New to me 1941 Schwinn

[elginkid]

Picked this up yesterday. B model with locking truss fork and an H serial, so it almost has to be late 1941 production. (K4 Hub jives with that) Missing the original bars, grips, pedals, seat and rear reflector. There’s one weird rivet on the front fender behind the fork. I think the headlight may be a bit squished on the left side too.

 

[WillWork4Parts]

I'm surprised the bike was still there after making that far of a drive. A friend of mine sent me the link and I knew it would be gone before I got out of work. Lol

I think I've seen that rivet before...holding on a clamp for wire routing underneath...may be a legacy item on this bike since I don't see a grommet for the wire conduit on the top of the fender.

 

[Schwinndig]

Im sure it’s your plan, but might try removing the black. There may be decent original paint underneath.

 

[elginkid]

I'm surprised the bike was still there after making that far of a drive. A friend of mine sent me the link and I knew it would be gone before I got out of work. Lol

I think I've seen that rivet before...holding on a clamp for wire routing underneath...may be a legacy item on this bike since I don't see a grommet for the wire conduit on the top of the fender.

It’s been for sale for at least a couple of weeks, I think. We had family in for Mother’s Day and stuff going on during the week after, so I hadn’t even messaged them till all of that was over.

This shouldn’t’ve had any conduit or wire guides since it’s a fender light fender, and 1941 was a new fender design anyway. There’s only thing maybe is if it was factory, it was intended for a springer and it never got the tombstone.

There are a few spots where it looks like it may have been coach green originally. However the frame and fork legs look like they were stripped down to metal and primed and painted at one point. The paint there is really thin and goes to bare metal in places. I’m wondering if that ivory paint on the braces is original and if perhaps it was an early defense model? I would be very surprised if someone masked off the underside of the fender to paint the braces a different color. After peeling off the rim tape, it looks like the wheels may have been white as well.

 

[elginkid]

Well…problem. The key is missing and apparently it’s not fully unlocked. So it’s not locked to the frame, but the pin must be sticking out just enough that it won’t clear the bearing cup…not sure exactly how to solve this one. Maybe order a key and hope the other isn’t broken off inside?

Also, the welding/brazing around the down tube is really sloppy.

 

[elginkid]

Pedal arm issue, or frame issue? The pedal arm is just barely rubbing.

 

[Schwinndig]

Peddle arm is most likely bent. I had the same issue. I slipped a long bar “fence post “ over the arm for good leverage and pulled it out just a bit. It worked great. I have a similar ‘41 that started out painted entirely blue, as yard art. I’m slowly bringing it back.

 

[WillWork4Parts]

Well…problem. The key is missing and apparently it’s not fully unlocked. So it’s not locked to the frame, but the pin must be sticking out just enough that it won’t clear the bearing cup…not sure exactly how to solve this one. Maybe order a key and hope the other isn’t broken off inside?

Also, the welding/brazing around the down tube is really sloppy.
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Even if the key isn't broken off in there, you should be able to use a screwdriver in the keyhole to carefully turn the cylinder in the unlock direction. I would definitely recommend keeping the wheel straight to avoid turning in the lock direction and using a liberal amount of penetrating oil before trying that.
Worse case scenario, if the above doesnt work....So long as the lock bolt isn't in the frame hole, you should be able to remove all of the hardware from the steer tube, reinstall a junk top headset nut to hammer on, and use that extended lock bolt to tap against the top edge of the lower cup...you'll have to tap a little at a time, rotate the steer tube, and repeat to knock that lower cup out with the steer tube. At least I don't think the 41 bikes had the extra long headset cup yet, the lock bolt would just mate up to an oval shaped hole in the headtube.
WORST case scenario, bring it to me and I can pick the lock. I'd love to see this one saved!

 

[WillWork4Parts]

Pedal arm issue, or frame issue? The pedal arm is just barely rubbing.

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Yeah, I agree with a bent crank arm being the likely culprit. Install a straigh pedal and use a square to check the angle against the bottom bracket to confirm.

 

[cyclonecoaster.com]

Congrats on the find .. black paint should be easy with goof off paint remover ... the rivet behind the fork is probably to cover the springer hole so the truss fork may be used & look "cleaner" than just a mounting point hole for the springer ... since the frame appears to be dark red & the guard looks green ... not a big deal

The crank arm could be bent ... how's the otherwise ... if there is a lot of space on the other side it may be the wrong bearings or cups on the frame - the race that holds the chainring on ... never know

nice find ... have fun