My project(s)

TheOtherStyle · #1 06-08-2009, 02:49 AM

Ok folks, I am now officially engaged in moped projects. 1 or 2, I don't know yet.

Today I went with my mom to my neighbors barn to pick up a couch. And came home owner of both a vintage Schwinn Super Sport and a lawnmower rear gearbox/axle.

The Schwinn Super Sport is a beautiful bright blue with a chrome fork, almost in mint condition, save for a slightly dented fork and scratched paint on the rear legs just under the seat (chain or cable perhaps). The bike has apparantly been near a fire or EXTREME heat, as while the leather seat (yeah....its definately vintage) is in excellent shape, the tires are blistered and burned on the gum brown sides, and the plastic that covers the brake handles is bubbled and melted.

The axle from the mower is extremely greasy and gunky. It is a gearbox/axle combo, complete with shifter, belt pulley, and bolt on belt guard (goes around the back of the pulley to keep the belt from shifting off). I'm not sure if the wheels that are on it are keyed or splined, but upon cleaning it up I will surely find out.

My ideas:

The Schwinn will resemble a crotchrocket upon completion (in a good way of course). I plan to upgrade the wheels, crankset, deraillurs, fork, and possible the handlebars. I'm going to go from 27" to 700cc wheels, as the tire selection for 700cc is much wider. This will allow my to use 700x38 tires and tubes to better handle my weight (I'm fat..it happens) and the weight of the motor and a few extra pieces.
The fork I have in mind has mounts on the legs to allow the use of cantilever brakes. While I give Schwinn credit for putting sidepull brakes on the bike, they are still single mount horseshoes (mount to the bike with one central bolt).
Other things I have planned for the bike are a cheap carbonfiber-look motorcycle fairing designed for stuntbikes. It is approximately 12"x12", and includes a pair of 15w headlights. I also found a nice set of LED taillights for a motorcycle. they are mounted to a license plate frame, that I can mount to a nice bike rack i found.
On the rack I will have a nice set of rainers (one-piece 3pocket saddle bags for bicycles. The bike came with a speedometer, to which I will add a few leds for backlighting. I will mount a motorcycle battery inside the top bag on the rack to power the headlights and taillights. Since the fairing and taillight piece both have 2 lights each, I will wire each side independantly. Use one side for regular night riding, turn on both sides for heavier weather (see and be seen).
The handlebars I have in mind aren't the normal ram-horns, and should allow me to use a thumbthrottle, and a normal ATB style brake lever with a light switch built in (for the brakes). Since I won't be using the regular ram-horn bars, I can put both brakes on a single lever on one side with the clutch on the other.
I will be using an 80cc slanthead motor (since I keep hearing they are the best) stock to begin with, mods to come after break-in.
Mods to come to the motor will include tuned pipe, pocket bike muffler mounted to the back of the bike (exiting the rear like a crotchrocket), different carb, thinner headgasket, and whatever else is recommended.

When done, the bike will definately resemble a sport-bike, but still be fully capable of peddle operation (I'm not worried about the extra weight, back when I was in school I found it fun to ride around with a flight bag stuffed with books strapped to my back. Talk about a workout ).

For the mower axle, I will definately make a pusher out of it. I plan to remove the mower wheels and tires, and replace them with gokart hubs that I will mount trailer wheels/tires to. Taller tires will grant me a higher speed, and I will use a centrifugal clutch on the motor with the transmission locked into the highest gear (if it is indeed multi-speed, I haven't checked that far into it yet).
I should also be getting a vertical shaft mower to hack up (from the same neighbor), so the motor will be used with the axle. The mower/motor I'm eyeballing is a 2.5hp. I figure I can make the pusher for my mom's mountain bike, so that she can ride along with from time to time, but still ride without it if she desires. I can most likely use a brake lever and kill switch combo for the throttle and ignition, so it will be easy for my mom to put on her bike and use.

Anyway, those are my ideas for now, I will post pictures when I get the bike and axle home.

Looking forward to riding with the rest, Lumpy

**Dan** · #2 06-08-2009, 03:20 AM

Wow TOS, sounds cool. Post lots of pics.

TheOtherStyle · #3 06-08-2009, 03:35 AM

I'm anticipating probably 400 or so total costs for upgrades to the bike plus all the accessories. 150 of that is motor kit, the other 250 is the bike upgrades and etc.

Norco John · #4 06-08-2009, 10:56 PM

The gum rubber of the sidewalls and brake lever hoods get gnarly and cracked looking when they get ancient. Doubt the bike was near fire or the paint would have been damaged.
The Super Sport was one of Schwinn's higher-quality models, the frame being hand-filet-brazed together instead of "Electroforged". Really nice frame. The next step up the food chain was the Paramount.
Good luck with your project!

TheOtherStyle · #5 06-08-2009, 11:36 PM

when you see the pictures, you'll see what i mean. this isnt normal cracked tires and old brake lever covers.. this is seriously MELTED rubber/plastic. i'll have pics up sometime tomorrow.

nice to know that i actually got a score of a bike though

the neighbor has a ton of old schwinns in his barn. mostly road bikes, mens and womens. if anyone is looking for an older schwinn to ride or restore, let me know, i can see about maybe doing an inventory of what he has, i'm sure he wouldnt mind making a few bucks and cleaning out more stuff.

**Dan** · #6 06-09-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOtherStyle

when you see the pictures, you'll see what i mean. this isnt normal cracked tires and old brake lever covers.. this is seriously MELTED rubber/plastic. i'll have pics up sometime tomorrow.

nice to know that i actually got a score of a bike though

the neighbor has a ton of old schwinns in his barn. mostly road bikes, mens and womens. if anyone is looking for an older schwinn to ride or restore, let me know, i can see about maybe doing an inventory of what he has, i'm sure he wouldnt mind making a few bucks and cleaning out more stuff.

Please let us know. Vintage Schwinns are great!

**Dan** · #7 06-09-2009, 10:11 AM

any of the old cruisers are. Make perfect MBs.

Pappy · #8 06-09-2009, 12:11 PM

pic's pic's pic's lots of pic's

**Dan** · #9 06-09-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pappy

pic's pic's pic's lots of pic's

LOL! thats what I was thinking Pappy.

TheOtherStyle · #10 06-10-2009, 12:30 AM

ok ok ok lol. i'm supposed to help him out with painting the outbuildings, so i'll try to remember to bring my camera and a notebook with me to document what he has. anyway, i'm back home now, so i'll have pics of the Super Sport and the axle come daylight.