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Wow! I'm surprised by the amount of responses I got! Thank you guys! I think I have a project lined up but thank you for all the replies! I love this site!

I'd like to find a '40s mens 26" frame in semi rough to decent shape for a future klunker build. In an ideal world I'd like a truss rod fork, stem, handlebars, and crank with it. I'm not specific to brand, but prefer something other than Schwinn for a change. Can be completely rusty or partial...

I've made reasonable offers on a few bikes (such as $20 less on a $200+ bike, not lowball half price offers) and instead of politely declining, people fly off the handle and I get a five minute dissertation on how the bike is worth $2,000 in parts on Ebay (hmm...for a coaster brake K-mart...

The other day I picked up a Murray Jet Fire men's 26" and wondered what years they produced these. I bought it because my first vintage bike ever was a Murray Missile. I haven't been able to find another one of those, but this is darn close so I grabbed it. Thanks for any info! -Marc.

Awesome bike Ozzie! Too bad we're so far apart, I've been considering selling it. I don't want to, but I have this problem where I keep buying bikes, so I'm getting low on room.

Here she is, all polished up and ready to go. Still haven't taken a ride yet (tires still have low PSI from mounting and all I have is an empty portable air tank right now) but still made it out for photos last night. I really don't have a good excuse for taking 8 months to complete a simple...

That's basically what I ended up doing as well coasterbrakejunkie. I haven't ridden it yet (just finished it last night) but I'm hoping they're somewhat balanced.

Yes, these were listed as 26x 2 x 13/4 tires and advertised as fitting Schwinn S7 rims. Did I buy the wrong thing? Here I thought I was pretty well versed in the difference between Schwinn sizes and normal 26 x 1.95 or 2.125s. The front one went on, inflated and seated great. I was done in 5...

Hi guys, now that my '62 Typhoon project is nearing completion, I'm hoping to begin the teardown of the Heavy-Duti in the next week or two. Still debating on the tire situation. The ones I have are definitely shot, and I plan to ride the crap out of this bike! I really wish I could find a...

I figured it was time for an update. I'm 99% finished with this bike...FINALLY! It's been an epic battle. The last time I checked in, the old (broken off) stem bolt and wedge were, well...wedged in the bottom of the fork. I filled the fork with rust dissolver and let it marinate for a few days...

I'm looking at getting a bike from Jamestown, IN (a little NW of Indianapolis) to lower West Michigan and wondered if anybody is traveling that way? Thank you! -Marc.

Thanks guys! Coasterbrakejunkie, it has two small welds on the bottom of each cantilever tube.

Any updates on this one?

Does anyone know if the rear fender on this bike is the same as any other Schwinn model? I'd really like to get rid of my cut-up one.

I'm looking for a usable chrome rear fender for my '78 Heavy Duti. A previous owner cut mine in half for reasons unknown. I don't need the braces or the reflector, just the fender. Can be a little crusty like mine to fit the overall theme of my bike, but I prefer one without dents if possible...

I'm sorry I haven't yet but I promise I will when I get home today.

I believe it does, I'll have to double check.

Here's the 'two piece' fender upon closer inspection. Haha! Someone mated two good fender sections with a piece of sheet metal, some silicone, and four screws. I have to admit I've never seen that method before.

Here she is. Serial number came out to April of 1978.

Haha, it was too dark to take pics by the time I got home yesterday, but I promise you I will tonight and have them up tomorrow! Hemi426, it doesn't look like that one. It has the earlier style fork and older screens. Also looks like the rear fender is two pieces? It has a weird joint right on...

Browsing FB Marketplace late Saturday night and came across a later model (Haven't de-coded the serial yet but it appears to have the post-1975 chain guard) Kool Lemon Schwinn Heavy-Duti for 65 bucks. Unfortunately it was already pending. I sent the guy a message anyway asking if he'd give me...

Been a little bit since an update...I'm moving at a glacial pace on this thing. Where I last left off the crank for this bike was bent. I bought a girl's Tornado as a parts bike and came away with a good crank and another pair of enamel wheels. Now I have several sets to pick from and another...

I like to think of my stuff as 'buffed crust'. I've always liked my stuff ultra clean, as in I'll chase every last bit of dirt or grease out, even stuff that won't be seen or noticed by anyone, then buff up what's left. I'll compound an original paint frame and chrome, then give it new tires...

I'm 43 and live in Wayland, Michigan.

