Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Perfect Campus Green!

This is Gilly's Schwinn Breeze one speed.  I like that Gilly and Joel are calling the Breeze the grocery getter because a Breeze is meant to be a working bike.  A breeze is built strong, a breeze is built for a comfortable riding position and a Breeze is built for haling grocery or running errands around town.  A breeze is not built for going fast but it is built perfectly for working.

This Schwinn breeze is in fantastic shape in some ways and slightly rough in others but mostly fantastic.  The campus green paint is in fantastic shape, very little chips or scraps, just some oxidation on the surface.  The chrome has some light surface rust here and there and the wheel rims have a little more rust then light rust.  

The Breeze will receive a restoration along with new bearings, new tires and new tire tubes.  I can't wait to see the campus green painted polished, i think it might be better then new when done.

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Head Tube

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Fork Crown

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Hub

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Rim

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Back of Head Lamp

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Head Tube

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Fork Decal

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Hub

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Handlebars

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Stem

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Top Tube

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Seat

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Seat Binder

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Chicago Decal

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Drive Train

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Crank

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear Wheel Hub

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear Wheel Hub

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear Wheel Rim

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Before
Fender Reflector

 The frame paint is in fantastic shape, the decals are amazing.  There are some areas where there is some surface oxidation that is worse then the photos show.  I am hoping it just all polishes by hand so it has a factory finish to it.

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Head Tube

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Head Tube

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Head Tube

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Top Tube

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Seat Lug

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Chicago Decal

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Seat Stays

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Chain Stays

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Drop Outs

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Fork

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Crown

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Crown

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Blades

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Decal

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Blades

 I started polishing by hand but it just won't make even a dent in the surface oxidation.  I switched to the power polishing pads. The power polishing polished the oxidation away like nothing.  The paint took on such a deep shine, it is just amazing!  I was very careful around the decals and the decals turned out perfect.   The Campus Green paint is just perfect, it is amazing to see the paint this perfect.  I usually see the campus green very dull and faded.  I love this stuff!

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished
Head Tube

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished
Head Tube

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished
Top Tube

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished
Seat Area

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished
Chicago Decal

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished
Bottom Bracket

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished
Bototm Bracket

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished
Bottom Bracket

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished
Seat Stays

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished
Chain Stays

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished
Drop Outs

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork Crown

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork Crown

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork Decal

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork Blades

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork Blades

For a while now I have been experimenting with putting a factory finish back on nuts, bolts and hardware of bicycles.  The polished look is beautiful but I have been wanting to figure out how to put the factory finish back on the hardware.  I think i have come up with a way so i am going to do that to the hardware of the breeze because the hardware surfaces are not completely gone and rusty, just somewhat gone.

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Headset
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Headset
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration
Pressing Headset Cups

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration
Headset Cups Pressed

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Headset Bearings
Packed

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration -
Headset Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Headset
Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Headset Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Handlebars & Stem
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Handlebars Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Handlebars Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Stem Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Stem Exploded

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Stem & Handlebrs
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Handlebars
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Stem Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Stem Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Stem
& Handlebars Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Handlebars Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Stem & Handlebars
Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Stem Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Stem & Handlebars
Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Seat & Post Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Seat
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Seat Post Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Seat Post Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Seat Post Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Seat Post
Installed

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Seat Post Installed

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Crank & Bottom Bracket
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bottom Bracket Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bottom Bracket
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Crank Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bottom Bracket Cups
Pressed

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Crank Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration
Bottom Bracket Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Crank Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Grips Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Grips After

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Grips Installed

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle So Far

The fenders are in pretty good starting shape.  The fenders do have a good amount of surface rust and a few rough spots but not to bad.  I cleaned the fenders and then worked through the polishing wheels.  The fenders turned out amazing!  They look fantastic installed!

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Fender
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Fender
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Fender
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Fender
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - - Front Fender
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Fender
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Fender
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Fender
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Fender
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Fender
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Fender
Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Fender
Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Fender
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Fender
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Fender
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Fender
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Fender
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Fender
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Fender
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Fender
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Fender
Polished - See me?

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Fender
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Fender
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Fender
Polished - See me?

