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Tips for getting pedals off
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 2011-06-30 8:51 AM |
 Subject: Tips for getting pedals offA friend of mine wants to try cycling for fitness. I offered to let her try out my road bike for a while but she does not have cycling shoes and my bike has clipless pedals. I asked my husband to switch the pedals back to the cages my bike came with but he can't get them off. Anybody have any tips for us? I would like to try to do this at home since the bike shops around here are not always the most helpful and often give me a lot of attitude. |
| 2011-06-30 8:59 AM in reply to: #3574472 |
Extreme Veteran  523  Brambleton, VA | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off It would help to have a pedal removing tool (see link): http://www.parktool.com/product/home-mechanic-pedal-wrench-pw-5. Alternatively you can use a long, but correctly sized wrench. If the pedals are stuck, spray a little WD40 to loosen them up. The right pedal is 'rightie tightie', but the LEFT pedal is the opposite. Yes, I have spent many frustrating minutes cursing the LEFT pedal before I figured out that I was tightening it and not loosening the pedal as anticipated. Good luck. |
| 2011-06-30 9:00 AM in reply to: #3574472 |
Master 2380   Beijing | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off You need to remember that the non-drive side side is "reverse" thread. Both pedals will loosen by turning them in the opposite direction of normal travel.
You need either a 15mm wrench or an allen key that will fit on the inside of the pedal shaft. They make a special "pedal wrench" that makes it easier to get the right leverage on it.... but I just use a regular wrench.
And then find the guy who put them on so tight and punch him. You just need to "snug them up" when installing. |
| 2011-06-30 9:02 AM in reply to: #3574472 |
Elite 6387  | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off Takes an allen wrench or a pedal wrench. Left side is left hand thread, right side is right hand thread. |
| 2011-06-30 9:05 AM in reply to: #3574472 |
Master 2725 Washington, DC Metro | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off yup they are not likely stuck, you are just trying to tighten one of them... happens all the time. If they are stuck a little WD40 sprayed into the thread side, left to sit for an hour or so should loosen them up. |
| 2011-06-30 9:18 AM in reply to: #3574472 |
Champion 10668 Tacoma, Washington | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off Here's how I always remember which pedal is reverse threaded: They're made such that if the bearings seized up, pedaling would loosen the pedal from the crankarm instead of taking your foot off... |
| 2011-06-30 9:31 AM in reply to: #3574472 |
| Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off Great! Thanks! We'll keep trying. |
| 2011-06-30 9:40 AM in reply to: #3574472 |
Veteran 721 Naptown, IN | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off Shift the chain to the large chainring on the front. It won't help loosen the pedals, but it will help save busted knuckles from the chainring teeth. |
| 2011-06-30 10:32 AM in reply to: #3574472 |
Member 1083 | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off Okay I recently had to take mine off and no matter what I did they wouldn't budge. I am totally aware that I'm not the strongest so I asked my hubby and no go. Went to the bike shop and the mechanic said, "you need a bigger wrench" by which he meant longer. He then pulled out the longest Allen wrench I've ever seen and voila with one big push they were loose :-) |
| 2011-06-30 11:05 AM in reply to: #3574643 |
Master 2725 Washington, DC Metro | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off mobey - 2011-06-30 10:40 AM Shift the chain to the large chainring on the front. It won't help loosen the pedals, but it will help save busted knuckles from the chainring teeth. ^^^ yup that can be paaaaaainful! |
| 2011-06-30 11:06 AM in reply to: #3574777 |
Master 2725 Washington, DC Metro | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off miamiamy - 2011-06-30 11:32 AM Okay I recently had to take mine off and no matter what I did they wouldn't budge. I am totally aware that I'm not the strongest so I asked my hubby and no go. Went to the bike shop and the mechanic said, "you need a bigger wrench" by which he meant longer. He then pulled out the longest Allen wrench I've ever seen and voila with one big push they were loose :-) Leverage is your friend |
| 2011-06-30 11:22 AM in reply to: #3574862 |
| Payson, AZ | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off Sous - 2011-06-30 9:06 AM miamiamy - 2011-06-30 11:32 AM Okay I recently had to take mine off and no matter what I did they wouldn't budge. I am totally aware that I'm not the strongest so I asked my hubby and no go. Went to the bike shop and the mechanic said, "you need a bigger wrench" by which he meant longer. He then pulled out the longest Allen wrench I've ever seen and voila with one big push they were loose :-) Leverage is your friend I find so is beer. That way I stay nice and relaxed and have less urge to throw the bike. More often then not I don't have issues but periodically I find a stuck one... |
 2011-06-30 11:32 AM in reply to: #3574472 |
| Subject: ... This user's post has been ignored. |