Boy I can't catch a break with this one! Not sure how it slipped past me, but the Typhoon's original crank was missing most of the threads. When I went to reinstall the sprocket, I couldn't even come close to getting the nut started. So, a flea market in town sourced a Tornado girl's bike with...

Disregard please. Seller flaked out on me and I can't figure out how to delete the ad! Thanks.

Sorry I didn't post a good update sooner. Busy with work, other projects, etc. This past weekend I finally got around to disassembly. Holy crow was this thing a grease blob! The chain was so caked it looked more like a rope! The chain stays and dropouts were loaded with it too, about the...

Getting back to this project after being out a week with Covid (do NOT recommend!) and am anxious to get started. I had a couple questions for you guys about these '62s. Were there other colors available this year? I haven't even started on this one and I already want one of the same frame in a...

My Firestone Flame GTO project. Most of the cleaning and polishing done. Almost ready for reassembly.

Firestone Flame GTO and '62 Schwinn Typhoon (so far...I still have a few days!)

Depends on what kind of effect you're going for. If you want to strip it down to absolutely nothing I'd recommend Black Beauty. It's kind of expensive (more than sand) but cuts very, very well. If you want to to preserve the finish underneath I'd go with something gentle like baking soda. If...

When I did my first restoration on a Murray Missile in the mid '90s, I HAD to have whitewalls. They were just so classy! These days there are very few bikes I'd put whitewalls on. They just have to fit the overall vibe. For example my '62 and '63 Typhoons. Both came with white enamel rims. With...

The seller was a huge bike guy, he mentioned the handlebars and stem aren't correct. What are mine supposed to look like?

I figure this is a long shot, but before I go with a generic Amazon white seat I thought I might see if anyone has a seat like this in better shape? Not looking for perfect, but maybe not missing a chunk like mine?

Here we are. Not much to look at until I get into it. Hoping to start the teardown in a week or so.

I've been wanting to put together a 'pig' bike for years but so far haven't found any raw materials. In particular a 20" early '50s frame, fork etc. I was wondering if anybody in lower Mich might have some stuff? Trying to avoid having to get stuff shipped if I can. -Marc.

I've got one too, but mine is the Huffy-based twin top bar. I'd show pics but she's in a thousand pieces right now mid-rebuild!

So the BMA stickers weren't applied until after '73? Been trying to figure out the year of my Firestone Flame GTO. Thought it was late '60s but it does have a BMA sticker.

I'm surprised nobody did a peace sign one, considering the era!

In the '90s I rode to hell and back on a '68 Huffy Cheater slick with the original and VERY weather cracked RWL tires! I kept the tire pressure a little lower and never had an issue. That being said I was 15 years old and threw caution to the wind in a LOT of situations. On the opposite side of...

I like POR 15 rust remover. I just took a rusted stiff chain and dunked the whole thing in there. Two days later it came out shiny new! I always follow up with a good rinse and then soak in PB blaster or light machine oil.

When shining up seats, don't use anything with lemon in it. It'll deteriorate stitching.

I love to experiment with finishes, and have tried a few methods for salvaging old chrome. For light rust (wheels, sprockets) I get great results from a piece of 0000 steel wool soaked with PB blaster. Then buff the cleaned chrome with some rouge and keep a good coat of wax on it for...

Looks like the paint will clean up nicely! Going to polish up what's there or do a full resto?

Man I'd love to have that...great price too! I wish it was closer to Wayland, Mich!

Really? I'll keep it in mind. I'm terrible with taking 'before' pictures. I'm usually so excited to start I do the teardown before thinking to document anything. She's nothing fancy, just polished patina and new tires. Part of the reason I bought it was because it's an old Mackinac Island...

Haha! True!

Yes it is the wedge. I managed to get one out of a bike I parted out. Also got my new tires for this bike yesterday! Can't wait to start working on it, but I want to get my Firestone GTO done (or mostly done) first.

A few days ago I tossed the bearings, cups, and axle guts to my Firestone GTO project into my 'parts washer' (a 5 gallon bucket sawed in half, filled with gasoline). When I got home last night I picked 'em out nice and clean, rinsed them off and have them ready to clean up a bit on the wire...

In the early '90s I made a friend in my freshman year of high school. The first time I went over to his house I noticed a blue Schwinn Stingray girl's bike in the garage. It was 100% original with a whitewall slick! I thought that was the coolest thing ever (even though it was a girl's bike) and...