Bicycle Parts Interchangeability

Bicycle Parts Interchangeability

THE STANDARDS GROUPS

American standard = "American"

Schwinn standard = "Schwinn"

English, Japanese = "English"

French = "French"

Old English = "Old English"

Italian = "Italian"

The components interchange within these groups.

The standards mean that a headset from an

American-made Huffy will fit in another American-made

Columbia, but not in a French-made Peugeot. However,

the French Peugeot parts will fit in another French-made

Jeunet.Note: The manufacturers do not always use

standard dimensions.


Axle Threading

Front wheels, American = 5/16" x 24TPI

Front wheels, BMX, Cruiser, Mountain = 3/8" x 26TPI

Rear wheels, coaster = 3/8" x 24TPI

Rear wheels, derailleur = 3/8" x 26TPI

Sturmey-Archer = non-standard

Schwinn (pre-1970) = non-standard (28 TPI)





Bearings

headset = 5/32"

bottom bracket, 3-pc = 1/4"

bottom bracket, 1-pc = 5/16"

pedals = 1/8 or 5/32"

freewheel = 1/8"

front hub = 3/16"

rear hub = 1/4"

Seat Clamp

American = 5/8" or 7/8"

All others = 7/8"



Seat Post

American, general = 13/16"

BMX, inexpensive = 13/16"

BMX, expensive = 7/8"

Mountain Bike, inexpensive = 1"

Mountain Bike, expensive = 26.4,26.6mm

Road bike, inexpensive = 1"

Road bike, expensive = 26.8,27.2mm

Freewheels

All interchangeable except French, Italian





Handlebar Stem

American = 7/8"

Most others = 15/16"

French = non-standard



Grips

All standard = 7/8"

Chain

1- and 3-speeds = 1/2 x 1/8"

derailleur bikes = 1/2 x 3/32"





Tires

The standards for width are the same regardless of diameter.

26 x 1-3/8 EA3 does not fit EA1

26 x 1-3/8 for Schwinn is EA1 and 26 x 1-1/4

26 x 1.75 interchanges w/ 26 x 2.125

26 x 1.75 is not 26 x 1-3/4 (1-3/4 tubes do fit 1.75)

26 x 1.50, 1.95, 2.00, 2.10 also interchange with 26 x 1.75

27 x 1-1/8 will fit 27 x 1-1/4; 27 x 1 will also fit, but not well

700c does not fit 27" diameter


Crank Cotters

English = 9.5mm

French = 9.0mm

Italian = 8.5 or 9.0


Frame Tubing Outside Diameters

American: seattube, downtube, toptube = 1"

English, toptube = 1"

English downtube, seattube = 1-1/8"

French: seattube, downtube = 28mm

French, toptube = 25mm

Pedals

1-pc cranks = 1/2"

3-pc cranks = 9/16"

French = non-standard

Linear Conversions

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