jrg1244

Nice finds.... Dating campy stuff is a real challenge, it seems. You did well, sir. Do you have a build thread for your '78 Pro? Would love to check it out, if so.

jrg1244

After about a week of tracking a FedEx box on an hourly basis, my Paramount finally arrived from Jack at Franklin Frames. He was a real pleasure to work with and I'm thrilled with the job he did. As I eluded to earlier in this thread, spike666c Kool Lemon Paramount looked so great I decided to go with the same color. Another last minute addition was a set of water bottle braze-ons. I have about 90% of the parts to build at this point, just waiting on some Sapim spokes and nipples to build up the wheelset, and consumables like bar tape and tires, etc. Can't wait to get started! I will update the thread with any progress...

Kilroy1988 

A very nice job on the frame restoration, indeed! I'm not a Paramount guy but it strikes me as odd that the lug lining doesn't extend to the seat cluster. Was that typical on stock Paramounts?

-Gregory

repechage

Factory decoration retreated over the years.
there was hand striping in the early 60’s and prior.
lug lining was actually away from the lug a bit/ I have not seen anyone replicate that, it dropped off even from Schwinn by 1973 where there was no more lug lining.

jrg1244

After waiting a few weeks, the Pacenti Brevet rims finally arrived. Shout out to ProWheelBuilder who provided awesome communication about the status of the back ordered rims and who provided spokes and nipples for the new wheelset.

For this wheel build, I used the Campagnolo Record High Flange Hubs, with 1971 build stamp and which I overhauled last week. Also used new Pacenti Brevet 700c rims, and Sapim spokes and nipples. Front wheel and rear wheel NDS was Sapim Laser 2.0/1.6/2.0 and rear DS was Sapim Race 2.0/1.8/2.0. Nipples are brass - 100%, I refuse to use anything else. I’ve had great luck with this spoke combination on another wheelset of mine, Chris King R45 with H Plus Son Archetype which has proven to be bombproof.

Tonight’s work…. It’s time to grab a beer start turning nipples and strumming spokes.

shoota 

Dang, that original paint and decals were in good shape :/

spike666c

Very nice indeed! What's funny is that my $20 Paramount (totally mint) was way too small for me, so I offered it to my wife, who objected to the Kool Lemon (ugh!), so I had no choice but to sell it on eBay. Let's just say I made a tidy profit....

jrg1244

I’m sure you did! Hopefully, the profits financed something new and shiny with 2 wheels!

jrg1244

Spent some more time working on the Paramount last night and things are coming together, slowly but surely. This is turning out to be a fun project, too bad there’s 3” of snow on the ground right now and ice everywhere or I’d be working non-stop to get it on the road.

Things are looking good…. Well, except for one thing I can’t figure out.











Any advice on getting the old Weinmann pads out and the new Kool Stops in? The pad holders I’m used to have one open end so you can slide the block out. Not these…. They’re metal on all 4 sides. I’m sure there’s a trick! Please enlighten me.

merziac

@jrg1244

Make a bracket, handle that you can bolt them to so you can hang on to, overpower them and carefully pry them out by spreading the flanges with a small screwdriver, use dishsoap to lube them so they will pop out easier. You can use the soap, a piece of wood with a hole in it and a vise to press the new ones back in.

Classtime 

I just replaced some pads on my Motobecane. Lay the holder on its side on your workbench, push a screwdriver into the old pad along the edge of the holder, twist a little, move over and repeat, flip it over and repeat, repeat. It will mark the holder a little bit.

Beautiful bike. I am wondering why you chose the Pacenti rim and not TB14s after being so pleased with the Archetypes.

jrg1244

Wow…. That was a pain! I was hoping for a more elegant solution, but prying them out, bending the small tab just enough to slide the new ones in seemed to be the best method. I did mar the short edge of each pad just a tiny bit, but figured I could orient the brake pad so that the marred edge faced in towards the fork and down in the back. Not to mention, these pad holders are almost 50 years old at this point, so they deserve to have some marks. The only thing I can add is that soaking the old pads in hot water for 10 min seemed to help make it easier to pry them out with the screwdriver. As they say, “it is what it is.” Next time, I’ll likely just upgrade the pads and holders together.

jrg1244

Thanks! I’m like a kid in a candy store with this thing…. Can’t wait to get it on the road. I have a set of TB14’s on my Cannondale ST, which I use for commuting during fairer weather, paired to some 1980’s Campy hubs. While the rims are a work of art, I can honestly say that is my least favorite wheel set I ride and they feel a little “dead” to me. I’m no weight weenie, since I’m the heaviest thing on the bike, by far, but the TB14s are 490g and the Brevets are 450g, so I wondered if it wouldn’t make the wheels feel a little livelier. But that that remains to be seen. Really, I knew what to expect from the TB14 rims, and wanted to see if there was anything better out there. I’ll report on the Pacenti Brevets as soon as I can get a real ride in.

jrg1244

The project marches on…. Wish I would have had more time over the past few weeks to work on the bike, but work and kids have been kept me busier than a one legged man in an @ss kicking contest. I guess it’s politically correct to say that work and kids are more important anyways.

So, I could use some guidance on making the Schwinn rear mech (Shimano Crane GS) work with the 14-34 Suntour freewheel. Everything I read says they should play nice together, but shifting into the 34t is awfully messy and once there, especially when in the small ring, the top guide pulley rides on the 34t cog. I’m wondering if the sprung pivot is set up correctly? It seems like more tension may solve the problem here, but I can’t see how to get it. I’ve tried playing with chain length and it’s helped some, but now I can’t get into big/big, so there’s a new limitation that may/may not matter. Has anyone set one of these derailleurs up to work with 34t? Any advise? Some views of the derailleur…

merziac

The Le Tour on my Paramount is a pita, never happy and always needs to be dialed in just right on the road, constant shifter oversight and still noisy often.




And while this isn't 34, I think these work better when set up properly.

And yes, I know I'm in the minority here.

frogman

Great looking frame. Chrome lugs, fork ends, seat stay ends and chain stay ends. Cool !

buck10 

I actually have a 1974 schwinn paramount for sale!. Black Original owner! Full campy, wheels upgraded to clinchers, but I have the original rims. Complete campy tool set included.
If any one is interest let me know. Also includes campy bar end shifters!

repechage

Upgraded to clinchers.... hmmm
A suggest you buy a upgrade membership and place it in the C&V for sale section.

jrg1244

hahahahaha…. Not a chance! Here’s the bike currently, fresh Vittoria’s and shellacked newbaum’s tape. One of my favorites.

merziac

Big no, no here, you have to upgrade and post in For sale thread.

No ifs, ands or buts.

Fredo76

Somewhere out in the world is the silver and chrome 26" Schwinn Paramount that was stolen from me outside of the University of Arizona administration building back in 1976. I would really like it back.

Oh, well.