Freshen up the Schwinn High Sierra
02-12-23, 03:57 PM
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Freshen up the Schwinn High Sierra
After acquiring this one owner Schwinn High Sierra last Summer I am finally getting around to a deep dive into restoring. I pulled it out of cold storage and the steering tube would barely move! So I tore it down - FUN! But before I did I threw another Wheelset with Winter tires mounted for a 6 mile ride - Wow this is a beauty to ride.This I think is from about '87 with a serial number of CR733301 and every bolt loosened up without a problem. The original owner took very good care of this one. The Black Chrome frame I used a polishing compound and it really brought out the beauty of the frame. I also love the Suntour Roller Cam brakes - I know can be difficult to adjust but really look like a beast!
The build will be for my Wife and I hope to have her on the road come spring.
BEFORE THE TEAR DOWN - WINTER RUN!
BEFORE CLEAN UP
BEAST SUNTOUR ROLLER CAM
PARTIAL ASSEMBLY
The build will be for my Wife and I hope to have her on the road come spring.
BEFORE THE TEAR DOWN - WINTER RUN!
BEFORE CLEAN UP
BEAST SUNTOUR ROLLER CAM
PARTIAL ASSEMBLY
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02-12-23, 04:13 PM
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That frame sure does gleam. I never had to mess with SunTour roller cam brakes, but I have heard that once you have them set up properly they are great. I hope she loves it. It is always tricky with spouses. You dream of riding with her on a level single track with views of ponds with birds and wildlife. She may dream of riding a coaster brake cruiser to the café to meet friends.
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02-12-23, 06:07 PM
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Nice HS. I did the same thing to my Black Chrome '87 a few months ago. Very nice riding bike.
Last edited by zookster; 02-12-23 at 06:10 PM.
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02-12-23, 08:30 PM
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We have one of these at the co-op right now, and it's my size too. Hmm.
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02-12-23, 08:51 PM
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Do it!!!!!
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02-12-23, 08:58 PM
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I am just now finishing up my revised Hard Rock drop bar conversion. I think the High Sierra at the shop is a few years earlier than these - has a BMX-ish triangle stem. Doesn't somebody else want a tallish High Sierra?
02-12-23, 09:04 PM
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That frame sure does gleam. I never had to mess with SunTour roller cam brakes, but I have heard that once you have them set up properly they are great. I hope she loves it. It is always tricky with spouses. You dream of riding with her on a level single track with views of ponds with birds and wildlife. She may dream of riding a coaster brake cruiser to the café to meet friends.
I too have one for my wife and the clear coat and decals are all flaking off so it looks rather hideous. But she likes it and that's all that matters, right?
I'd guess it's either an '86 or an '87. I can't find an '87 catalog, but the '86 shows the roller cam brakes. By 1988, they had switched back to cantilever up front, but U-brake on the chain stay. They really were experimenting with weird brake systems.
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1970 Gitane TdF; 1973 Gitane TdF
1979 Trek 710; 1981 Trek 412; 1981 Trek 710
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1984 Ross Mt. Hood
1988 Centurion Ironman Expert
1991 Bridgestone RB-1
1992 Serotta Colorado TG
2015 Elephant NFE
1979 Trek 710; 1981 Trek 412; 1981 Trek 710
1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1985 Specialized Allez SE; 1988 Specialized Sirrus; 1989 Specialized Rock Combo
1984 Ross Mt. Hood
1988 Centurion Ironman Expert
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02-12-23, 09:30 PM
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Lots of pictures here:
https://zookster.smugmug.com/Hiking/...nn-High-Sierra
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02-12-23, 09:56 PM
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The bike at the co-op has some flaking of the clear finish. It seems like it should be possible to minimize that with a little sanding and buffing. Anybody have experience with that?
02-13-23, 08:02 AM
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That frame sure does gleam. I never had to mess with SunTour roller cam brakes, but I have heard that once you have them set up properly they are great. I hope she loves it. It is always tricky with spouses. You dream of riding with her on a level single track with views of ponds with birds and wildlife. She may dream of riding a coaster brake cruiser to the café to meet friends.
02-13-23, 08:13 AM
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Shimano Deore shifters/FD/RD, Shimano MF-Z012 freewheel, Shimano FC-B124 crank with Shimano Bio-Pace 28-38-48 chainrings.
Lots of pictures here:
https://zookster.smugmug.com/Hiking/...nn-High-Sierra
Lots of pictures here:
https://zookster.smugmug.com/Hiking/...nn-High-Sierra
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02-13-23, 11:32 AM
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It the Frame Fits you along with your budget - it is a great bike.
Let your imagination go with what it could be: 1987 Schwinn High Sierra | The Simplicity of Vintage Cycles (simplicityvintagecycles.com)
Let your imagination go with what it could be: 1987 Schwinn High Sierra | The Simplicity of Vintage Cycles (simplicityvintagecycles.com)
02-13-23, 11:48 AM
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Am curious how one would go about removing the clear coat from the black chrome?
I have a black chrome frame in need of clear coat removal only without damage to the black chrome.
02-13-23, 12:09 PM
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Schweinhund
Am curious how one would go about removing the clear coat from the black chrome?
I have a black chrome frame in need of clear coat removal only without damage to the black chrome.
Am curious how one would go about removing the clear coat from the black chrome?
I have a black chrome frame in need of clear coat removal only without damage to the black chrome.
Aircraft is strongest but still whimpy so....
