break loose, so I gave it a soak. Since this pic I broke it loose, and soaked the stay.

Yes there are indents specifically for the front springer. It's also held on by a bolt/nut that hangs down from a "swing" holder... best way I can describe it... that hangs from the bolt that holds the legs to the lower thingy mcbobber. I will get you all the pictures you can handle. The soak went great. Next I have to polish.

 

[CRASH]

it also attaches to the pivot bolt on the springer. There is a bracket on the bolt and the fender is bolted to that.

Yeah, what he said.

 

[CRASH]

Oxalic acid bath and degreasing done. Frame is off to get sand blasted.

 

[CRASH]

Bruce Crawford is a magician.

 

[Kevin B]

Amazing!!!

 

[CRASH]

Rims came out decent considering they were pretty rusty.

Before:

After:

 

[Pondo]

Rims came out decent considering they were pretty rusty.

Before:
View attachment 260575

After:
View attachment 260576

Dam son, you's got skillz!~

 

[musclebikemadman]

Oxalic acid bath and degreasing done. Frame is off to get sand blasted.

View attachment 260462

Some of the springer parts don't look as bright as the rest of the chrome, best you pick up one of those fancy real shiny brandy new Chiney made springers and send that old dull one down the road preferably to zip code 12206 we have a wonderful recycling program here. It is a real bummer because the rest of the chrome looks so good hahahahaha