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Redline
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Pinchless flight cranks by Redline

JustinHayes · 2007-05-01 6:03am

There is a great guide about identifying Flight cranks on Ebay Here that was written by one of our members “hutchheaven” aka windstyler. Jim has given me permission to copy it over to this section so here it is..

Many people do not know the differences in the various versions of REDLINE Flight cranks.I will try to provide a basic tutorial covering this topic.I will be adding more detailed pics very soon to help in identifying the many versions listed below.

First off let's start with the original REDLINE Flight cranks.These can be identified by having a six splined spindle and no pinch bolts. These were made available to the public in 1980 and are known as "FLIGHT CRANKS" they are somewhat scarce(compared to other Flight crank versions) and used a threaded (28T) spindle. REDLINE did list the part number for these as 401 but did not advertise them as such in any known advertisements or catalogs.

Around 1981 REDLINE 401 and in 1982 the 400 Flight cranks were introduced.

The 400 Series (sometimes mistaken for the original FLIGHT cranks) were a budget version of the Flight crank introduced in 1982 and had a fixed spider, no pinch bolts and accepted a square tapered spindle (larger than a standard size spindle also fit DB TURBO and SUGINO 400 cranks).They also came with a threaded sealed bottom bracket set. The cranks were made for REDLINE by SUGINO.

The 401 Series accepted a six splined spindle had full wrap around pedal bosses and wrap around pinch bolt bosses. Introduced in 1981 these are very similar to the original FLIGHT cranks accept that they do have pinch bolts.

In the very late 1980's or early 1990's REDLINE changed the design and these cranks were known as simply FLIGHT cranks again (not 401's).These cranks look similar to the 401 Series (also accept a six spline spindle) but the pinch bolt bosses were welded on and the pedal bosses were not the full wrap around version. They also came with a non-threaded spindle and sealed bearings. These cranks are commonly mistaken for the older more valuable 401 Series but are not considered to be true old school items. They are considered Mid school by most knowledgeable collectors.

Later in the evolution REDLINE came out with the double pinch Flight cranks. These are easily distinguished from the earlier old school versions by the double pinch bolts on each arm. These are not considered old school.

Some people also mistake REDLINE PROLINE cranks for Flights but they are easily distinguished by the fact that the arms are wider and don’t have a channel for the REDLINE decal on the backs of the arms. They also have an 8 spline spindle. All the old school Flight cranks mentioned above did have this channel.

Special thanks to Gary over at bmxmuseum.com for the pics. Visit his site if you get a chance as it has a wealth of related information.

If anybody has pics or pertinent information to add to this guide please feel free to contact me at ebayer@sportscardgold.com

JustinHayes · 2007-05-01 6:36am

More information.... (these pictures are not mine)

There were prototypes that were made and even advertised, but were never released to the general public. Below is an ad from mid-1978

Below is a picture of the 3rd gen Flight (not 401) cranks as desribed by Jim above... these are NOT full-wrap around version (this picture was posted by Bill Curtian at vintage) dates noted on the picture

Below is the first of the double-pinch bolt flights NOT full-wrap around and are 4th gen. These were out in 1996 - ? (This picture was on ebay)

I'm not sure when, but later the flights went back to Full-wrap around and were double pinch bolt like elfdoublecross posted above

.

JustinHayes · 2007-05-14 6:01am

Here are two different kinds of spindles that came on the Redline Flight cranks

The one in the back is often referred to as the "Dimpled" spindle. It has a 22.7mm thick shaft.
The one in front is non-dimpled and has a 19mm shaft (this one just happens to have sealed bearings..... they also came with the ball-type)

Because of the extra thickness, many people believe the dimpled spindle was stronger.

BuddhaTat2 · 2007-06-25 4:23pm

Even more are is the SUGINO Stamped 400's!! No Redline stamping on these at all.

