1986 Schwinn Le Tour Restoration 1 - Yes Another Red One!!

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Bicycle - After

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Bicycle Before

Today was the start of a Red Schwinn Le Tour form about 1986 I believe.  I know what your thinking another red, but whats nice about red is they come back bright red.

It is a nice Le Tour, it has Shimano 6 speed indexed Light Action group set, I like the Light Action, I road the same group set for a long time.  The bicycle is also pretty light with the Cromoly butted frame, not the lightest but not bad.

The Le Tour came very close to the first bicycle I had to turn down for restoration.  The stem was badly corroded and frozen into place, which the headset was very loose and gritty and you would never get it easily cleaned and tightened.

I heat wrenched the stem a couple of times and then removed the stem wedge from the bottom of the fork.  With the wedge removed I could use a heavy piece of steel and pound the stem out from the bottom.  When I get some time and a stuck stem i will write a post on how the process works.

I wish I could say that was the only trouble but the electrolysis was pretty bad on the Le Tour all around.  I had to heat wrench three chain ring bolts, the jam nuts on the brake calipers, the bottom bracket lock cup and I think that was it.

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Bicycle Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Handlebars - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Frame Paint - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Rear Brake - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Rear Derailleur - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's
Stem - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Front Wheel Hub - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's
Schwinn Decal - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's
Front Brake - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Front Derailleur - Before

When I finally got the frame broken down I started the cleaning and polishing process.  The frame paint was pretty rough, a very rough finish with some chipping and corrosion.  I cleaned all the dirt and corrosion from the frame and power polished the frame. The Red Paint restored beautiful, again like the last bicycle, a bit stunning!  It will need a good amount of touch up paint to fill the chips.

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Frame Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Frame Before - Bottom Bracket

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Frame Before - Bottom Bracket

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Frame Before - Paint Rough Surface

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's
Fork Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Frame Polished

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Frame Polished - Bottom Bracket

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Frame Polished
Schwinn Decal

As always while I polished the frame I put the bottom bracket and headset components in the crock pot for cleaning.  The components polished pretty nice and function pretty nice.  I am actually very pleased with their results and smooth function considering how much corrosion the Le Tour has.

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Headset & Bottom Bracket - Polished

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's
Bottom Bracket Greased

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's
Headset Cups - Pressed

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Headset
Complete

Some one had tried to remove the stem before and left a few dents and scratches in it.  You can see in the photo how badly it was rusted in the fork tube.  The dents will stay but will not be noticeable after polishing the scratches polished away.  I heavily greased the inside of the fork tube and the stem, it should not freeze again.  I am happy with the results considering it was a frozen stem.

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Stem Before
Bottom Badly Corroded in Fork Tube

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Stem and Handlebars - Polished

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's
Stem & Handlebars - Complete

The crank was also badly corroded and stained.  I had to heat wrench three of the chain ring bolts, they eventually broke free.  I am super happy with the crank, in looks almost new which I am very very proud of considering where the crank began.  it is a Sugino VP 130 crank, i seems very light compared to others?

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's
Crank - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's -  Crank Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Crank Exploded

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Crank - Polished

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Crank - Complete

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's
Crank - Installed

The brake calipers should the most corrosion, a sure sign that the bicycle was left outside for sometime is the leaves stuck to the calipers.  Fortunately after a restoration there will be no sign of being left outside.  The calipers polished very nice and function great after lubrication of all the pivot points.  I did need to heat wrench the jam nuts on the front to break them loose.

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Brake Calipers - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Brake Caliper - Exploded

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Brake Caliper - Polished

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Brake Caliper - before & After

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Brake Caliper - Exploded

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Brake Calipers -Complete

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's
Front Brake Caliper - Installed

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's
Rear Brake Caliper - Installed

The wheels took a lot of time, the rims where heavily corroded and the bearings where rusted.  Lucky though the bearings surfaces polished nice and where not damaged at all.  New bearings and grease where installed.  The hubs polished fairly well, the rims needed a lot of attention, they do not have a mirror finish because of the corrosion, but all the corrosion removed and they have a very nice uniformed brushed look.  In the end I am proud of the results and the work to bring them back to life, they also spins amazingly smooth.

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Front Wheel - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's
Front Wheel Rim - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Front Wheel Hub Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Front Wheel - Old Grease

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's -  Front Wheel - New Grease

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Front Wheel Complete

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Wheel Components - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Wheel components - After

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - New Panasonic Panaracers

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Rear Wheel - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Rear Wheel Hub - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Rear Wheel Hub - Dry & Rusty

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Freewheel - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Rear Wheel - After

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Wheel
Rim - After

The front derailleur was very rusty, the set screws where frozen in place, I managed to get one out, the other broke and I was unable to drill it out.  Lucky though I had the exact same derailleur in my large collection.  The replacement polished very nice and after a little work on the pivot points function smooth.

The rear derailleur is one of my all time favorites, Shimano light action, i rode this group set for a long time, the rear derailleur is also just a very nice looking derailleur.  The rear derailleur cleaned, polished and overhauled very nice, it looks great in place and functions great.

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Old Front Derailleur

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Old Derailleur - Busted Screw

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Old & Replacement Derailleur

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Front Derailleur - Installed

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Rear Derailleur - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Rear Derailleur - Polished

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Rear Derailleur - polished

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Rear Derailleur - Complete

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's
Rear Derailleur - Installed

The brake levers are in ok shape, the brake hoods where very dirty but not dry or brittle.  The levers polished and lubricated nice and the hoods cleaned up pretty good.  White hoods are not my favorite, I am a little OCD when it comes to keeping them clean!

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Brake LEvers - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Brake Levers - After

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's
Brake Levers - Installed

The shift levers are pretty nice, they cleaned and polished nice and also function nice.  I am struck by the red paint and the shift levers installed in the photo below.

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Shift Levers - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Shift Levers - Polished

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Shift Levers - Installed

The pedals where in extremely rough shape, they are not perfect after but so much better.

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Pedals - Before

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Pedals - After

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Pedals - Installed

I think that is it for the components, below is a photo of the new saddle, handlebar tape and cables, check back soon for the finished Le Tour.

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - New Bits

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - New Saddle - Installed

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Bike so close to Done

Last night I finished the cables and handlebar tape and stand tuned the Le Tour.  On the stand it shifts so smooth, the 6 speed index shifting is really nice.  I wish the weather was better so I could test ride it, but now we went from -15 a couple days ago to a couple inches of rain the last day and night.

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Handlebar Tape and cables - Complete

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Bicycle Complete

I am so very proud of the results of the Schwinn Le Tour, it has come a long way in a short time.  Thanks to Pat, the owner of the Schwinn Le Tour Luxe, I found out this is a 1986 Schwinn Le Tour, Pat showed me how to read the serial numbers for the year.

Below are the final photos, I really wish we could get photo taking weather and light, I really do not like indoor photos.

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Vicycle Restored

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Bicycle Restored

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's -Bicycle Restored - Front Brake

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Bicycle Restored - Drive Train

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Bicycle Restored - Front Derailleur

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Bicycle Restored - Shift Levers

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Bicycle Restored - Rear Brake

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's
Restored - Front Half

Schwinn Le Tour Mid 1980's - Bicycle Restored