3 Piece Wide Crank??

jimraysr · #1 (**permalink**) 06-12-2008, 10:34 AM

I am building a Honda / GruBee on a new Schwinn Searcher. It has enough frame space for the engine and mount, BUT the crank bearings are around 1 1/2" and I don't think the one piece crank in the kit will go in the bearing case.

I have seen wide 3 piece cranks pictured in other kits, but have not found them available as a separate item.

Has anyone had any luck in finding a wide 3 piece crank?

Thanks, Jim

Easy Rider · #2 (**permalink**) 06-12-2008, 11:38 AM

Jim, Shimano makes different width size crank hubs. I put on the widest one they make. Plus you can use shorter crank.
Good luck on your project.

**nogoodnic** · #3 (**permalink**) 06-12-2008, 11:51 AM

You might also want to keep an eye out for a junk Schwinn Stingray (chopper style). They have wide 3-piece cranks on them to get around the 4.25 tire...Kelly

ocscully · #4 (**permalink**) 06-12-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimraysr

I am building a Honda / GruBee on a new Schwinn Searcher. It has enough frame space for the engine and mount, BUT the crank bearings are around 1 1/2" and I don't think the one piece crank in the kit will go in the bearing case.

I have seen wide 3 piece cranks pictured in other kits, but have not found them available as a separate item.

Has anyone had any luck in finding a wide 3 piece crank?

Thanks, Jim

Jim,

I would contact the the folks you have seen selling the kits with the wide 3-piece cranks and ask if they will sell you a set. I did this several months ago and a couple of them said they would sell a set of cranks. I didn't end up making the purchase though as I've decide to modify my existing crankset. The problem with both solutions mentioned above is will they get you wide enough? The engine & gearbox measure in at 9.5-10 inches wide. The longer BB spindle will probably be to short and it will also push the standard crank sprocket out to far causing chainline problems for the pedal drive.

Revolution Cycles has a pair of wide 3-piece cranks they are offering but they seem really mickey mouse to me as they use old school cotter pins to secure them to the BB spindle. And then there is the problems that many people in have had with the seller. His reputation is not good. Buyer Beware!

ocscully

jimraysr · #5 (**permalink**) 06-12-2008, 06:35 PM

I can see where the chopper crank would also require the sprocket to be out as well. Seems like the offset in the crank is the way to go if available. Actually I really like the OEM sprocket. It is self shielding and very clean looking. I had already thought of the old trick of a rubber band on a long pant leg to keep it out of the chain. Shorts eliminate the problem around 7 months a year here. Our kids wore shorts all winter long when they were in school. Don't think that will work for me. )

Revolution was an early attraction being so close, but fortunately I read enough to go to Florida for my kit.

Thanks guys for the suggestions. Will welcome any more anyone comes up with. Really looking forward to actually riding past a few gas stations. The canal system here offer bike trail shortcuts cars and others would die for. )

Jim

regleo · #6 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 10:53 AM

has anyone tried to heat the crank arms and bend them to make them offset ????
i bought a universal offset crankset but the bearing cups look to be too large for my scwinn frontier 23"frame .im trying to put a pull starter and a centrifugal clutch on my 80cc kings motor ..thanks

jimraysr · #7 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 02:06 PM

I found a dealer who had a set of wide cranks. They are square taper, so should fit in place of the aluminum alloy ones that Schwinn put on. Got a Parks crank removal tool from a local bike shop for $11. It threads into the crank and has an internal screw that pushes the crank off the spindle. Of course you have to remove the retaining screw / bolt under the plastic cap first.

If you straight cranks are aluminum, don't think you will be able to bend them. The wide set are chrome plated iron.

Tip on using the crank removal tool. As mentioned, remove the plastic cap, then the retaining bold / screw, then thread the very fine threaded tool into the crank threads. I found it easy to be sure I didn't cross thread by turning the tool CCW till I felt the top thread of the crank drop the bottom thread of the tool down, then turned it CW into the crank till it bottomed. Then you can screw in the internal tool removal bolt to push the crank off the square spindle. It has a button on its end that turns and helps prevent binding of the tool to the spindle. Hope that helps someone.

One other note the tool I bought has a lever attached to the internal push off bolt. The lever will not clear the wide crank, so the lever must be bent up to clear the crank. The rest is duck soup!

Jim

Fosscati · #8 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimraysr

I am building a Honda / GruBee on a new Schwinn Searcher. It has enough frame space for the engine and mount, BUT the crank bearings are around 1 1/2" and I don't think the one piece crank in the kit will go in the bearing case.

I have seen wide 3 piece cranks pictured in other kits, but have not found them available as a separate item.

Has anyone had any luck in finding a wide 3 piece crank?

Thanks, Jim

Jim, the big problem is that too many kit suppliers offer only the 3 piece crank when nearly all cruisers and all Schwinn cruisers have a 1 piece crank.
I have a few 3 piece cranks left over from 4-stroke kits. They are really useless and to fit them on a Schwinn Cruiser you need a $60 adaptor to make a $4 crank fit. The crank arms are kiddies cranks and too short to give proper leverage. I'll send you my 3 piece if you send me your 1 piece. The 1 piece has cups & bearings & the 3 piece has only a wide spindle with a Euro bb, 2 crank arms, two nuts & 2 plastic plugs. How come I've never had a problem fitting 1 piece cranks on Schwinn cruisers. Is your Schwinn not a cruiser? I'd say get a cruiser if you have a 4-stroke frame mount.

jimraysr · #9 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 01:08 PM

I found a three piece set of cranks. They were full sized approx. 6.5” center to center. 44 tooth sprocket attached to the right crank. They are the square taper and replaced the Schwinn ones without having to change the lower bracket internal assembly.

The bike is a "Searcher" with a 1.5" lower bracket. None of the Schwinns I saw when shopping had a 2" bracket that the one piece would fit. A dealer (FL) mentioned when I was looking for the 3 piece cranks that the ones he had seen were the old square style that had wedge pins, so these I got must be a newer style that are retained by a bolt in the end of the spindle.

The Searcher frame has just enough space for the Honda GXH50. Had to grind out the front aluminum mount part to fit the approx. 2" lower tube and allow the mount to drop in enough the engine would fit. Drilled and tapped the front mount to fit a 2" muffler clamp (discarding the U bolt) that I saw some smart guy did in an other post. Used a piece of sheet metal covered wt. duct tape to guard the frame and paint from the muffler top bracket.

Could not use the slotted engine mounts in the mount, but used a straight edge to find the sprocket alignment with the driven one on the rear wheel.
Engine had to go almost to the front edge of the mount to give some space to remove the air cleaner cover. Drilled the mount and the front aluminum adapter to the bolt pattern of the engine and used bolts from the underside. Good thing with that arrangement is the engine can be removed without the mount.

The Schwinn runs the brake and derailer cables under the top tube and the choke lever (plastic) could not be operated. Cut off the top of the lever and drilled and tapped the plastic shaft and inserted a 1" X 6-32 bolt that works fine and both points at the operating icons and the head acts as handle.

Jim

regleo · #10 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 07:35 PM

I Figured If I Make Aanother Down Tube With A Bracket On Each End .i Can Use Ubolts. And Raise The Motor Up To Clear The Pedals I Have The Room Because Its A 23in Frame I'm In The Process Now I Let You Know How It Works Out