How cheap are those kit 3 piece wide cranks made?

[butterbean]

I laced a moped hub to a 24" bicycle rim for my current project.

 

[bikejock]

I laced a moped hub to a 24" bicycle rim for my current project.

That's a good idea. I would like to be able to use my original rims at least. Wish someone would market moped wheels designed specifically for motorized bikes.

I might try lacing a moped hub on my rear wheel which is a 24 rim. My front wheel is a 26 but that shouldn't matter if I'm lacing a hub, right?

 

[butterbean]

Having a bigger front wheel than rear will never hurt anything. You do need to make sure you calculate the correct spoke length for the hub and wheel you are lacing. There are online calculators that will do this for you if you take measurements of the hub and rim and put them into the calculator. Be forewarned, no bicycle shop will touch the wheel if it has a moped hub in it, so you must lace and true it yourself unless you live near a moped or scooter shop and are willing to pay their labor prices. You will also more than likely need to widen your rear dropouts to accept the moped hub, because it is much wider than a bicycle hub.

 

[The_Aleman]

The kit 3-piece cranks are generally garbage. Yeah, they'll work - to a point. If you want your stuff to last and be adaptable, you need to change up.

I've used an SBP cartridge (like this) and SBP crank arms for almost 5 years and almost 10K miles, has served me very well.
You will need an adapter for US BB to use most cartridge/sealed bearing sets with square taper ends. Many shorter crank arms are available.

A quick FYI for anyone who don't know: 1-piece cranks take ½" pedals, while 3-piece cranks take 9/16". LHS always has left-hand thread.

If you don't need freewheel cranks, then you'll need a fixed sprocket adapter, like this. Then a 24, 30, 36, 44, or 48T sprocket from them.

If you want/need freewheel cranks, I've used both SBP standard freewheel and heavy-duty freewheel adapters. If you're not starting engine with cranks, standard is fine.

Good pedal cranks are expensive, but in the long run are worth it. Of course you can get heavier-duty parts for less money and adapt them if you're clever.

Always research!

 

[butterbean]

Yeah, I have the crankset adapters. My plan is to use a moped pedal crank and 16x35x11mm sealed bearings. The sealed bearings will fit between the adapters, where a bearing cartridge would normally go. Then I'll just install a lock collar on the left hand side to hold it all together. Total cost for this setup is about $70 plus shipping.

 

[bikejock]

Ever used one of these before? Thought it was a great idea. Wish the kits included these. It's a special axle that allows me to use the original bike chain ring & original bearings so I don't gotta swap the cups & other bottom bracket hardware on my bike for the kit stuff. I ordered it from phantombikes for a little over $100. At that price you know it's better quality than the kit stuff. Hope it arrives soon.