BMX - 3-piece cranks: mongoose freestyle bmx

hello i am new to bikes...again.

i bought a mongoose freestyle bmx (not sure what model, i know its a mongoose but i always wanted one since i was a kid) some time back and now i want to change the stock cranks to a 3-piece cranks. just for show really. im not looking for performance, i dont race, i dont know the brands, i just want something that will work and not brake while i cruise down the beach and around downtown. what works/fits and what should i be looking to pay for this?

thank you for your time.

You won't break any three-piece cranks unless you crash the bike over and over hard or you're landing hard on the ramps. Anyway, your best bet is to check out Dan's Comp and shop accordingly. You can get good cranks from Eastern for as little as $80. You'll need to usually buy a BB too, so keep that in mind when choosing a crank set.

thanks for the fast reply. i keep hearing BB, what is bb anyways? also will need to buy the sprocket spereatly?

nvm.

BB = bottom bracket, which is the bit in the frame where your cranks go through, along with the bearings and associated hardware contained therein. BB is not "ball bearings".

and you dont necessarily need a new sprocket...you can take it off of your current cranks no problem.

ball bearings????

BB stands for bottom bracket, not ball bearings. And unless your sprocket is bent, you don't need a new one. Mine is bent though.

one last question. is there a standard size when it comes to the bottom bracket or is there a size i will need to fit my mongoose?

thanks every one your all so helpful.

OP said they want to change to 3 piece cranks, so it is possible that the bike has a 1pc crank. If that is the case, a bottom bracket conversion kit is needed to adapt from american to euro style bottom bracket to run 3pc cranks

There is no "need" for a conversion kit to make your bottom bracket compatible with "euro" in order to run 3 piece cranks, 3 piece cranks are available for all sorts of bottom bracket styles. The euro conversion is one possible option but is not the most cost effective.

It is reasonable to assume that the OP has one piece cranks as there would be no reason for him to post the question otherwise. One piece cranks are only used on bikes with an "American" bottom bracket. So the most straight forward conversion would be to buy 3 piece cranks that come complete with an American bottom bracket. If it is just for show then it doesn't get much cheaper than this http://www.danscomp.com/451053.php?cat=PARTS
You may want to spend a bit more and get a sealed bearing bottom bracket.
Once you get the cranks there are plenty of sites that have the installation instructions.

Keep in mind that the pedals off a one-piece crank use a 1/2 inch thread and a 3 piece uses 9/16 so you would need new pedals as well.

Euro is crap, never run euro on bmx.

word. the bearings are wayyyyyyyyyyyy too small. i dont really even like spanish bearings.

Euro is crap, never run euro on bmx

Spoken like a true non-racer. Euro is the standard for modern BMX race frames and has been the mountain bike standard for years.
As the bearings are smaller they wear quicker than an American, Spanish or Mid bottom bracket but they are lighter, easy to install, spin like a top, and can be replaced in minutes. The first generation with only a single bearing on each end tended to wear very quickly but now most have two bearings per side and last a lot longer. They have their place in the BMX world and are definetly not crap.

They belong in the mountain bike world, i wouldn't even run euro on my race bike. The minimal weight saving is not worth losing the strength and durability of a mid, or even Spanish bearing.

Good luck with that.
None of the race frame manufacturers use anything but Euro. You may be able to source an older frame with an American BB but certainly not mid or spanish.

I see that, and I think that is rather unfortunate.

I thought Standard still made an American BB frame, but I searched and it was wrong. But I know the FBM Camaro had a Mid BB. But like andymac said, Euro BB's are easily the most popular BB in racing, and they are very easy to install.

Yeah, because a mid, or spanish bb is so difficult to press into the frame...

i can see where threading the bearings right into the frame would be enjoyable, just because of the ease of installation, but i still think they arent strong enough. race bikes and mountain bikes only. not on any other use of a bmx bike. not even if its just for show.

Yeah, because a mid, or spanish bb is so difficult to press into the frame...

I'm not disagreeing with you, because I think race frames should use a Mid or Spanish BB too. My American Profile BB just slides right in and out of my old frame.

its that loose?

