BMX - One-piece Cranks, conversion?

hello, i have an older Huffman cruiser that has a "one piece cranks" BB. is there a way to convert it for current cranks?

i saw this:

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/opc.html

but 24.99 + SH!!!!

anything cheaper? or another route?

hello, i have an older Huffman cruiser that has a "one piece cranks" BB. is there a way to convert it for current cranks?

i saw this:

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/opc.html

but 24.99 + SH!!!!

anything cheaper? or another route?

If you have an american bb stay ith that don't convert it to euro, but also don't use a one piece use a three piece.

If you have an american bb stay ith that don't convert it to euro, but also don't use a one piece use a three piece.


don't post any advice. your single purpose at this message board is entertainment

whats a 3 piece? any pictures? im a visual learner. haha, this cruiser is a 1959. the bottom brack has no threads. and looks huge, compared to road bikes....

also, what is this:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=73&subcategory=1096&brand=&sku=15550&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

will that work? is that a crank and all??

so confusing......

Back the truck up. What is your goal here? What kind of cranks do you want to use? By the way, Sheldon's price is more than fair. I think that's dealer cost in some catalogs.

Yes, there are a number of ways to 'convert' it. 1-piece cranks use an oversized BB shell with press-fit bearing cups, which can be popped out and replaced with brand-new sealed units and 3-piece cranks. Or there are still PLENTY of parts and tools available for maintaining / overhauling / replacing 1-piece cranks.

There's really not much point in installing threaded cups to convert the shell to ISO 1.37"x24tpi since there are still so many options available in the oversized 'american' BB. $24.99 only buys you the conversion cups, not the new BB and crank arms to put in them.


also, what is this:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?...reid=&pagename=

will that work? is that a crank and all??

so confusing......

That's just the bearings, races and cups. No crank arms. Loose-ball, not cartridge bearings. It's basically exactly what you have already. There ARE also sealed cartridge bearings available for 1-piece cranks, which require no maintenance but are non-adjustable (who cares, right? Sealed cartridge bearings are the way to go).


whats a 3 piece? any pictures? im a visual learner. haha, this cruiser is a 1959. the bottom brack has no threads. and looks huge, compared to road bikes....

http://www.jrbicycles.com/profile%20cromo%20w-sealed%20bearings%20cranks.jpg

thanx guys, well, its an old tandem cruiser. and the bottom bracket is bare. and dont want to spent to much money on this thing. so basically i just need some type of cranks. i was thinking the conversion because then i can put road cranks on. im not sure. tandems and bottom brackets are new to me.

Go to danscomp.com Get the basic american bottom bracket. It's $30. Also get the doteck aluminum crank arms. They are $30. And the basic chainwheel they have there for like $5. This is what I did for my first fixed gear conversion and it will suit you fine.

do do i need to get the conversion cup?

CONVERSION CUPS #455117
http://www.danscomp.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cgi?action=DETAIL&item=455117

and the AMERICAN 3-PC SEALED BOTTOM BRACKET #455021???
http://www.danscomp.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cgi?action=DETAIL&item=455021

or will just the bottom bracket fit?

then can i put on any type of crank? like road cranks? or would i need a euro bracket?

To put road cranks in your oversized BB shell you will need the conversion, but you can pick up a set of 1-piece cranks and an unsealed BB for them for very very cheap, I'd guess around 30 bucks all told. Just go to your LBS and tell 'em what you're looking for, they'll understand.

A tandem cruiser changes things up a bit. Tandems typically have one off-center (eccentric) bottom bracket for tensioning the chain between the captain and stoker. I haven't messed with too many tandems so I'd probably have to see pictures of what you're working with to tell you what you'll need. Expatriate rides a tandem, he might have some input that doesn't consist of "go to a BMX site and buy expensive BMX stuff for your non-BMX bike that you're trying to revive simply and cheaply" as well.

If it's from 1959, it probably doesn't have an eccentric BB. I'm guessing it's either got some funky left side timing, or the single front/dual rear chainring setup for timing. There's possibly some little idler wheel in there too. The latter setup is the easier one to replace, as all you'll need is a cheap 1 piece crank with the same size chainring as the back set. Can you get us a couple of photos?

any help i can get to get a drive train, from there i can figure it out. im ne wto tandems. but it looks so fun!!

and i think its a 59....

here is a pix, let me know if you need any more.

Whoo boy, that thing's almost rusted out. Looks just like two of your standard American non-threaded BB shells, should be easy to find parts for. Also...you know this is a BMX board, right? There's a tandem board elsewhere on this site.

haha, yeah i know. i just posted here because i know bmx'rs use one piece, and i needed some info. i wanted to put some nice cranks on here to get up the hills. and its not rusted out, just surface rust. im just waiting to see if i can come across a drive train before i sand blast it.

No, BMXers don't use one-piece cranks. Little kids use one-piece cranks.

If I used a one-piecer, I'd snap it in half.

well, they use the one piece bb right? ive been on the classic forum as well.

No, BMXers don't use one-piece cranks. Little kids use one-piece cranks.

If I used a one-piecer, I'd snap it in half.
Yeah same here. Although I heard a few years ago somewhere that pros sometimes use 1 piece and they know how to not actually snap those weak things. :rolleyes:

Not really. Probably 90% of the current frames use either Euro (English), or a Mid or Spanish pressfit.

Post a photo of that frame in the tandem threads, with a title along the lines of "Need help with vintage build". If you need front and rear cranks, you'll need to determine the correct timing chain setup as well. Does the frame have provisions for a derailleur? Were you going to build it as a single speed, or maybe with a 3 or 4 speed geared hub?

any help i can get to get a drive train, from there i can figure it out. im ne wto tandems. but it looks so fun!!

and i think its a 59....

here is a pix, let me know if you need any more.

Where the hell did you get that from. Its beat, sand it down and paint it should look better.

Where the hell did you get that from. Its beat, sand it down and paint it should look better.

You need to start reading the whole thread before you post. You'll look like less of an idiot if you do.

Not really. Probably 90% of the current frames use either Euro (English), or a Mid or Spanish pressfit.

Yeah, but less than 5 years ago they were pretty much ALL American BB and there's still a TON of frames still in use that are older than this year's new hotness with different BB shell standards. You've been riding a long time, you should know that. ;)

Yes, but most frames for at least the last three years have had Euros.

what the **** is so cool about mid or spanish bb's. did they run out of ideas for changes in frames and decide to change the bb shell, when euro is perfectly fine

Actually, Euro was garbage. The bearing blew out way too easily because they were so small. Spanish isn't much better.

The only real advantage of the Mid (and keep in mind that I have one) over the American is that there's an actual standard for it, as opposed to the brand-to-brand variations in the inner diameter and width of the American BB shell.

i never popped a euro bearing, but i try hard not to hit my bb shell on pedal grinds.

I do a lot of BB grinds (and I've been venturing into downtube stalls as of late when I do pedal smiths), so I beat the crap out of mine.

i used to smash up my american bb when i learned pedal grinds