Myrons Mopeds

Contents:  1. Kromag   2. Sears Free Spirit   3. JC Penney  

 

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1. Kromag

Welcome. Kromag Metallindustrie AG was an Austrian metal products company. The name comes from the metals chromium and magnesium. The logo is a metallurgist wearing a fire suit stirring a vat of molten metal with a long cane.

Kromag made the Sears Free Spirit and the J.C. Penney Pinto and Swinger. These department store mopeds were intentionally without manufacturers names or logos to hide the identity. 

Kromag is not KTM. Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen is KTM. The craft shop in Mattinghofen, Austria was founded in 1934 by engineer Hans Trunkenpolz. Motorcycle production began in 1954.

KTM made the Foxi Deluxe, Foxi Salzburg, and Foxi Baron. All of the Austrian frames, Puch, Kromag, and KTM are made for Puch engines, but the KTM has a Puch-to-Sachs adaptor bracket for the Sachs 504 engine.

Kromag is like Puch. They are both made out of the same ingredients, but combined in different ways. At right are the Puch models that share the same components as Sears Free Spirit or JC Penney Pinto.

 

 

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2. Sears Free Spirit

In the 1970’s the famous American department store sold a line of bicycles and wheeled goods called “Free Spirit”.

In 1978-80 Sears sold three moped models, all made by Kromag in 1978. Two of the models came in three speed versions, to make a total of 7 Free Spirit versions. The bikes did not have any model names or decals, other than “Free Spirit” on the back of the seat. Over the years this has caused some to be called by the wrong name.

Free Spirit Components: All Free Spirits have the Puch E50 one-speed engine with all-aluminum-cylinder, like a “plain” Maxi. All have Bing “round” 14mm carbs (1/14/163 and 1/14/164), and Bosch 6-wire “external ignition ground” magneto (0212-024-043), and Puch electrical wiring (where the horn wires can cause the engine to not run). All have ULO 250 2-bulb tail lights, and 0.9 gallon detachable gas tanks with 40mm quarter turn gas cap, like a Magnum. All have Magura “wrap-around” controls like a “plain” Maxi. All have Magnum-type steering (headset) cups and bearings, and Magnum-type engine covers (chain guards), unlike a Maxi. 

Free Spirit Models

 

2.25 – 17 tires, wide-rim aluminum wheels, Grimeca

silver color only, longer travel suspension, weight 112 lbs

center stand length is same as Magnum

fork lock, speedometer (Maxi type mount), long solo seat

chrome wide fenders, ULO headlight

Grimeca 11mm all-thread axles, loose balls and cones

Grimeca 90mm diameter drum brakes

 

 

 

 

 

2.00 – 17 tires, thin-rim spoke wheels, Leleu hubs

red color only, shorter travel suspension, weight 97 lbs

center stand length is between Maxi and Magnum

no fork lock, speedometer (headlight mounted), long solo seat

painted thin fenders, CEV “bullet” headlight

Leleu 11mm front, 12mm rear axles, loose balls and cones

Leleu 80mm diameter drum brakes

 

 

 

 

 

2.00 – 17 tires, thin-rim spoke wheels

blue color only, no suspension, weight 92 lbs

center stand length is between Maxi and Magnum

no fork lock, no speedometer, solo seat

painted thin fenders, ULO headlight, no luggage rack

Leleu 11mm front, 12mm rear axles, loose ball and cones

Leleu 80mm diameter drum brakes

 

 

 

Free Spirit Frames

 

 

Free Spirit Speed Versions

All three speed versions have the same engine, same primary drive 21 x 106T, same 14mm carburetor, same piston, cylinder, and head gasket.

30mph 2.0hp:   no intake restrictor, no air box restrictors, Bing #68 jet, 15 x 45T sprockets, same exhaust

25mph 1.5hp: 8.5mm intake restrictor, air box restrictors, Bing #52 jet, 13 x 45T sprockets, same exhaust

20mph 1.0hp: 6.7mm intake restrictor, air box restrictors, Bing #52 jet, 13 x 45T sprockets, restricted header

 

 

 

 

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3. JC Penney

The famous department store sold mini-cycles in the 1960’s and 70’s. In the 1970 ad the name was “Penneys” but in the 1978 ad it was “JC Penney”. So the official name changed in that period.

Pinto: A pinto is not just a horse with large white areas. One of the models Penneys sold was this Golden Pinto Mini Bike, for $159. So the name Pinto was used on mini-cycles years before it was on mopeds. Of course, the 70’s also had millions of Ford Pinto automobiles. 

A Pinto is also a 1978-79 moped, made in Austria by Kromag. Somehow both Sears and JC Penneys, competitors, were made by the same maker. Both concealed the identity, of the bike and many of the components, and re-branded them with their own name.

Swinger was the Penneys 1960’s to 70’s line of childrens bicycles, 20″ tires with banana seats.

Kromag is closely related to Puch, because much of their equipment is identical. Different parts of the 1978-79 JC Penney models are also on different Puch models, but not all at once.

Pinto components: The fork and fenders are the same as (or from) a 1978-79 Puch Maxi Sport or Sport MkII, the Leleu spoke wheels are from a 1978-79 Puch Maxi Luxe, the Puch E50 motor, Bing carburetor, Bosch magneto, Merit switches, Magura controls, ULO tail light and seat are from a 1978-79 Puch Maxi, the side covers and ULO headlight (most) are from a 1978-79 Puch Magnum.

Swinger components: The fork, fenders, Leleu spoke wheels, Puch E50 motor, Bing carburetor, Bosch magneto, Merit switches, Magura controls, ULO tail light, CEV head light (most) and seat are the same as (or from) a 1977-78 Puch Maxi. The side covers and ULO headlight (some) are from a 1978-79 Puch Magnum.

Look for these and other component parts in the separate components sections, like spokes, brakes, tires, bulbs, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JC Penney Models

The Pinto (1-speed) had spoke wheels, wide rims, 2.25-17 tires, and came in safety colors, orange or yellow. 

The Pinto 2 (1-speed) had aluminum “snowflake” wheels, 2.25-17 tires, long solo seat, came in silver or black. 

Pintos were deluxe models with chrome fenders, and an all-chrome gas tank, but with the lower half painted.

Swingers were economy models with thinner rims, painted fenders, and painted gas tank. 

The Swinger 1 (1-speed) had spoke wheels, thin rims, 2.00-17 tires, no suspension, no rack, and was dark blue.

The Swinger 2 (1-speed) had spoke wheels, thin rims, 2.25-17 tires, and came in safety colors, orange or yellow. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JC Penney Speed Versions

There are not any parts or service manuals for JC Penney in Myrons Mopeds library. Service and parts were obtained through JC Penney Auto Service Centers only, not from independent moped shops.

Here are 5 pages from the 36 page owners manual. The lower part is the Acceleration and Passing Ability (Inability actually) information for consumers. This is the only evidence and information about the three speed versions, 1.0 hp (20mph), 1.5 hp (25mph) and 2.0 hp (30mph).

It is easy to assume that JC Penney mopeds have the same power restriction equipment as Sears Free Spirit mopeds, since they are 90% the same. 

This will be updated or verified when proof becomes available.