Yeahhh. It works perfectly fine though.

Fbm!

Their race frame is nice.

i have american too...rolls pretty nice

good morning people.

i picked out my crank set based on the info i got here. anyways i was removing my brake levers and broke the plastic off that holds them around to the bars. i started looking a lever and was wondering if i got mini's/small (size) would these fit my adult size small hands or these made for 7 yr old hands?

are you talking like a trigger style lever?

yea.

There is no "need" for a conversion kit to make your bottom bracket compatible with "euro" in order to run 3 piece cranks, 3 piece cranks are available for all sorts of bottom bracket styles. The euro conversion is one possible option but is not the most cost effective.

It is reasonable to assume that the OP has one piece cranks as there would be no reason for him to post the question otherwise. One piece cranks are only used on bikes with an "American" bottom bracket. So the most straight forward conversion would be to buy 3 piece cranks that come complete with an American bottom bracket. If it is just for show then it doesn't get much cheaper than this http://www.danscomp.com/451053.php?cat=PARTS
You may want to spend a bit more and get a sealed bearing bottom bracket.
Once you get the cranks there are plenty of sites that have the installation instructions.

Keep in mind that the pedals off a one-piece crank use a 1/2 inch thread and a 3 piece uses 9/16 so you would need new pedals as well.

how do you tell the difference between the euro and american, is it the sizing? or a noticeable difference in the make?

1. trigger levers are just for one or two finger use. you're able to keep more of your hands on the grip.

2. guy right above me, there is a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge difference in the bearing sizes

American BB have much larger bearings, are pressed in, and last a lot longer if they're sealed.

European BB have really small bearings, are threaded in, and don't have the lifetime of anyother kind of bearings.

to fit three-piece onto a frame that uses a one-piece crank (ashtabula) you'll need a bottom bracket converter... it's a simple thing, usually plastic and metal, sometimes a single cnc-machined piece, that slips into the larger ashtabula bracket to fit the narrower axle of a three-piece.

like this:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/opc.html
(scroll down to 'american to euro converter')

American BB have much larger bearings, are pressed in, and last a lot longer if they're sealed.

European BB have really small bearings, are threaded in, and don't have the lifetime of anyother kind of bearings.

Can you somehow knock the sealed bearing housing out of the american cups?

Ehhh. I'm not sure. You might be able to though because an American BB is just a Mid with cups.

Yes you can take the cups off. no need for a conversion kit either. just buy the bottom bracket you need.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/opc.html
(scroll down to 'american to euro converter')

i really dont like things like this...they are completely unnecessary unless you wanna race and have frame that uses an american BB. other than that, they should stay away from any bike ever made. period.

If I want to convert from American to Mid, I would need some kinda conversion kit so that the mid will sit good inside the frame?

Converting American to Mid doesn't make sense. A Mid BB is just an American without the cups.

Mid and american are the same thing, just american has the cup like mini said.

That is right the bearings are the same ,The cup is what converts it to american size

ok, maybe I'm confused but if the bearings are the same size, if I decide to NOT use the American cups, would it STILL fit snuggly inside the frame?

You need to used whatever size bottom bracket shell your frame has. if its American you need the cups. mid you dont.

interesting, i didn't realize the cups are what make an american BB sized-right for one-piece (ashtabula) cranks... or that without them, you'd be left with an otherwise standard BB.

i know for a fact i've been able to loosen the cups on a bmx frame with a flathead screwdriver and a hammer before... i was just curious... what bottom brackets fit bmx frames once you've removed the cups? examples? links? i'm quite curious about this now, since everyone else i've asked says you need the converter.

Mid bottom bracket.

Mid BB= American BB without cups.

The Ride Tech Articles on this link will answer most questions
http://www.gsportbmx.com/tech/

Hey I just recently bought new 3 piece crank, and it came with sealed bearings but they have thise black casing around them, I was wondering if that is supposed to come off or if it is supposed to stay on when installing it. Because it does not fit with the casing. Please respond soon.

Are they too big for the BB?