Questions about... 1950??? Schwinn balloon cruiser

[flatblack50]

This is my brothers Schwinn cruiser. I was are grandfathers bike. I'm pretty sure it is an 1950 according to the serial #. (my grandpa can't remember when he bought it). My brother has been told the fork isn't original. He's been told it was supposed to be a springer. I've found a couple bikes identical to his, but none of them had a springer...???

 

[Tommy Atoms]

So whats your question? Looks like a cool old schwinn. Clean it and ride it.

 

[user 135]

The fork is not a Schwinn. Schwinn never had a plate fork crown like that. There were lots of models and some had springers, some not. Looking at your fenders, The bike probably never had a springer as there would be some additional indentations

Find the serial either on the bottom of the BB or the rear left dropout/

 

[karfer67]

nope that bike did not have a springer it had a straight blade fork and probably the truss rods. i believe the fork you would be looking for would have three straight lines painted on each leg

 

[CCR]

fork is not schwinn like others have said. do the fenders have 2 dimples on each side ? if so the bike would of had a truss rod or springer fork on it.

 

[flatblack50]

Ok, ya i saw a schwinn like his with a strait fork with three lines down the side on-line. The serial # is G 1 7 9 5 1 (need to pull the axle nut off, i think it might be covering up a #...?). According to oldroads.com, serial #'s G 0 0 3 1 6 7 - G 2 9 4 8 9 0 are 1950. Ya, all he has done is re-grease it and put new tires and tubes on it (tires wern't original anyway). The hub is messed up though, not sure if something is broken, or if it just needs to be re-built...? The coaster brake suddenly stoped working...? It's got a New Departure Model D skip tooth hub, 11 tooth.

 

[flatblack50]

Just talked to my brother, he says there are light dimples in the front fender... so i guess it was supposed to have either a springer or truss rods, now the question is whitch one...?

 

[Tommy Atoms]

Which hub does it have?

 

[flatblack50]

Front hub i'm not sure... i'll have to ask. The rear is a New Departure D model 11 tooth (ship tooth).

 

[12bcruzin]

Ok, ya i saw a schwinn like his with a strait fork with three lines down the side on-line. The serial # is G 1 7 9 5 1 (need to pull the axle nut off, i think it might be covering up a #...?). According to oldroads.com, serial #'s G 0 0 3 1 6 7 - G 2 9 4 8 9 0 are 1950. Ya, all he has done is re-grease it and put new tires and tubes on it (tires wern't original anyway). The hub is messed up though, not sure if something is broken, or if it just needs to be re-built...? The coaster brake suddenly stoped working...? It's got a New Departure Model D skip tooth hub, 11 tooth.

If the serial # is on the dropout, then it is probably a 52. Go to http://www.trfindley.com/pg_schwinn_cats.htm for complete serial number info on the "Bunch O Bikes" site and copies of original catalogs for complete info. If it has small dimples on the fender, it had truss rods...not springer, although a springer was an option. And the Schwinn dealers were all about options so keep that in mind, it could have been outfitted several different ways...
And there is a circular clip in the hub with a little tab...the brakes don't work when the clip snaps off. They sell for 5-10 on ebay and there used to be a lot of info in the how to section of this site on how to fix the New Departure hubs.

 

[karfer67]

the fenders are not springer fenders take a look at an original schwinn with the right fender and springer and you will see the indents are deeper than yours. chances are it had truss rods though. and as 12bcruzin said it is not a 50 if the number is on the back drop out. it can get confusing because there are years that cross over. take my 66 stingray which has the same numbers as a late 50's frame. but i know they did not make them then and did some research. turns out they made a mistake and for awhile in early 66 stamped the wrong numbers