HELP! schwinn single speed with back pedal brakes

smithmule · #1 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 06:51 AM

ok so here is my problem.

my GF wants a motored bike (yay) and wants it to be a schwinn point beach.
we cant get schwinn point beach's here in australia but we can get very similar.
the bike she has her eye on has back pedal brakes and no gears .. i have no idea how well the rear drive sprocket will fit and how to get rid of the ugly back pedal braking system.

have u guys ever tried on one of the single speed schwinn's?

**Bikeguy Joe** · #2 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 08:36 AM

All of the bikes I have built were "coaster" or "back pedal" brakes.

You will need to do a couple of mods to make the kit work, not hard ones either.

Remove the dust cover on the end of the axle and grind off the outer flange of the dust cover. I posted pictures of this somewhere around here...

You will also have to bend the brake arm very slightly to clear the bolt heads.

Alternately, you can bore the center hole in the sprocket, and use countersunk screws to clear the brake arm....the choice is yours.

**fairracing31** · #3 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 02:55 PM

Link....http://motorbicycling.com/f3/coaster...-mod-1841.html

Here are some pics of my bent brake arm to clear the sprocket mounting bolts...

smithmule · #4 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 10:43 PM

im a little more comfident on the mod now .. just need to get the bike and motor together and see i suppose.

**Bikeguy Joe** · #5 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 08:41 AM

It is not difficult, or I wouldn't have done it several times fo'sho'!

VENICE BOY · #6 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 09:15 PM

Add a front brake to the bike!!! the coaster brake will most likely fail if used by itself!! SERIOUSLY!!!

saetta · #7 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 07:22 PM

Mine is a single speed coaster brake with a front brake as well. I slow with the rear and apply the front second to assist and stop. I have a cruiser style although not a schwinn and I think the frame style is the best! My sprocket fit my rear hub like a glove!

smithmule · #8 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 11:08 PM

thanks for all the info guys .. will post pics soon

deacon · #9 (**permalink**) 08-04-2008, 07:09 AM

I second the front brake, this from a man who had serious chain issues at first. Coaster brake with no chain = no brakes at all.

However I would not have it any other way. The coaster brake is one less control to deal with.

brucemg51 · #10 (**permalink**) 08-04-2008, 07:15 AM

The first kit I did was on a Huffy Surfside cruiser with coaster brake. After fighting with the rear setup for awhile, I ended up replacing the whole rear wheel with a wheel from a multi-geared bike. Most single speed bikes with coaster brakes come set up for lever brakes anyway, so it was easy to make the switch. Just had to bend the rear fork open a bit to accept the wider wheel with all the extra sprockets.