Schwinn super le tour shifter mount repair

[tas10000]

I have a Super Le Tour, circa 1983. The shifter mounts to the frame with a screw, but the piece that it screws into broke off the frame. Now the shifter just hangs off. I took it to a shop and they were clueless. I tried JB Weld but it doesn't hold. Any suggestions how to do this repair?

[thebicyclenut]

(06-20-2010, 01:37 PM)tas10000 Wrote:  I have a Super Le Tour, circa 1983. The shifter mounts to the frame with a screw, but the piece that it screws into broke off the frame. Now the shifter just hangs off. I took it to a shop and they were clueless. I tried JB Weld but it doesn't hold. Any suggestions how to do this repair?

Do you want to keep it "original" like it was or would you mind an upgrade?

You can get other shifters and longer wire if you just want it to shift. You don't have to use what came with it. You can find these on other throw away bikes. or you can purchase them. Probably get new shifters that will work decent for 50.00 new or off an old bike for the price of a yard sale bike maybe 10-15.00.

That is a probably a steel frame so you may be able to take it to a welder and have them weld the piece back on. I am not sure what piece you are talking abut for sure but I think it is like a nut that was spot welded to the frame in the first place. The welding shop would be my choice if you want to keep it "original" . If you know someone with an Arc Welder they may do it for free. If not a welder usually charges 8-10.00 for a job like that.

You can try to make a new piece and drill through it then thread it with a tap. I am pretty sure though that a nut that the holding bolt will fit, would work just fine

I worked on one not long ago that the shifter actually bolted to the frame, so that may also be an option. The Frame was made thicker at that point and then threaded, so it worked like a nut and bolt.

Hope this helps.

Have a great day

Jerry

[xerxes]

It sounds like you've broken off the braze on shifter boss. You could take it to a frame builder and get a new on brazed on, but you will need to repaint the frame afterwards. Alternatively, you could look for a shifter with an integral clamp, something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/%22Retro-Re-Build%22-NEW-alloy-clamp-on-DOWN-TUBE-SHIFTERS_W0QQitemZ260568060936QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=&rvr_id=&cguid=4b46e3971290a0e204350e55ff4b7263

[KC-Steve]

(06-20-2010, 01:37 PM)tas10000 Wrote:  I have a Super Le Tour, circa 1983.

I also have a Super LeTour 1984. They are higher quality Schwinns in the day. The frame is Chrome Moly steel, So I would recommend restoration over any quick fix.

(06-20-2010, 03:08 PM)thebicyclenut Wrote:  That is a probably a steel frame so you may be able to take it to a welder and have them weld the piece back on. If you know someone with an Arc Welder they may do it for free. If not a welder usually charges 8-10.00 for a job like that.

An Arc Welder (or stick welder) will blow holes right through the thin bicycle metal. I can turn mine all the way up to 250 amps and cut right through 5/16" inch thick steel like butter. It's not meant for thin metals.

Xerxes is correct, brazing is required and that will remove the paint around it. Good luck.

Steve