Where it all began.
Thought its about time I started a thread on the ongoing saga that is my Klunker project.
I bought the frame late last year looking at a longer term project- I still need wheels but I'm sure something suitable will turn up.
I have covered the headset issues elsewhere but a quick recap for those that missed it.
Schwinns use a unique head tube size (shared with some early BMX's as it turns out) so i needed to make up adaptors to fit a standard 1" headset and fork. I took the frame along to an engineer friend who turned down an old alloy mandrel into cups which were pressed into place.
Headset could now be fitted and I have a NOS Tange Levin which is about right period and looks right.
Next port of call was to my good friend Bjorns place. Bjorn builds his own tandem frames and learnt his skills from a chap who lived next door called Dave Yates. His brief was to add canti mounts to frame and newly aquired 26" BMX forks and to replace the original seat and chainstay bridges. The original bridges were made from bent sheet and had cracked in all the usual places. Bjorn also added a bridge for a canti hanger from flat plate which he drilled and tapped. I powdercoated his favourite tandem frame (30,000km and still going strong!) in exchange for his brazing work which is much better than my brazing it must be said!
I have just collected the frame and its now time to start building it up. Watch this space; no doubt its going to be another epic :roll:
Some pics of Bjorn's handywork
Thought its about time I started a thread on the ongoing saga that is my Klunker project.
I bought the frame late last year looking at a longer term project- I still need wheels but I'm sure something suitable will turn up.
I have covered the headset issues elsewhere but a quick recap for those that missed it.
Schwinns use a unique head tube size (shared with some early BMX's as it turns out) so i needed to make up adaptors to fit a standard 1" headset and fork. I took the frame along to an engineer friend who turned down an old alloy mandrel into cups which were pressed into place.

Headset could now be fitted and I have a NOS Tange Levin which is about right period and looks right.

Next port of call was to my good friend Bjorns place. Bjorn builds his own tandem frames and learnt his skills from a chap who lived next door called Dave Yates. His brief was to add canti mounts to frame and newly aquired 26" BMX forks and to replace the original seat and chainstay bridges. The original bridges were made from bent sheet and had cracked in all the usual places. Bjorn also added a bridge for a canti hanger from flat plate which he drilled and tapped. I powdercoated his favourite tandem frame (30,000km and still going strong!) in exchange for his brazing work which is much better than my brazing it must be said!
I have just collected the frame and its now time to start building it up. Watch this space; no doubt its going to be another epic :roll:
Some pics of Bjorn's handywork


