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I put the tire back on, inserted a tube, and then inflated. The inner bead on tire itself "mostly" seats but there is about 2" on either side of the tire that doesn't seem to want to "expand" all the way - where I can see the raised round ring on both sides of the tire all the way around...

Thanks too! I'm waiting on a reply concerning tire size from a different thread - to make sure it's worth re-chroming these rims and not having to change to a different ISO tire/rim - but then I'll be ready to check out chromers. I did find a "local" - Golden, CO - media blasting shop where I...

Hi Roger and SirMike1983, I'd been waiting to get the Kenda tires before removing the spokes from my front rim, since I'd already de-spoked my rear rim. I finally got the Kenda tires and have a followup question. Although the bead that fits under the edge on the rim on the Kenda tires isn't...

Even black, evaporust will still work to some degree. I also filter mine through coffee filters when I finish a given project. New evaporust can work in an hour or less but the darker it is, the longer it takes. I often have used a penetrating oil on something to take it apart before I...

I'll call him too, thanks!

Thank you, those do look great and for less than half of what I was quoted. In my case, the time factor isn't all that important but the quality of the re-chome is. I'll call them next week!

Thank you for your advice. I'm about 40 miles west of Denver, so when I thought about re-chroming, I thought I could get it done somewhat locally and be able to check on them. Much to my chagrin, the places I called all recommended a place in Washington, which is a little farther away - ha...

Hi, Sorry for the delay in responding as my Father has needed some extra unplanned help this week and I just got back home - but already know next week will be just as busy with previously scheduled doc appointments. As soon as I get the chance I will also contact Ed, so thanks for your...

PS to my previous post: In the blue box of Torrington spokes, there were several 12 1/4" length "odd ball" spokes. The nipples that someone had screwed onto a few of them are similar to the Torrington nipples but the nipple tops - with the screwdriver slot - are larger and sort of shaped like...

Once you get them back please let me know if they did a good or a bad job. Thanks!

Hi Kreika, Someone - most likely my Father - repainted it mostly red - as I found a blue/gray paint under the badge/inside the fenders - when I was stripping the paint. Along with the red paint, the Citristrip removed any evidence of decals, so it could never have been "original" again, as most...

LOL! I think my Father repainted it, including the rims black. All I recall from an early age is that he may have ridden it with me in the non-original basket, then I rode it, until someone said it was a girl's bike due to no upper bar, at which time I finally got a new "fat tire bike" for...

Does anyone do "flash chrome" now - whatever that is? - ha - as if they do, that might make the bike more original. Seriously, my goal is simply to have a functional bike that looks as close to what it did when it was first purchased. It doesn't bother me at all to replace as many internal...

Thank you to all for the suggestions on rechromers they have used. I'll start making calls and see who has what to say. I already know I'll have a lot more invested in the bike than it will ever be worth but I'd like to see the bike closer to how it looked in 1941. Again, thanks all!

I learned long ago anything is possible and even though I'm younger than the bike, we're both getting older. While I would gladly try to upgrade parts if the right ones became available, I'd still like to retain/reuse as many parts as I can that are original to this bike - just for the...

Hi SirMike1983, I can now confirm that my 11 3/8" original spokes, the too short NOS Torrington spokes in their original box that I bought just for the 2 sided 13/16" nipples, and the right length straight - not double butted - Torrington spokes in their original box all have a 90 degree X on...

When I joined the Cabe not that long ago, I was hoping I would get answers to a few of my questions but the results have been a lot better than I ever expected. What's great about this forum is you have strangers willing to help total strangers and that very seldom happens any where else in...

Thanks for the offer but since I have lots of time consuming things left to do - like some rechroming - I'm going to hold out for now and see if I can find enough of the 13/16" 2 sided nipples before I really need them. If that doesn't work out, then I'll keep you in mind. Thanks again.

Thanks.

I totally understand your point but this bike has been in the family for about 68 years so one in better condition isn't really an option. You do make a point though that I should ask about. I'm pretty sure this Compax had/has chrome plating - not nickel. The reason I think that is I can see...

Hi, I've gotten several rechroming quotes that far exceed the value of this bike for the next 200 years, not including the shipping to and from the rechroming company . My question for those who have had a lot their bike of parts rechromed, who has done you a great job for a semi reasonable...

