1st post w 55 Hornet

[56 Vette]

Agree with the others, that bike will look killer cleaned up and and ride like a dream after servicing all the bearings. Go slow and you will be amazed what you end up with. Just take a look at the 55 phantom tread and see what can be done! Joe

 

[kreika]

You could try polishing compound and cheese cloth or polishing rag and light pressure?

 

[kreika]

Take care around the decals.

 

[gkeep]

Wonderful find. Just look at this thread to see what's possible without going the repainting route. Oxalic acid can do amazing things where rust is an issue and you want to save the paint. https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/1955-schwinn-blue-phantom-before-and-after.119831/.

Best of luck with it.
Gary

 

[Tanked55]

Already ordered the oxalic acid After trying the wd40.

 

[Boris]

Great deal, congratulations! Single edge razor blade or #11 X-acto blade on the wheels to scrape rust off (but don't dig at it). Use w/some WD 40 to help glide the blade slide along. Crumpled up aluminum foil and and water to polish chrome on wheels (or anywhere else). Will not dull finish like steel wool will. Wax all sheet metal, tubing and wheels with automotive wax of choice on bike once it's cleaned.

 

[Schwinn lover]

Welcome to the Cabe! I too was bitten by the straight bar Schwinn Ballooner bikes. I have ,,,, uh 7 no 6 now ,,, sold one. But the Panther & Hornet are by far my favorite.

Here are a few I restored & some motored. Roger

 

[ozzmonaut]

I used wd40 and a rag. Then I used polishing wax. That was on a 36 Elgin that I though had no paint left whatsoever. The wd40 took the grime off, and the polishing wax brought the red and white paint back to awesome, without hurting a single pinstripe. Yours looks to have the majority of its paint, so you will probably have an amazing bike once its cleaned up. Definitely would not repaint that, and I'm somebody that ain't afraid to repaint something.

 

[Awhipple]

I would have bought that for $100. Cool bike.

 

[Tanked55]

Stripped down to the frame today. waiting for my oxalic acid to arrive Monday.