Comments on: Art F’s (Chinese?) Sears Free Spirit http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/owner-submitted/art-fs-chinese-sears-free-spirit/ Your source for all things old, crappy, 10-speed. Tue, 22 May 2012 11:16:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tim http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/owner-submitted/art-fs-chinese-sears-free-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-88415 Tim Wed, 09 Mar 2011 23:49:49 +0000 http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/?p=3317#comment-88415 I have the exact same bike, same color, same symbols. I bought it from the original owner. He even had the original Sears "lightweight 27" bicycle" owners manual. I currently both posted on Tampa Craigslist for sale. I have the exact same bike, same color, same symbols. I bought it from the original owner. He even had the original Sears “lightweight 27″ bicycle” owners manual. I currently both posted on Tampa Craigslist for sale.

]]> By: Laura Smith http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/owner-submitted/art-fs-chinese-sears-free-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-87287 Laura Smith Fri, 28 May 2010 15:17:38 +0000 http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/?p=3317#comment-87287 Paul & Art: Thanks to you both! Now I have a project for this lovely Memorial Day Weekend. Best, Laura Paul & Art: Thanks to you both! Now I have a project for this lovely Memorial Day Weekend.
Best, Laura

]]> By: rob http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/owner-submitted/art-fs-chinese-sears-free-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-87283 rob Fri, 28 May 2010 04:27:07 +0000 http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/?p=3317#comment-87283 Makes sense!...Sears licenced Ted William's name and used it on practically everything in the sporting goods dept. back in the day. They had Ted Williams shotguns, Ted Williams shotgun shells. I have even seen an old Sears Ted Williams outboard motor. Makes sense!…Sears licenced Ted William’s name and used it on practically everything in the sporting goods dept. back in the day. They had Ted Williams shotguns, Ted Williams shotgun shells. I have even seen an old Sears Ted Williams outboard motor.

]]> By: rob http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/owner-submitted/art-fs-chinese-sears-free-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-87282 rob Fri, 28 May 2010 04:19:22 +0000 http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/?p=3317#comment-87282 They sold that model in the states. I remember seeing one just like with the green paint and the chinese characters in Sears circa 1983-84. Some Sears Free Spirit bikes had those cottered cranks well into the mid 80s. They sold that model in the states. I remember seeing one just like with the green paint and the chinese characters in Sears circa 1983-84. Some Sears Free Spirit bikes had those cottered cranks well into the mid 80s.

]]> By: Art F http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/owner-submitted/art-fs-chinese-sears-free-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-87169 Art F Tue, 18 May 2010 03:41:05 +0000 http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/?p=3317#comment-87169 Let's try it again . For a bottom bracket AND crankset conversion see Let’s try it again . For a bottom bracket AND crankset conversion see

]]> By: Art F http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/owner-submitted/art-fs-chinese-sears-free-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-87168 Art F Tue, 18 May 2010 03:37:55 +0000 http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/?p=3317#comment-87168 If you really want to put in a new bottom bracket AND change the crankset look at this threadless botttom bracket I found If you really want to put in a new bottom bracket AND change the crankset look at this threadless botttom bracket I found

]]> By: Paul S. http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/owner-submitted/art-fs-chinese-sears-free-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-87167 Paul S. Tue, 18 May 2010 02:58:52 +0000 http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/?p=3317#comment-87167 You have a choice. If you want to keep the original cranks, then you can use a salvaged replacement cottered bottom bracket (BB) & bearings from some other OTS that has a good BB, but is otherwise knackered. If you do this, try to get a BB that is the same length as your current BB. This solution should cost you practically nothing and will keep the bike 'original', but it may take some time to find the right BB. I also recommend Sheldon Brown's web-pages on cottered cranks (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cotters.html). Alternatively, you could use a cotterless BB (or even a cartridge BB) with new cranks. This is the option I would take. This option may involve some cost depending on whether you use new or salvaged parts. If you take this option, then try to make sure that the new BB & cranks will give you the same chain-line as your current BB & cranks (see http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainline.html). Cheers You have a choice. If you want to keep the original cranks, then you can use a salvaged replacement cottered bottom bracket (BB) & bearings from some other OTS that has a good BB, but is otherwise knackered. If you do this, try to get a BB that is the same length as your current BB. This solution should cost you practically nothing and will keep the bike ‘original’, but it may take some time to find the right BB. I also recommend Sheldon Brown’s web-pages on cottered cranks (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cotters.html).
Alternatively, you could use a cotterless BB (or even a cartridge BB) with new cranks. This is the option I would take. This option may involve some cost depending on whether you use new or salvaged parts. If you take this option, then try to make sure that the new BB & cranks will give you the same chain-line as your current BB & cranks (see http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainline.html). Cheers

