Barely fit in the back of my truck. (Crank Pulled)

[julesjunk]

Picked this tank up today. Wife claims she'll ride it with me. We shall see......

It's my understanding you can't date a tandem using the VIN? If so, what is the best way to date it?

Thanks for lookin.
Jules

 

[MBblue6]

Re: Barely fit in the back of my truck.....

You can date a schwinn tandem just like any other schwinn. Serial should be by the rear axle. My guess iis it is a 64 or 65. Matt

 

[julesjunk]

Re: Barely fit in the back of my truck.....

You can date a schwinn tandem just like any other schwinn. Serial should be by the rear axle. My guess iis it is a 64 or 65. Matt

I'm not sure, but I think the Serial reads: TA88309
Tomorrow, I'll pull the fender bracket out of the way, and attempt to get a better read on the #. Can I assume the "T" stands for tandem?

Thanks for your input.....
Jules

 

[Wildcat]

Re: Barely fit in the back of my truck.....

I heard both, some say all Schwinn tandems start their serial number with a T and don't follow the yearly progression, but others have had Schwinns with normal numbers. Mine's first couple of digits/numbers aren't visible so I can't tell on my 63. The cranks have the date in 2 raised digits on them, on the inside between the threads. The last 2 digits will be the year. That's how I dated my bike.

 

[ratina]

Re: Barely fit in the back of my truck.....

I had a 65 and an 80 schwinn tandem and both had normal serial numbers in the normal places.

 

[2manybikes]

Re: Barely fit in the back of my truck.....

My 74 tandem has s/n on the rear dropout and checks out just like every other schwinn I own

 

[MBblue6]

Re: Barely fit in the back of my truck.....

It is a 1965 I don't know what the t stands for I had a 1965 tandem and it was lettered the same way as normal schwinn. Are you sure the T is not an L F or E? Matt

 

[ratina]

Re: Barely fit in the back of my truck.....

My 74 tandem has s/n on the rear dropout and checks out just like every other schwinn I own

74 should be on the headtube, did you mean 64?

 

[julesjunk]

Re: Barely fit in the back of my truck.....

Serial # is TA38309

The "T" is smaller and I assume it stands for Tandem.

I'm thinking maybe 1963??

I attempted to pull the handlebar stem, but she's in there tight, and I hate to break her. May remove a crank if I get overly motivated.

Thanks,
Jules

 

[bikesntrikes]

Re: Barely fit in the back of my truck. (serial # update)

Yup, that's what my wife said when I brought home a tandem. We have yet to ride it together. I've ridden it by myself a few times and only one time with her nephew. The kid weighs slightly over 200 lbs. Man-o-man was that a wild and hard ride!

Both riders really have to be in sync to ride the tandem. It's a skill that can be mastered only with practice.

 

[julesjunk]

Re: Barely fit in the back of my truck. (serial # update)

Yup, that's what my wife said when I brought home a tandem. We have yet to ride it together. I've ridden it by myself a few times and only one time with her nephew. The kid weighs slightly over 200 lbs. Man-o-man was that a wild and hard ride!

Both riders really have to be in sync to ride the tandem. It's a skill that can be mastered only with practice.

Isn't that the truth. My neighbor and I rode it around the block. He's pushing 200 and I'm 220. The word "dangerous" came to mind. need to grease her. the rear hub was too hot to touch.......... :?

 

[Foybles]

Re: Barely fit in the back of my truck. (serial # update)

My 73 Twinn Deluxe has a regular ser# on the head tube. It was easy to date. Yours looks like it might be from the 60's.

 

[MBblue6]

Re: Barely fit in the back of my truck. (serial # update)

I would still say the second letter A stands for 1965 just like it would on any other schwinn. Matt

 

[Wildcat]

Re: Barely fit in the back of my truck. (serial # update)

Looking at their catalogs, it's not a 63 or 64, that style frame wasn't offered with ashtabula cranks, but it sure looks like a 60's tandem, could be a 65. Looks like the date on the cranks will be the sure way of knowing. The bearings probably need some grease anyway. I'd service them both and check both dates to see if they are both the original cranks.

 

[julesjunk]

Re: Barely fit in the back of my truck. (serial # update)

I would still say the second letter A stands for 1965 just like it would on any other schwinn. Matt

Pulled a crank last night.......... 1965

Thanks Matt, and everyone else.