Just picked up 2 Schwinn's

[SWRT]

Hey everybody. I just picked up two Schwinn's the other day
and I dont really know much about them. I know they're a good
company and their bikes tend to last and my girlfriend and I have
been looking into riding bikes so I ended up picking up both of
these for $50. Not sure if it was a decent deal or not, but it'd be
cool if I could get some info on them. I know one says Suburban on
it and it looks like it has all original paint and pinstriping, but I'm not
sure if it's worth anything. We planned on fixing them up this weekend
and possibly painting them, but I dont want to ruin hers if it's worth
something. I'd rather just put a coat of wax on it or clean it up, but
I'm not sure if that'd screw up the decals. Anyone have any info or
advice on what to do with the bikes? I'm thinking she'd sell hers if
it's worth anything cause she's broke, but even if it's not it was only
$25 for a bike that rides pretty nice. Either way if they're not worth
anything I'll be going through and cleaning up all the parts repainting
stuff

Now secondly I was wondering are the rims interchangeable? Her rims
seem bigger than mine so I was hoping to just swap them over since
her bike is a little tall for her and the seat is as low as it can go. And
hers doesn't have rear brakes, but it does have something that seems
like it disengages the gear, which I cant figure out. I'm just looking for
a way to make hers lower.

Lastly, and sorry for the crapload of questions, where should I get parts?
Are all the brakes pretty much the same (mine's missing one of the front)
and do I have to get a specific brand of tire? I haven't owned a bike since
I was 15...so about 10 years ago :/

Thanks guys


Here's some pictures of the bikes:


Hers front/side view:

Mine front/side view:

 

[Wildcat]

Those are good bikes. American made Schwinns, probably late 70's. Hers looks like 27" tires and yours 26", maybe both are 27". It will give the size on the sidewall of the tires. I would just shine them up and ride. You should be able to find brake pads for your front brake at any bike shop and even walmart. If you scrub the decals they will come off, but a coat of car wax should bring the color out without damaging the decals. Once cleaned up, you might get 75 dollars or so for each bike, depending where you live.

 

[SWRT]

Hey, thanks man I appreciate the info.
Hers does have the 27"s and mine has 26"s.
That's why I was hoping I could swap them, but
I'm not sure how that'd work.

The front tire on mine has a big bulge in the side from
where the bands broke, it looks like. Wobbles a lot and
I dont have brakes so it was an interesting first ride haha
That's good to know, man. I'll be headed up to Walmart
this weekend and I'll throw a coat of wax on hers and possibly
paint mine since it's been repainted before anyway. I'll post
some pictures of the aftermath once I get it somewhat done.
Thanks again!

 

[gcrank1]

They are good solid bikes that get little (more like no) respect on some other bike forums. You will get the best, most cost effective advise here!
You can buy tires at Walmart or other similar store, but get new tubes too!!! ; Schrader valves (just like your car), not Presta valves.
FWIW, Most of the brake force takes place with a front brake; still, its nice to have both. Try back pedaling on hers to see if its a coaster brake.
All the bearing sets (head, crank, wheels) are 'American', readily available and cheap and relatively easy to work on, though as good as the bikes look they may be fine.
If you really measure the overall height of the wheels and tires you may not gain much by swapping them, but a 24" set would bring hers down! Keep your eye out for more of those in garage sales, or even out with the trash, as a whole bike is great for parts.
BTW, new riders often feel like a bike is 'too tall' until they get some saddle time in. the key for height is not the stand-over height or being able to touch the ground flat footed while on the saddle, but proper leg extension while riding. Often this means only being able to toe the ground while seated, and on a girls frame without the top bar it is easy for her to come forward off the saddle at a stop.
You are in cheap with what looks like pretty nice bikes, so keep both, spiff 'em up and ride on

 

[SWRT]

Awesome! Thanks for the info
And you were right about hers braking on the backpedal.

I tore mine down. Took off the handlebars and fork, front
and rear wheels, the seat. I'm not sure how to the get sprocket
off, but I think I'm just gonna paint around it. I took off the chain
guard and used some carb cleaner on there to see if I could get the
cheesy paint they put on there off and it turns out it's a Schwinn
Speedster. It was such a nice red color, then someone painted over
it with cheesy WalMart red haha I'm planning to paint it charcoal so
I dont have to prime it also or strip it down to the base. I plan on
going through and regreasing those bearings on the fork/handlebar
with wheel bearing grease since the bearings are still in great shape
and doing some maintenance and then just riding them. They're nice
bikes