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Fender
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Fender
Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Fender
Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Fenders Complete

The wheels have some rough areas and some not so rough.  The wheel hubs are gritty and rough.  The rear wheel caster brake does not work.  Coaster brakes usually don't work when the grease inside gets hard and dried out.  The hard grease gums up the drum brakes inside. 

I cleaned and polished the wheel hubs and wheel rims.  The polishing turned out fantastic!  They look better in then new in someways.

New grease and bearings and the proper lubricating of the rear coaster hub and both wheels function perfect.   New S-6 gum wall tires finish the wheels off beautifully.

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration
Rear Wheel Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Wheel Rim
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub
Old Grease

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub
Old Grease

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub
Exploded

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Wheel Rim
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Wheel Axles Pieces
Ready

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration
Front Wheel Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Wheel Hub
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Wheel Rim
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Wheel Hub
Old Grease

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Wheel Hub
Polished - Missed a spot that was later polished.

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Wheel Rim
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Wheels Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Wheel Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Rear Wheel Rim
Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Wheel
 Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Front Wheel Rim
Complete

Next I installed the chain and chain guard.  I think it is the original chain but it is in such good shape I am not sure.  The chain guard had some oxidation on the paint surface but with care it polished very nice.  I can't find the chain guard before photos.

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Chain Installed

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Chain Guard
Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Chain Guard
Complete

 The pedals are in fantastic shape.  I am missing the before pedal photos too.  I wonder what I did with the few missing photos.  The pedals turned out fantastic, they look new!

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Pedals
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Pedals
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Pedals Installed

The seat is in great shape except for a bent rear spring.  I straightened the spring and the seat is very straight now.  The spring bent back very easy so I am a little worried the spring won't stay in its original position.  The memory of the steel might be gone but the only way to know is to let time work.

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration
Seat Installed

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Seat Installed

The basket is very cool.  It does have some rough spots and a good deal of surface rust.  I cleaned the basket and then put a lot of elbow grease into removing the rust.  The basket looks great but does have some rough spots.  I think it is much better before and you have to look close and focus in on the rough spots to see them.  I love how it looks installed!

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Basket Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Basket Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Basket Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Basket
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Basket After

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Basket After
Rough Spot

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Basket After
Rough Spots

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Basket After

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Basket After

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Basket Installed

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Basket Installed

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Basket Installed

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Basket Installed

 I am thrilled how the kick stand cleaned and polished!

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Kick Stand
Polished

The head lamp is a pretty rare Schwinn Pumpkin Head Lamp.  It is called a pumpkin head lamp because of the flutes on the back make it look like a pumpkin.   I cleaned and polished the headlamp.  There is some rust pitting here and there but overall pretty nice.  I re-glued the side yellow reflectors in.  The left side fell out during photos and the right was loose.  The original glue was just old and brittle.  I am glad they fell out now so I could re-glue them and not on the road somewhere.  Sure looks good installed!

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Pumpkin Headlamp
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Pumpkin Headlamp
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Pumpkin Headlamp
Before

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Pumpkin Headlamp
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Pumpkin Headlamp
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Pumpkin Headlamp
Polished

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Pumpkin Headlamp
Polished

 After the test ride I had to reassemble the rear wheel hub.  It just wasn't working well.  I am not sure what changed in the re-build but it sure works well now!  The ride of the Breeze is great!  Very smooth and tight.  Tight as it feels like a new bike when everything is still tight and in its place.  I like the ride a lot and best of all the coaster brake works great, you can easily skid the rear tire if needed.  

The looks are amazing too!  The green paint is perfect and amazing!!  It is amazing to see such an original example of the Campus Green.  I think the gum wall tires are perfect for the Breeze!  I love these bicycles, they do so well what they where intended to do!

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Handlebars

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Stem & Handlebars

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Head Tube

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Fender

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Wheel Hub

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Wheel Rim

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Head Lamp

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Head Lamp

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Stem

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Fork Decal

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Half

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Down Tube

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Seat

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Chicago Decal

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Drive Train

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Crank

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Chain Guard

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Rear Fender

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Seat Stays

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Rear Wheel Hub

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Rear Wheel Hub

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Rear Wheel Rim

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Basket

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Rear Fender

Gilly's Schwinn Breeze Restoration - Bicycle Complete

Thank you!!
John Z.