I have the original spokes, just not enough good ones to have the 72 needed. That's why I'm trying to find enough NOS spokes and nipples to do one wheel. Between the 2 wheels, I should have more than enough to do one wheel, using the best of the 62+ spokes I have. Thanks!

I give up for now - thought I had it but it says I have to send a valid message. I don't think these problems were around in 1941 before I was born. Anyway, I just try to reply here. Hi Island Schwinn, Now I find that the PMs are delivered to my Junk file, similarly to regular post...

Hi, I know I'm very late to the party but if you still have this, I'd be interested. Thanks.

Thanks AGAIN ricobike! It took me a few minutes to figure out how to contact a member directly but once I got rid of the "@" and just used the rest, I think I was able to contact him. Everywhere I go I seem to run into a new learning curve.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Even though I thought I'd really looked at my originals, I guess I couldn't see what sounds like the obvious as I didn't know/think about headstamps or domes/flats. Originally I had measured the spokes with a regular ruler but bought a Park ruler to verify the...

In looking for spokes/nipples, I’d like to stay with those made by Torrington. However on ebay, both have come up in various bulk amounts, with no indication of the manufacturer. The few sellers I’ve asked say they have no idea who made their spokes/nipples because they got them without...

Thanks ricobike. In today's mail, I got some 11 3/8 Torrington 080 spokes - not 080-060 spokes – that I purchased on ebay. Even though there aren’t enough to do both rims, they were the first correct length ones for this bike I had seen. They came with 4 sided ¾” total length nipples, as...

Hi, After removing the aftermarket paint and/or oil from my rear wheel nipples, they were still highly stained. Years ago I bought an ammo tumbler to clean all the brass parts and fasteners from old traffic signals that I collect. Anyway, I tumbled the nipples and put them in an ultrasonic to...

A thousand years ago, I did OK in algebra and trig, but had they had a required course on spokes, I'd probably still be there. Thanks for your explanation but I'm sure glad there isn't going to be a test afterwards... Seriously, whenever I go to re-spoke, hopefully what you said will make a...

I didn't mean to start anything 1 1/2 years later as I just found your post in looking through the CABE files for info on my SW Floating Hub and wondered if they were ever made and if I could still buy a set or two. Sounds like there is still interest in some repops.

LOL, I can see the weight savings angle - all 72 grams worth if they saved a gram per spoke - but I would think thicker "rod" would have more strength. No matter, as long as no butted and double butted are interchangeable, I have twice the possibilities of finding NOS spokes. I have a another...

Thanks! You don't have to answer this but something inside of me has to ask. Is there a known reason why Torrington went to all the trouble of making double butted spokes when a spoke of all one gauge appears infinitely more logical and cost effective to a bike novice like me? Thanks again!

Hi, After getting a much appreciated continuing education in 26 x 1.375 tires, I need to ask about spokes. In reviewing other posts, I think I’ve figured out that Torrington 080-060 spokes are called double butted because the diameter of the spoke is slightly larger on each end of the spoke...

Hi, Were these ever reproduced? Thanks, Lary

I'm waiting on a reply from having written Kenda directly but I'm going to order one to see if they will fit the Compax before I de-spoke the front rim. That would be the easiest solution but probably the most costly, since apparently re-chroming rims requires a second mortgage.

It did help (I think - ha). I'm definitely still on the uphill side of the learning curve. Who'd have ever "thunk" that bicycles are so complicated? Thanks!

Hi Roger, My delay in replying was to research what you said. Being the novice I am, I just didn't understand. That said and having done a lot of searches, am I correct in assuming they don't make the Schwinn S-6 597 rims anymore, so I would have to find used rims of that type if I decided to...

Hi all, I just checked this thread after getting a private message - I didn't realize there were more posts. In any case, I just found this on ebay -...

Hi Roger, Actually that’s exactly the kind of info I wanted to know because I don’t know anything about the subject, other than what I’m told – so thank you much for your post, as it is what it is. Ricobike thinks that a 37-597 will fit, even if not entirely correctly, apparently because he’s...

Hi, It was suggested to me that what I had asked in my introduction post, would be more appropriately asked in the general forums, so I’ll see if I can get it right this time. I’m in the process of restoring a 1941 Compax that has been in my family since about 1950. Most of the bike has been...