GTMark · 2007-10-09 2:43pm

the wrap around is where the pedals go, they either have a hole drill through arm with threaded tube inserted/welded in or the bottom is notched and tube welded to it. you see the entire tube from bottom of arm, not as clean looking to me. hard to see diff in some of these pics, but good info for sure, nice!

hutchheaven · 2007-12-03 10:43am

They came in white BITD. Not sure what year they started with them in colors but they were available BITD.

txex97 · 2008-03-12 7:34pm

These are one-piece Redline Big Block Cranks. They're pretty sturdy and I believe they are mid-school. I also believe they require this specific chainwheel, etc. to be used.

hutchheaven · 2008-03-17 7:52am

killertiller wrote:
What about the redlines with full wrap on spindle end and half wrap on pedal end?

Are you talking about the ones where the weld is filled in to look like the full wrap spindle end? They were a transitional phase between the full wrap pedle and and half wrap. You can usually see the difference in the spindle end if you look closely.

GAry · 2008-04-22 10:30am

es afe pics of my 90's NO WRAP cranks..
I sitll like them, even though they arent the classic 401's...

guess I bvetter go clean off my bench ehÂ¿

the best part is I traded them for modern Monster flights...
thanks John RAy!

revcore · 2008-06-03 4:27am

MUNCH · 2008-06-16 1:24pm

400 SERIES REDLINES, JUST LIKE MY SUGINO 400'S

Surf911S · 2008-10-02 8:32am

here is some history for this thread.

Charlie Brown · 2008-11-14 11:17pm

aerospeed1 · 2008-11-21 2:22pm

I have this but i dont know how accurate it is.

Grendal · 2008-11-22 6:41pm

Check out my techmatic BB i just got!!!!

Hobbes12 · 2009-02-03 10:03pm

175mm Double Pinch Flights:

BRIMX · 2009-03-22 11:54am

Black double pinch

vettefan · 2009-06-08 7:39pm

i am going to make a correction on here and hope someone will back me up. the actual "third gen." is what i refer to as a true half wrap crank arm, i have one and will post a pic tomorrow. the half wrap moniker which now most people use to refer to the fourth gen cranks, which are in reality non-wrap. the true half-wrap jim refers to above is indeed fully welded around the end that mounts to the spindle, mine is clearly completely welded, and not just "filled". the pedal boss end is then actually a non-wrap welded end, thus the reason these were dubbed "half wraps" : one end wrapped welded, the other end not. so the non-wraps are indeed then fourth generation (not including the 400's in the generation list.) so it will look like this.

first gen : non-pinch flight cranks(full wrap both ends)

second gen : single pinch 401 flight cranks (full wrap both ends) also available in white.

third gen : single pinch (non-401) flight cranks, "half wraps" (full wrap spindle, non-wrap
pedal boss) this is the interim crank arm.

fourth gen : single pinch (non-401) flight cranks , "non-wraps" , neither end of arm fully welded.

fifth gen : double pinch flight cranks , non-wrap ends

sixth gen : double pinch flight cranks , wrapped pedal boss ad spindle ends

Last edited by vettefan (2010-02-04 6:00pm)

Draw · 2009-06-29 11:35am

4th gens (according to the above statement)

*edited per 7berk's reply*
Flight Group Aluminum Cranks. ca. 1997

Last edited by Draw (2009-06-29 2:50pm)

nasty_nitro · 2010-01-23 5:58am

Mid 80's 401 single pinch full wrap 180mm with Techmatic.

Not sure if the spindle bolts are correct.

Last edited by nasty_nitro (2010-01-23 6:16am)

nasty_nitro · 2010-01-23 6:20am

New School 2009 dual pinch 180mm Redline Flights.

Pics of what you can get for about a 100 bucks.

blue78 · 2010-04-13 5:07pm

Just dug up the box from my Flights I bought in 1987.

The rest of the stuff from the box is here:

(I installed a Hadley sealed BB the day they went in)