Re: [CR]TA crankset question

(Example: Framebuilders:Doug Fattic)

Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 15:33:13 -0400
From: "Joe Bender-Zanoni" <joebz@optonline.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]TA crankset question
To: marc garcia <marcgarcia80@ameritech.net>, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
References: <20050509191925.18024.qmail@web81310.mail.yahoo.com>


Congrats on a kool "beater" find. I think you will want to change out all the TA spacer hardware to get a triple as the goofy chainguard and the "safety" ring to prevent chain jams between the 54 and 36 are all non-routine spacing. That's what I did way back anyway. Yes, the every other tooth missing freewheel was original and I suppose these Shimano units were supposed to pick up a chain better (nothing helps the rightly scorned Gran Turismo). The acorn nut TA chainwheel fittings are worth a bit by the way.

These bikes have long wheelbases and a smooth ride. They are very sturdy in my opinion and formed the basis of a poorer man's expedition bike when there were few alternatives. The wierd headset cup sizes and threading is the same as some BMX units and pretty nice quality cheap replacement headsets are/were available from outfits like Odyssey! This odd headset issue is not covered in Sutherland's, at least my third edition.

Joe Bender-Zanoni
Great Notch, NJ


----- Original Message -----
From: marc garcia
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Sent: Monday, May 09, 2005 3:19 PM
Subject: [CR]TA crankset question



> I just picked up a 1971 schwinn sports tourer. I like
> the look of it, it's kool orange and i believe this
> was the only year that color was available for this
> frame, but it's a little too heavy for my taste to
> keep as a regular road bike so I've decided to convert
> it to a fixed gear. While it's about 80% original,
> still has the boat anchor gran turismo rear
> derailleur, it's missing the original wheels and rear
> brake caliper so I feel less guilty about converting
> it. I decided to use the TA crankset (I think it's a
> cyclotourist but I'm not sure) on a competition frame.
> The crankset is a double at the moment but it looks
> like it could be made into a tripple, it has a 54
> tooth and a granny gear I think a 36. It also a TA
> "chain guard" and another blank ring that I think
> looks like I could replace with a chain ring. is this
> possible? and do you think I'll need spacers to do
> this? I can take some pics if that helps.
>
> One more thing. Although the wheels were not original,
> heavy chrome rigida, it appears the original free
> wheel is on the rear as the two largest cogs are skip
> tooth (excuse me I forgot if it's inch pitch or inch
> pinch or maybe neither). What are the benefits or
> flaws of this kind of set up?

>

> marc garcia

> chicago IL