Tuesday, December 22, 2015

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Mechanical Overhaul - Just Way Cool!

This is John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe.  It is new to him and in for a mechanical overhaul.  I usually don't post mechanical overhauls but the 1985 version of the Le Tour Luxe is just so cool.  The 1985 version of the Le Tour Luxe is a true touring bike with cantilever brakes, Columbus tubing and all the brazes for mounting racks and the like.  This version  of the Le Tour Luxe is also fairly rare to see.  To me it is almost as cool as it gets.

The Le Tour Luxe is in for a mechanical overhaul so not really a restoration with all the polishing and restoring to new but rather a good cleaning along with new bearings, grease, cables, cable housings and a few more things I am forgetting.  The suicide levers on the brake levers have been removed so I will also cut off the pieces for those and install new brake lever hoods, it will be so much nicer and more comfortable.  I can't wait to see the Luxe overhauled and get a chance to test ride it, I think it has been at least ten years since I have seen this version if not longer.

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Brake Lever

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Brake Lever

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Head Tube

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Front Brake

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Hub

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Rim

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Stem

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Headset

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Bottom Bracket

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Crank

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Front Derailleur

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Columbus Decal

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Rear Cable Hanger

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Rear Brake

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Rear Derailleur

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Rear Wheel Hub

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Rear Wheel Rim

I wasn't going to take so many photos, just enough to show the overhaul but as I started I just liked the Luxe so much I just kept taking photos.  

It was also not my intention to do any polishing but when I striped the frame of the components to run them through the parts cleaner and sonic cleaner I saw the frame was in great shape I just had to at least polish the frame.

It was just the right time for the overhaul too.  When I first tested the brakes they felt very stiff and a little gritty, partly from old cables but also when I removed the cantilever brakes there was a lot of rust on the studs and the inside of the bushing.  You can see the rusted studs in some of the photos below.   
John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Head Tube

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Head Tube

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before -  Head Tube

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Top Tube

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Down Tube

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Bottom Bracket

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Bottom Bracket

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Bottom Bracket

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Columbus Decal

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Seat Lug

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Seat Lug

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Cantilever Brake Studs
Some Rust

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Chain Stays

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Drop Outs

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Fork

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Fork Crown

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Cantilever Studs - Rust

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Fork Blades

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Before - Fork Drop Outs

As I mentioned before there was suppose to be no polishing just a mechanical overhaul but when I had the frame stripped down I just had to polish the paint.  I wanted to see it polished.  The frame polished beautifully!  The paint is amazing and the color really changed when polished, it is more of a root beer color.  I love it!

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Head Tube

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Head Tube

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Head Tube

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Top Tube

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Down Tube

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Seat Lug

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Columbus Decal

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Bottom Bracket

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Bottom Bracket

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Bottom Bracket

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Seat Stays

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Chain Stays

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Drop Outs

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Fork

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Fork Crown

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Fork Crown

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Cantilever Studs

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Fork Blades

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Frame Polished - Fork Drop Outs
From here I put some of the parts into the crock pot for cleaning the rest I ran the components through the parts cleaner and then the sonic cleaners.  With the parts clean I lubricated all the areas that needs lubricating.  I replaced bearings and packed them in new grease and then installed the components to the frame.  The components look better cleaned and function great with new bearings and grease and areas flushed and lubricated.  The posted some of the photos through the process below.

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Headset Before

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Headset Cleaned

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Pressing Headset Cups

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Headset Cups - Pressed

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
New Headset Bearings - Packed

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Headset - Complete

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Headset - Complete

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Bottom Bracket Bearings - Packed

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Bottom Bracket - Complete

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Bottom Bracket - Complete

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Headset & Bottom Bracket Complete

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Seat Post Cleaned - Greased & Installed

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Rear Cable Hanger - Installed

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Front Brakes - Greased & Installed

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Rear Brakes - Greased & Installed

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Shift Levers - Installed

The Sun Tour Mountech derailleurs are so cool!

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
REar Derailleurs - Cleaned - lubricated & Installed

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Crank & Front Derailleur - Installed

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Stem & Handlebars - Before

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Stem & Handlebars - Cleaned & Installed

Next I started work on overhauling the wheel hubs.  I disassembled the wheel hubs and ran all the pieces through the cleaners.  I then installed new bearings and packed them in new grease.  The wheels could use a good polishing but overall they are great wheels.  With the hub overhaul they spin super smooth and they took just a little truing.  I like these wheels a lot.  John has some Panaracer tires to put on the Luxe which I think are the perfect choice.  I also gave the freewheel a good cleaning, a good flushing and then lubricating.  It spins great!

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Rear Wheel Before

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Rear Wheel Hub - Before

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Rear Wheel Hub - Before

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Rear Wheel Rim

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Rear Wheel Hub - Old Grease

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Rear Wheel Hub - Cleaned

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Rear Wheel Hub - New Grease & Bearings

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Wheel Hub Pieces - Cleaned

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Rear Wheel - Complete

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Rear Wheel - Complete

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Front Wheel Before

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Front Wheel Hub - Before

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Front Wheel Rim

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Front Wheel Hub - Old Grease

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Front Wheel Hub - Cleaned

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Front Wheel - New Bearings & Grease

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Front Wheel - Complete

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Front Wheel - Complete

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Wheels - Complete

Now it was time to cut the stud down on the brake lever sand install the new brake lever hoods.  I taped up the brake levers to prevent it from being scratched when cut.  A little filing and the cut is level and very smooth.  I installed the new brake lever hoods.  They look great!!

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Brake Lever Stud - Cut

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
New Brake Lever Hoods

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Brake Lever Hoods - Complete

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Brake Levers - Installed

That completes most of the Le Tour Luxe.  More to come.

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Bicycle So Far
I installed new white cork handlebar tape.  The white looks amazing on the Le Tour Luxe.  Perfect!

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
White Handlebar Tape - Complete
Last thing to do was install a new middle chain ring.  We replaced the 46 tooth half step ring with a 40 tooth ring.  This will give a little more useful range.  In the photo below the new and old chain rings are on the right.

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Replacement Chain Ring

That completes the Le Tour Luxe overhaul.  The Luxe rides amazing.  I rode it roughly 5 miles the other day when it was about 18 degrees and very windy.  It road amazing even in the cold.  The Le Tour is just so cool.

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Bicycle Complete

I took a few photos of the Schwinn Le Tour Luxe outside as I was loading it up to take it to Milwaukee to deliver it.  Man this is a cool bike!!
John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Bicycle Complete

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Bicycle Complete

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Bicycle Complete - Handlebars

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Bicycle Complete - Crank

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Bicycle Complete - Rear Derailleur

John's 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe Overhaul
Bicycle Complete - Rear Wheel Hub
Thank you for the interest!
John Z.

1 comment:

  1. Great overhaul! Really inspiring! I'm currently working a 1985 Le Tour Luxe as well. Its not as in good of shape as this one and I need to replace the headset completely. Do you know if the cup size is 30.0 or 30.2? Also any recommendation for a complete headset? Thanks!

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