Schwinn Vintage Board Tracker

sportscarpat · #1 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 10:46 PM

Hi guys,
I am new to the motor bike word. I saw my first motor bike about a year ago in Santa Cruz, California, and just couldn't believe it. I remember saying "that bike has an engine on it"! I have always been a Schwinn fan and I had worked for years as a fabricator. I figured I could put an engine on an old Schwinn cruiser and fab any of the parts I would need. Then I saw the board track bikes with the in frame tanks and knew I wanted to build one. So I kept my eyes open and found a 1950 Schwinn Panther frame and original springer fork. The build began........

sportscarpat · #2 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 10:58 PM

I picked this type of frame, a Schwinn Straightbar as they are called , because a tank would fit nicely below the top tube and give the bike the board track look I was after. I quickly threw the bike together with any 26" bike parts I had laying around the shop just to get an idea of what this bike was going to look like. I mocked up a gas tank in cardboard.

silverbear · #3 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 10:58 PM

Welcome to the forum. I have the same frame, same year, but no springer. I'll be following your build closely, for sure!
SB

bairdco · #4 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 11:01 PM

cool, took ya long enough.

don't hesitate to ask norm, joe, or 2 door about any chain tensioner problems you might have...

(c'mon, i'm kidding...)

if you can fab up your own gas tank, you could make it look like the original horn tank. that'd be neat-o.

sportscarpat · #5 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 11:09 PM

While worked continued on the tank I started researching engine choices. I quickly discovered that in California you cannot run over 49cc and still be considered legal, so I bought the 80cc of course. I went with the Grubee because it was available in California as it comes with EPA certification. EPA legal but over the 49cc limit? Whatever. I mounted the engine.

sportscarpat · #6 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 11:29 PM

The gas tank continues. I currently work for a company that specializes in custom stainless steel food processing equipment. We have a couple laser cutters and I draw in autocad. I have access to this equipment so it helps when I need custom parts. Using my cardboard template as a starting point I drew up the tank and developed the flat patterns. Once cut the pieces looked like a small jig saw puzzle.

sportscarpat · #7 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 11:55 PM

I chose stainless steel for the gas tank for a few reasons. First it is 90% of what we use for food processing equipment, second it does not rust, and third, well it's just really cool. Time to put the jig saw puzzle of a gas tank together. First I welded in acorn nuts on the base plate so I had threaded attachments to eventually mount the tank to the bike frame. I then took the four main flat pattern pieces and starting with the base piece I tacked the two side pieces on using my tig welder. If you look closely at the finished tank you will notice that the sides are not completely flat, but curve. The back of the tank is 2 1/2" wide and the front is 4 1/4". The sides had to be shaped as they were tacked in place to the bottom. Once the two sides were welded to the bottom then came the hardest part, wraping the top piece around the sides. Precision is the key here, as good fit-up makes the final welding much easier. I was pretty busy during the fitting and welding process and forgot to take any pictures. I do have a couple of the finished tank, though. In these pictures the small tig welds have been ground flush, the tank static leak checked, and then given a "scotchbrite" finish. Also in these pictures you can see the vented Harley gas cap and Husky industrial wheels in black annodize finish. Stay tuned, more tomorrow.

butchl · #8 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 09:35 PM

Beautiful tank.Nice GT-40 too.

rockvoice · #9 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 09:44 PM

thats gonna b sweet

silverbear · #10 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 10:16 PM

What are you going to do for a front brake, or will you have one? I have the same frame and found a NOS front caliper brake adapter that Schwinn made for the older bikes. I have one on the 50 straight-bar and three others on 60's Americans. Not as good as disc or drum brakes, but a whole lot better than no front brake at all. I know of just one seller and he is on eBay. With shipping it comes to about $12.00. Along with a BMX caliper by Pyramid from bikeworldusa, (or salvage one from a BMX donor bike) I find it to be adequate.
SB