Classic & Vintage - Huffy Aerowind Bottom Bracket...

I am in the process of rebuilding an old Huffy Aerowind (my first road bike) and I am stumped at the bottom bracket. I started to remove the cranks (Shimano Adamas AX) and realized that it's not a square taper bb and I haven't seen anything like it. Also noticed that the bottom bracket is much larger in diameter than a standard bottom bracket. Is anyone familiar with this bike and could recommend what type of bottom bracket I could get to replace? I'd like to get one with square taper so I can use a crankset that I already have. Thanks!

I have a Huffy Concours from the same era which had the Adamas BB. If it is like mine, it is no sweat. Pull the cranks off in the usual manner and you get the funky splined axle. Take that off and the bearings will come with it (my recollection is that it has some sort of nut thing). What you will have left are the bearing cups. These cups are threaded into the BB shell. In fact, they should be standard british thread (i.e. the right side is backwards threaded). If you look inside, you will see that the axle hole in the cups is notched like a freewheel remover. I do not recall which one works, but it is an older shimano style. If you don;t have one, take the frame to your LBS and they should have the cups out in 3-5 minutes. Then replace the BB with any standard BB.

Balindamood, does the Concours have a large BMX style BB like the aerowind?? Never seen one
so I don't know. Aside from the BB axle and hardware, the bearings and cups on an aero are standard
"American/BMX".

If you remove the entire BB, you will need a three piece crank BB conversion set. You will then be able
to install any three piece crankset you want. So what's wrong with the crankset and bearings that are on it? Worn out? ,,,,BD


Just curious, since I have four Aerowinds.

I have the same bike and the BB is the size of a BMX BB. I just cleaned mine up and regreased it and it works with no problems. The other posters are correct in that you options are a steel one piece heavy crank or a BMX to three piece crank adapter which is expensive. Here are a couple of pictures of my Aerowind. Roger

Expensive is relative though. I have seen the conversion kits anywhere from $19-$40, depending on how much you want to spend. Nice AW btw! Green wrap though?? Hehe..

That looks like one of the 27" wheeled models. They're usually just a touch better quality than the 26x1 3/8" wheelers. Slightly different frame construction at the seat cluster. What really bothers me about them is the cheesy crown race on the forks.,,,,BD

No, the Concours has (had in my case) an Adamas BB which though it fit in a standard shell, it is not like anything else I have ever seen. You are correct that if the Aerowind has an Ashtibula BB/single piece crank, then some sort of conversion bracket would be required. I have not had much luck with these.

The AW has a three piece crank, but it is set in a BMX sized non threaded BB. It has standard old school BMX/American cups and bearings, but a spindle and separate crank arms like a road bike. It's almost like a conversion kit on it's own. The crank arms sit on a splined spindle rather than a square taper.,,,,BD

My only comment you forgot that in addition to the adapter cost you have the cost of whatever cranks you use. You can easily get over $100 in a hurry. I have $80 in the whole bike as it sits. Roger

It's not required that you use a new crank? For example I could probably find a crank with rings in decent shape for less than $20 from a few local sources. I actually have a few leftovers from damaged bikes, so it would be already paid for. One post in ISO/WTB could bring a cheap crank too? Therefore the only real cost is the 3 piece conversion kit, or possibly just new bearings and fresh grease on the original BB. This isn't a $100 expense, or doesn't have to be anyway.,,,,BD

The same is true at my house but not everyone has that luxury. The Adamas cranks that came on these bikes are actually the first version of what Shimano now calls Octalink (sp). There is no cost involved with the Adamas cranks other than the time to clean and lubricate them. Roger

Thanks for this thread. I picked up a Concours about a month ago and have not started working on it yet. I just checked it and the BB shell is the same size as a square taper BB shell, but it is not sqaure taper, so it must be an Adamas crankset. I'm glad I read this before I worked on it, saves me the time of being surprized.

My Concours is one of may favorite bikes. It is set up as a rainy day FG commuter, but it deserves much more credit than that. It evidently was made by Motobecane for Huffy.

Hey all - Thanks for the feedback. The BMX American/Euro bb converter ended up working out great and it was only $20. I was able to use my crankset and get it all rebuilt. Here's a pic!

When looking my AW's, I've often wondered whatever happened to Phase 2 and 3?? Looks like a fun ride. Your chrome cable guides and paint look to be in excellent shape!,,,,BD

My Concours is one of may favorite bikes. It is set up as a rainy day FG commuter, but it deserves much more credit than that. It evidently was made by Motobecane for Huffy.

Very interesting comment. How did you find out that Motobecane made the Concours? I'm not disagreeing, just curious. I have a 77 Super Mirage and a 80 Concours. Certainly the paint schemes are identical. But the fork and seat stays have differences. So I'm curious how the Concours was traced to Motobecane. BTW, it does make sense that Huffy would turn to another company to make a better bike.

I had a 63 Raleigh Sports that was rebadged as a Huffy Sportsman. Of course they did.:D,,,,BD

As to motobeccane making the Huffy. I have been unable to officially confirm this from anyone who actually knows, b ut I will submit the following body of evidence:

1). It is known that Huffy did have the Concours frame made for them

2). The Concours has french tubing

3). If you put a concours next to an '84 Motobecane Jubilee, you will find them identical right down to the paint (the black/red version)

I have discussed this with two LBS's and several others and we have all come to the same conclusion. It would be nice to have someone who actually knows confirm it.

Here are pics of an 80 Huffy Concours (56cm) and a 77 (48cm) Motobecane Super Mirage (using component dating to date each frame). The paint schemes are so close they should be considered identical. Both have the black and red scheme with gold outlining. Kind of classy for a Huffy, IMHO. Only the decals are different.
From a construction standpoint, the crowned forks are different with a different crown and a different amount of chrome. Not shown in the pics, the seat stays are different where they attach to the seat post lug. One is flatened at an angle (Motobecane) while the Huffy is rounded right to the end.
Otherwise the frames are very similiar, using the same lugs. I believe the stays are brazed on both frames. There is a three year difference in the age of the frames so that may account for the difference. Very interesting. I checked the serial numbers, they are not similiar but are both located on the bottom bracket housing. The Huffy is F1050181 and the Motobecane is 4153229.
PS, the seat was that high on the Motobecane when I recieved it because the previous owner was over six foot tall, trying to ride a 48cm frame.