Hers is a bit weird though. They have like...a clutch disengage? It's a
little lever on the handlebars that seems to put it in neutral. Either way
I'll be pulling hers apart too. Never pulled a bike apart before so I figured
I'd start with mine haha I work on cars a lot though and bikes are a bit
less complex so that's a plus But still apparently complex enough to
where I cant remove the pedals haha

I was thinking amazon for tires. I bought inner tubes at Walmart, but
the tires were like $20 a piece and these seem decent and go to much
higher psi than the ones on there now. Still have to find tires for hers
though. I guess the 27'"s are more elusive since I didnt see any at the
store. I found her some knobby tires, but I dont know if that'll create
a lot more resistance and since it's a fixed gear pretty much that may
be a lot harder on her.

http://www.amazon.com/Kenda-Street-Bicy ... bike+tires

 

[gcrank1]

There are a lot of tires and you get what you pay for. Higher pressure means less rolling resistance, better built, often quieter and smoother.....for more money. See http://www.calhouncyle.com to get an idea of what is available. Manufacturers sites are also good, but not as inclusive or as easy to compare product.
The 'bottom bracket' comes apart pretty easy, and you might as well do it now. Park Tools has an online tutorial on lots of bike stuff, and there is plenty of info here.
That little lever on the bars is likely the gearshift for the 3spd rear. If it, or the rear hub, is out of adjustment or even just sticky from no lube it will hang up inbetween gears as a false neutral.
It is all step by step and you can do it, but do research and ask questions before you go too far and maybe make more work for yourself than needed. Good thing is that you cant hurt anything beyond repair unless maybe tightening bearingsets too tight upon reassembly.

 

[SWRT]

Well, apparently when I removed my rear wheel there was a...
some kind of washer that had grooves in it and it broke in half.
I'm really not sure how, but it must have been hanging on by
tension alone from the previous owner. I'm really not sure
what it's for, but could I replace it with flat washers if I make
it equal width or is that a very specific part?

 

[Wildcat]

Her tires are 27, so 27 x 1/14 or 27 x 1/1/2 will work fine and you'll find those fairly easy. Yours might be a little different, you may have S6 rims, a slightly different size from the standard 26 x 1 3/8 size. Be sure to specify that size tire, just get the same as what's on it now. They should say "S6" on the sidewall.

As for the little thing oin the handlebars that gave you neutral on her bike, that's the 3 speed shifter. The cable needs lubed and adjusted, you found the open spot between 2nd and third gear.

 

[SWRT]

Sweet I'm thinking amazon then

I had asked her about some ISO number that I heard was important
and she said it was a 590. I figured that was my basis. S6. I gotta
ask her to look. I appreciate it Tires are expensive so I'm gonna
try and get it right the first time haha

So if I just shoot some PB Blaster in there it should actually work?
(I ran out the other day and haven't been back over to her house since.)
Shouldn't there be more than 1 sprocket though? Unless they made them
differently back then. I'm just wondering if someone changed out her rear
wheel or something for a standard one.

 

[aka_locojoe]

Sweet I'm thinking amazon then

Shouldn't there be more than 1 sprocket though? Unless they made them
differently back then. I'm just wondering if someone changed out her rear
wheel or something for a standard one.

It's a internally geared hub (vs a derailleur with multiple sprockets). All the gear changing takes place inside the hub. Don't ask me how though

 

[gcrank1]

Do you have a LBS (local bike shop)? Find the closest one and go talk, it is a relationship you should have.

 

[SWRT]

Sweet I'm thinking amazon then

Shouldn't there be more than 1 sprocket though? Unless they made them
differently back then. I'm just wondering if someone changed out her rear
wheel or something for a standard one.

It's a internally geared hub (vs a derailleur with multiple sprockets). All the gear changing takes place inside the hub. Don't ask me how though

Crap, that's cool. I gotta figure that out.

gcrank1: Wow, I'm not really sure to be honest. I'll have to
go driving around. I've never really noticed one before. There's
probably one or two downtown. Should I bring the bike up there
or just ask them stuff about it?


So she looked on the sidewall of the tire and didnt see anything about
S6, but she did see the ISO 590 number, I guess.

So far these are looking like the cheapest option for the 26"s
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DX1DO4/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=

Walmart has some, but they want $20 a tire and these would be
$30 for both. Kinda have mixed reviews though. A lot of people
like them, but the people that hate them really hate them.


I really appreciate all the help, guys. I'm glad I found this place.
Most forums pretty much hate noobs. It's just a bit hard for me
to find info on these bikes cause I'm not sure what years they
are so thanks guys!

 

[jerrykr]

check out http://www.bikeworldusa.com

they have good prices, but their descriptions are pretty limited,
so you need to know what your are looking for. (exact tire size for instance).

have fun, it's how a lot of us got started.