| 2011-07-01 11:57 PM in reply to: #3574472 |
| Master 1883 San Antone, Texas | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off I may be missing something here, or just not up to date on all the latest pedal technologies... but what kind of pedal uses an Allen wrench (aka hex wrench) to loosen/tighten? Every pedal I've ever removed used a pedal wrench or a 15mm open wrench if I didn't have a pedal wrench handy. |
| 2011-07-02 12:08 AM in reply to: #3574472 |
| Elite 6387 | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off SPD |
| 2011-07-02 4:51 AM in reply to: #3574472 |
| Pro 6011 Camp Hill, Pennsylvania | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off Speedplays can use an allen wrench too. |
| 2011-07-02 5:09 AM in reply to: #3577962 |
| Elite 7783 PEI, Canada | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off TriMyBest - 2011-07-02 6:51 AM Speedplays can use an allen wrench too. Some of them but not all. I have two pairs, the titanium ones need a wrench, the Chrome Moly ones will take the allen wrench. |
| 2011-07-02 3:04 PM in reply to: #3574472 |
| Master 1929 Midlothian, VA | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off If you need some extra torque you can try using an adjustable wrench on the outside AND an allen wrench on the inside at the same time. Just be aware of where everything is that can bite you so you can best prevent an injury due to slipping. (Such as the previous recommendation to put the chain on the big ring.) |
| 2011-07-02 3:26 PM in reply to: #3574472 |
| Expert 1379 Woodland, California | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off Something else that might help is to use a cheater bar along with your allen or 15mm wrench. This can be a section of pipe that slides over the wrench.... the longer, the better. If you do this, be sure you're turning the wrench in the correct direction.... recently I was trying to remove a bottom bracket, and I had my super strong weight lifter husband crank on it with a 2 foot breaker bar because I couldn't get it loose. Then I realized I had failed to tell him that side was left hand threaded. Even the LBS couldn't break it loose. Fortunately, my husband's strength and craftiness prevailed. |
| 2011-07-03 4:55 AM in reply to: #3574472 |
| Veteran 350 Central VA | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off Proper size wrench and a the right size hammer. |
| 2011-07-03 12:17 PM in reply to: #3574472 |
| Elite 6387 | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off A word of caution: while plenty of wrenchers use cheater bars, and yes leverage and longer wrenches are your friend..... use of them by those not familiar is a good way to strip stuff and break bolts. There is no good reason that a cheater is needed on a bike. Simple bike tools are all that is necessary. |
| 2011-07-03 2:36 PM in reply to: #3579056 |
| Extreme Veteran 745 | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off From my experience working with old cars and bikes - get a longish wrench and some penetrating oil. Douse the bolt and tap it with the wrench a few times. Now, instead of applying every ounce of force you can muster on the wrench, fist bump it or hit it gently with a dead blow hammer. It will take some time to get it going, but no stripped threads. When reassembling, use a little anti-seize (available at autoparts stores. Get some latex gloves too - anti-seize gets everywhere and is messy as h377 but will keep the parts from binding up.) |
| 2011-07-03 3:54 PM in reply to: #3574472 |
| Master 1890 Cypress, CA | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off Easiest way I've found to remember which way to turn pedals is that when the wrench handle is pointing to the rear of the bike, you push down. Works on both sides. Regular open-end or crescent wrenchs are frequently too wide to fit between the pedal and crankarm, so you probably will need a special pedal wrench or an allen wrench if your pedal can take one. And as noted, rather than struggling too much with them, take the bike to a shop and they'll probably be able to get them right off with a long pedal wrench. Putting them back on, you should put a little grease on the threads, and finger-tight is sufficient--regular pedaling action will keep them plenty tight. |
| 2011-07-03 4:11 PM in reply to: #3579208 |
| Payson, AZ | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off tjh - 2011-07-03 1:54 PM Easiest way I've found to remember which way to turn pedals is that when the wrench handle is pointing to the rear of the bike, you push down. Works on both sides. Good tip. Thanks. |
| 2011-07-03 4:32 PM in reply to: #3579056 |
| Master 1890 Cypress, CA | Subject: RE: Tips for getting pedals off powerman - 2011-07-03 10:17 AM A word of caution: while plenty of wrenchers use cheater bars, and yes leverage and longer wrenches are your friend..... use of them by those not familiar is a good way to strip stuff and break bolts. There is no good reason that a cheater is needed on a bike. Simple bike tools are all that is necessary. Good point, and I'll amplify that if you're messing with pedals what's likely to get stripped is your crankarm, which means you're probably in for a whole new crank as vendors tend not to sell piece parts. Something I wish I didn't know from personal experience... |
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