This is Bill's Schwinn Varsity. Bill is the original owner which makes it even cooler. I have a very soft spot for Schwinn Varsity's. My first "rear" bike was a hand me down red Schwinn Varsity from my aunt. It was a male frame that was probably the smallest they made. I was probably 9 or 10 years old. The Varsity fit me perfect!! I remember how fast it was compared to my bmx bike. I road that bike for two or three years before I got another bike. I loved that bike!! Just loved it!! So many miles on it! I don't think for the whole time I had the Varsity i ever took it out of the highest gear!
Bill's Varsity definitely has some pretty rough areas. I don't think the ares are to rough to bring back. The Varsity will receive a total restoration along with new cables, cable housings, bearings, tires, tubes and original handlebar tapes.
I can't wait to see the Varsity complete and to test ride it! And to be brought back to my red Schwinn Varsity.
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Handlebars |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Generator Light |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Front Wheel Hub |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Stem |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Head Tube |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Fork Crown |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Seat |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Seat Tube |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Bottom Bracket |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Crank |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Pedal |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Rear Brake Caliper |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Rear Derailleur |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Rear Wheel Hub |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bicycle Before Rear Wheel Rim |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Head Tube |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Seat Lug |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Seat Tube |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Chicago Decal |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Bottom Bracket |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Bottom Bracket |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Bottom Bracket |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Seat Stays |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Seat Stays |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Seat Stays |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Drop Out |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Chain Stay |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Fork |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Fork Crown |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Fork Crown |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Fork Blades |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Fork Drop Outs |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Fork Blades |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Before Crown Cover Removed |
I gave the frame a good deep cleaning and then worked through the polishing grits being very careful around the decals. The frame polished just beautifully! I could be happier with the results! I love this stuff!
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Head Tube |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Head Tube |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Head Tube |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Down Tube |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Top Tube |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Seat Tube |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Bottom Bracket |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Bottom Bracket |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Bottom Bracket |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Seat Stays |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Seat Stays |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Fork |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Fork Crown |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Fork Blade |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Fork Blades |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Frame Polished Fork Blades |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration Fork Crown Cover Before |
The headset is a little rough but the bearing races are good. I put the pieces through the crock pot and then spent sometime on the polishing wheels. The headset surprised me how nice it turned out!! Fantastic!
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Headset Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Shift Levers Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Shift Levers Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Headset Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Shift Levers Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Shift Levers Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Pressing Headset Cups |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Headset Cups Pressed |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Headset Bearings Packed |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Headset Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Headset Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Headset Complete |
The handlebars and stem has some rough areas but overall not bad. I worked through he cleaning and polishing. The handlebars and stem turned out fantastic!
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Cockpit Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem & Handlebars Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Handlebars Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Handlebars Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Handlebars Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem & Handlebars Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem & Handlebars Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Stem & Handlebars Complete |
While other part where soaking I worked through the wheels. I was nervous about the wheels. The rims looked really rough and the hubs looked very bad. The hubs and rims cleaned nicely and with a good deal of polishing work the wheels look fantastic!! New bearings and grease and the wheels spin perfect. I am stunned at how nice the wheels turned out and how great they look installed to the frame!! I am super happy with the wheels!
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Rim Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub Old Grease |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Rim Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Bearings Packed |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Wheel Axles Ready |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Hub Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Hub Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Rim Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Hub Old Grease |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Hub Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Hub Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Rim Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Bearings Packed |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Wheel Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Wheel Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Wheels Complete |
The very first bicycle components I restored many many many years ago where the brake calipers on my Schwinn Varsity. That was near 32 years ago! I may have gotten better at it over the years. They did not turn out as nice as these calipers! New brake pads will have the Varsity stopping much better.
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Calipers Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Calipers Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Calipers Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Caliper Installed |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear BRake Caliper Installed |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Calipers Installed |
The crank is a little rough to start with. I soaked the parts for quite a while and then worked through the polishing wheels. The crank turned out amazing and it looks perfect installed!
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Crank Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bottom Bracket Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Crank Exploded |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Crank Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Crank Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bottom Bracket Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Pressing Bottom Brackets Cups |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Bottom Bracket Cups Pressed |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Crank Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Crank Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Crank Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Levers Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Levers Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Levers Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Levers Installed |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Levers Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Post & Seat Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Post Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Coupler Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Binder Bolt Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Binder Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Post Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Post Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Post Complete |
The derailleurs are in rough shape, I was a little worried how they would turn out. I broke them down, put them through the crock pot, soaked them in oil for a couple weeks and then worked through the polishing wheels. The derailleurs look better then I could have thought and they function super smooth. I couldn't be happier with the derailleurs!! I love this stuff!
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Derailleur Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Derailleur Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Derailleur Exploded |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Derailleur Exploded |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Derailleur Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Derailleur Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Derailleur Installed |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Front Derailleur Installed |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - New Cables & Housings |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Cables Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Cables Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Brake Cables Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Pie Plate Polished Freewheel Ready |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Freewheel Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Ready |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Seat Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Derailleur Before |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Derailleur Exploded |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Derailleur Polished |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Derailleur Complete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Derailleur Installed |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Rear Derailleur Installed |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Chain Installed |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Derailler Cables COmplete |
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Derailleur Cables Complete |
Pedals are rough. They have been cleaned, polished, flushed and are currently soaking in an oil bath. They should comeback pretty nice soon!
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| Bill's Schwinn Varsity Restoration - Pedals Before |
Hi John, I'm restoring this same bike as you currently, only it's yellow. What method are you using for removing rust from each of these parts? Thanks for your help
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