]]> By: Art F http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/owner-submitted/art-fs-chinese-sears-free-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-87166 Art F Tue, 18 May 2010 02:56:35 +0000 http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/?p=3317#comment-87166 I would say that you can take the bottom bracket apart and sand out any pits on the axle and cups with very fine emery cloth and then replace the individual ball bearings and it will be just about smooth as new . I don't know if there are loose bearings or bearings in retainers inside the bottom bracket but my guess would be loose bearings . If these are loose bearings any bottom bracket and crankset with tapered cranks made for th same bottom bracket width will work . I wouldn't replace the fixed cup unless it was very grooved. I would say that you can take the bottom bracket apart and sand out any pits on the axle and cups with very fine emery cloth and then replace the individual ball bearings and it will be just about smooth as new . I don’t know if there are loose bearings or bearings in retainers inside the bottom bracket but my guess would be loose bearings . If these are loose bearings any bottom bracket and crankset with tapered cranks made for th same bottom bracket width will work . I wouldn’t replace the fixed cup unless it was very grooved.

]]> By: Art F http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/owner-submitted/art-fs-chinese-sears-free-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-87165 Art F Tue, 18 May 2010 02:40:01 +0000 http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/?p=3317#comment-87165 Suicide levers are the horizontal brake levers that move the brake levers mounted on the drops . these can be pressed when keeping hands on the center portion of the handlebars . they are called suicide levers because they are limited in how gar the brake shoes will move before the levers hit the handlebars or come up to a point where you will not be able to apply brakes while still holding handlebars. If doing this while steel rims are wet the brakes may no do any stpping at alll. draggiong your feet on the ground would be more effective. If brakes are not in good adjustment the suicide levers are also useless . always use the levers on the drops when riding in wet conditions or if you are going fast in trafffic or downhill. Suicide levers are the horizontal brake levers that move the brake levers mounted on the drops . these can be pressed when keeping hands on the center portion of the handlebars . they are called suicide levers because they are limited in how gar the brake shoes will move before the levers hit the handlebars or come up to a point where you will not be able to apply brakes while still holding handlebars. If doing this while steel rims are wet the brakes may no do any stpping at alll. draggiong your feet on the ground would be more effective. If brakes are not in good adjustment the suicide levers are also useless . always use the levers on the drops when riding in wet conditions or if you are going fast in trafffic or downhill.

]]> By: Laura Smith http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/owner-submitted/art-fs-chinese-sears-free-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-87160 Laura Smith Mon, 17 May 2010 16:00:34 +0000 http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/?p=3317#comment-87160 I have one just like this, same color, same characters, with suicide levers, etc. The bottom bracket is totally shot, tho. Does anyone have a suggestion of a suitable modern replacement for it, since I doubt I'll be able to find an original BB 40 years later? Also, does replacing the BB mean I'll have to also replace the crankset? I have the original cottered cranks on mine right now. Thanks! I have one just like this, same color, same characters, with suicide levers, etc. The bottom bracket is totally shot, tho. Does anyone have a suggestion of a suitable modern replacement for it, since I doubt I’ll be able to find an original BB 40 years later? Also, does replacing the BB mean I’ll have to also replace the crankset? I have the original cottered cranks on mine right now.

Thanks!

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