Lacquer thinner can help, should be used for the final scrub and wipedown as well.
02-13-23, 03:41 PM
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Schweinhund
Am curious how one would go about removing the clear coat from the black chrome?
I have a black chrome frame in need of clear coat removal only without damage to the black chrome.
Am curious how one would go about removing the clear coat from the black chrome?
I have a black chrome frame in need of clear coat removal only without damage to the black chrome.
02-13-23, 04:03 PM
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schweinhundert
Sorry, but am trying to understand this and my aged mind seems to be missing something.
So is there a way to remove just the clear coat and NOT the black epoxy on the chrome, I guess is my question.
If one were to use a chemical stripper as suggested by merziac might that remove both the clear coat and the black epoxy paint from the chrome?
Your initial statement a bit above that seemed to suggest to me at least that there was a way to just remove the clear coat and NOT affect the black chrome.
I may have entirely misread and misunderstood your statement.
Sorry, but am trying to understand this and my aged mind seems to be missing something.
So is there a way to remove just the clear coat and NOT the black epoxy on the chrome, I guess is my question.
If one were to use a chemical stripper as suggested by merziac might that remove both the clear coat and the black epoxy paint from the chrome?
Your initial statement a bit above that seemed to suggest to me at least that there was a way to just remove the clear coat and NOT affect the black chrome.
I may have entirely misread and misunderstood your statement.
02-13-23, 04:09 PM
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schweinhundert
Sorry, but am trying to understand this and my aged mind seems to be missing something.
So is there a way to remove just the clear coat and NOT the black epoxy on the chrome, I guess is my question.
If one were to use a chemical stripper as suggested by merziac might that remove both the clear coat and the black epoxy paint from the chrome?
Your initial statement a bit above that seemed to suggest to me at least that there was a way to just remove the clear coat and NOT affect the black chrome.
I may have entirely misread and misunderstood your statement.
Sorry, but am trying to understand this and my aged mind seems to be missing something.
So is there a way to remove just the clear coat and NOT the black epoxy on the chrome, I guess is my question.
If one were to use a chemical stripper as suggested by merziac might that remove both the clear coat and the black epoxy paint from the chrome?
Your initial statement a bit above that seemed to suggest to me at least that there was a way to just remove the clear coat and NOT affect the black chrome.
I may have entirely misread and misunderstood your statement.
02-13-23, 10:11 PM
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That black chrome looks spectacular. Mine's all scratched and peel-y. Dig it.
My High Sierra story is that I bought "a mountain bike" right before I got out of the Army- this was going to be my get around college bike... then my school plans and living arrangements didn't jive with bicycling. The bike got ridden, but not a lot- until I quit smoking. I decided to take up bike riding so I didn't get fat and found that I loved riding. All the braze ons and the idea of the adventure that bike was designed to take me on really appealed to me. So for a few years I was always looking for a "mountain bike" that had all those features- but weighed 5 pounds less... and that's when I discovered touring bikes.
The High Sierra is a really special bike- fillet brazed in the front, TIG welded in the back, 2 bottle bosses, front and rear rack braze-ons with dual eyelets on both the dropouts and fork ends, a pump peg behind the seat tube, the roller cam brakes and the lugged unicrown fork... and then the black chrome: all add up to a really really cool bike.
My High Sierra story is that I bought "a mountain bike" right before I got out of the Army- this was going to be my get around college bike... then my school plans and living arrangements didn't jive with bicycling. The bike got ridden, but not a lot- until I quit smoking. I decided to take up bike riding so I didn't get fat and found that I loved riding. All the braze ons and the idea of the adventure that bike was designed to take me on really appealed to me. So for a few years I was always looking for a "mountain bike" that had all those features- but weighed 5 pounds less... and that's when I discovered touring bikes.
The High Sierra is a really special bike- fillet brazed in the front, TIG welded in the back, 2 bottle bosses, front and rear rack braze-ons with dual eyelets on both the dropouts and fork ends, a pump peg behind the seat tube, the roller cam brakes and the lugged unicrown fork... and then the black chrome: all add up to a really really cool bike.
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02-13-23, 11:17 PM
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One of my most favorite mountain bikes. Miss it tons.
Mine was an earlier year HS. Black Chrome but with chainstay mounted u-brake. An exact example of what I had......
I did a lot of upgrades over the years. I added a TREK DS2 suspension front fork, XT thumbies/derailleurs, and a lot of the late 80's early 90's MTB accessories.
Mine was an earlier year HS. Black Chrome but with chainstay mounted u-brake. An exact example of what I had......
I did a lot of upgrades over the years. I added a TREK DS2 suspension front fork, XT thumbies/derailleurs, and a lot of the late 80's early 90's MTB accessories.
02-13-23, 11:26 PM
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When I was looking at the pile of "we aren't going to be able to get to these before we have to pass them on" bikes at RYB, that Sierra did catch my eye in terms of having potential for renewed greatness. Hence why I pulled it and passed it on to the Spoke. Couldn't save 'em all, but did save some.
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02-13-23, 11:28 PM
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I originally said it was a High Sierra, but after looking at some pictures on line I think it's just a plain Sierra. Is that your recollection?
02-13-23, 11:49 PM
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Oh, that's not what they mean by High Sierra?
It's been a while since I looked at the bike, but it could just be a plain ol' Sierra. But likely still worthy of refurbishment - after a full assessment.
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02-13-23, 11:51 PM
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Or we could just strip it and turn it into a fixie. Threadless stem and bullhorn bars?