Incorrect factory wheel lacing

[coasterbrakejunkie1969]

What year did Schwinn start stamping S-7s in the smooth chrome, not the knurling? @GTs58

I believe S-7 was always knurled. S-2 was not in ‘48 only. ( I just learned that myself)

 

[AS-1]

Sorry, I was referring to the "SCHWINN TUBULAR S-7" stamping on the rims. I think the early rims had that stamped in the knurling and the later S-7 rims had it stamped in the smooth chrome on either side of the knurling.

 

[Deville.bicycles.montreal]

I've seen this SO MANY times sadly.

 

[thedrewski86]

Same here. I've been staring at an original '72 front rim that is otherwise perfect trying not to tear it down and relace it.

 

[cyclingday]

Hey, if you can get the air chuck on and off without too much difficulty, then it’s good to go.

 

[speedy]

This set of wheels has never even disassembled or broken down in any way. The tires have never been off this set of wheels yet however the lacing is incorrect both front and rear. I have seen other Schwinn factory wheels that were incorrect as well as other manufacturers. I recall someone poo pooing the concept that Schwinn would let them out the door like that. I often call into question things about Schwinn bikes, attesting to the fact that not having been there no one can say for certain what went on and what rolled out the door. I for one certainly don’t feel so bad about my first few improperly laced wheels.

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Sometimes you will see incorrect racing from the factory. That's an indication sometimes that they're in a hurry to lace and true. Wheel sets for many bicycles. When I see something like that, it usually bugs me. And every bike that I own, I relace the wheels to the correct specifications of lacing.

 

[cyclingday]

I have a 36 Motorbike that is laced that way, and I’ve never bothered to re lace it.
The flip lever on some pumps interferes with the tightly crossed spokes, but not to the point of being incompatible.

 

[coasterbrakejunkie1969]

I have a 36 Motorbike that is laced that way, and I’ve never bothered to re lace it.
The flip lever on some pumps interferes with the tightly crossed spokes, but not to the point of being incompatible.

On the 26 inch wheels you can get away with it on a 20 it can abuse greater issues

 

[AS-1]

I've never thought about this before but now this thread is making me curious. How can you tell without taking a tire off of a rim that the tire has never been taken off of the rim before? Or, how can you tell that a rim has never been relaced just by looking at it. Or, how can you tell that a rim as old as that on a '36 Motorbike has never been relaced. Back then the nipples and the spokes were all Torrington and the design didn't change for years yet to come.

Is there some kind of special way to tell a wheel has never been buggered with? 'Cause if there is, I'm going to add that to the list of things to closely evaluate when I look at a potential acquisition.

 

[coasterbrakejunkie1969]

I've never thought about this before but now this thread is making me curious. How can you tell without taking a tire off of a rim that the tire has never been taken off of the rim before? Or, how can you tell that a rim has never been relaced just by looking at it. Or, how can you tell that a rim as old as that on a '36 Motorbike has never been relaced. Back then the nipples and the spokes were all Torrington and the design didn't change for years yet to come.

Is there some kind of special way to tell a wheel has never been buggered with? 'Cause if there is, I'm going to add that to the list of things to closely evaluate when I look at a potential acquisition.

There is not but like others I’m doing the math and it adds up. I’ll remove the tires to show the original Schwinn approved tubes. There is always a chance that someone re laced a set of wheels from 1963 and had a set of 1963 tires to put on it. That seems like a lot of work to go into a bike that didn’t survive. It goes back to my point either we accept discrepancies or rule them out, we can’t have it both ways so I’m going with what I believe as the truth.