Many amateur mechanic make the mistake of switching sides when re-installing pedals. Pedals have a different thread pattern on the left and right side. The right side pedal is installed and removed the usual way, clockwise in and counter clockwise out. The left side goes in counter clockwise and comes out clockwise. The left side is reversed thread. Both pedals are usually marked near the thread with a "L" and a "R" to identify them. Take note that pedals come in two different sizes threadwise. Bring the old ones with you if you need to replace them. The tool you will need for pedals is a 15mm open wrench.
Until next time, ride safe.
Gerry
31 comments:
Wow!! Great blog! I'll email you next time I've got grease all over me and a puzzled look on my face and hopefully you can set me right! : )
Perfect timing on this post! I'm going to do a pedal switch tomorrow and I can never remember which direction each side screws in/out.
I knew this post would be helpful! I appreciate everybody letting me know that they are helping you out. tuco: keep some good soap on hand and have fun. Whatever you do don't handle your digital camera while working in grease...I know, trust me.
Hi Gerry, my name is Chris Bryant, I hope you don't mind me adding a bit of advice, but before I do I feel I should qualify myself. I gave up my family cycle business to become a single parent a few years ago, the business had been running in Norwich England since 1918 started by my grandfather.(End of big headed bit).Firstly great advice you gave,secondly, grease the pedal threads well, thirdly,use a good quality spanner and pull the pedals in very tight, if they work loose and you dont realise it they can strip the threads out of the cranks,fourthly if you cannot start the pedal in the crank thread(perhaps due to slight damage)and you don't have a clearing tap,screw the pedal all the way in from the back of the crank and then out again,this will quite often re-form the thread.Hope
this helps your readers, happy new year,regards Chris.
Thank you Chris, good additional advice is always welcomed on this blog and I'm glad that you were willing to share this with us. I think your qualifications are more than up to par. :)
Gerry
My pedal crank nut keeps working loose. It's tricky to tigten as it's recessed into a hole in the base of the crank. Is there a special tool for this? Why is it working loose?
Thanks!
Thanks for the question dxer. this as prompted a new article that will answer your question. I haven't had this happen to me in a while so I would've overlooked it. Check out: Crank Article
Hi Gerry. I have a crappy Supercyle Bike from Canadian Tire, and I want to change the pedals. I've tried and tried, but it seems they are stuck on. Is it possible that a cheap bike like this would have pedals that are welded on or something?
Thank you!
anna
Anna, no such thing as welded pedals. Unless you bought the bike used and the previous owner decided to do that. Some are harder to remove than others. Use a hammer with the 15mm open ended wrench, but for God's sake be careful. I had such a problem last week where the arms were made of aluminium and oxydized with the steel from the pedals. Took 45 minutes to convince them off. Good luck.
merci gerry, you are fabulous! what a great resource. see you on the road...
Hi, I am Shawn sondrol, I have a Mongoose bike, I dont know how to change the sprocket on my bike, i can take them off perfect just the thing is that I can't/dont know how to put them on, I havent tryed yet but my friend has a really nice sprocket I really want, if you have msn messenger that would be great for help...sondrol85@hotmail.com, Thanks
is there an easy way to remove the pedal bearings and fix or replace them depending on the condition of decay? should i just take it to a bike shop and have them do it. i'd prefer to learn how to do it myself if its possible but i can't figure out how to remove the bearing.
It's pretty easy, just remove the cap at the end of the pedal. You will see a nut. Unscrew the nut and the whole thing should come apart. Unless you have some vintage pedals or expensive ones that you can't replace, just buy new ones. They're not that expensive.
Gerry
Great blog. Thanks for the comment from Chris Bryant - I screwed my pedals on the wrong sides when I got the bike (idiot) and now the thread in the crank arm is all messed up so I'm going to try your advice on clearing it by screwing in the other way.
Fingers crossed!
Sara
HAHAHA! I've just been working on getting the right pedal out for about an hour thinking it was reverse like the left. DOH! Thanks Gerry
thanks for the time taken to write this blog.
its excellent
- srikanth
You're most welcomed.
Gerry :)
hi
i have some primo plastic pedles and they just wont come of.
ive tried boiling water, hammering, and brute force.
is there any thing else i could try ?
many thanks, mikey
Great!
Exactly what i was looking for!
Txs a mill!
Edwin
Mikey, check if they are not installed on the wrong side of the bike. Happened to me before so you'll have to reverse everything and pray that the thread wasn't screwed up on the crank arms.
Gerry :)
I had some pedals that decided they didnt want to come out...in getting one side loose the pedal actually broke off in the crank...have you got any ideas on getting it out? it is on the left side...any advice is welcome...
Sorry, I think you'll need to replace that crank.
Gerry
the pedals have stopped turning on my sons mongoose I've removed the nuts on the end of the pedals but they still wont come out. Any advice??
If you look at the pictures, click on them for a larger version, you'll see that the pedals are taken off by unscrewing them at the base.
Gerry
I want to replace my pedals but don't know with what size... either half in or 9/16... I do know I use a 12mm to remove the old ones... I want to lean towards the half but I'm not positive. Ty J
Remove one and bring it with you when shopping for a new one.
Gerry :)
Thats the problem.. I have to order online the ones I want...
Take one out and measure the diameter of the shaft. You'll have your answer.
Gerry :)
thanks for the time taken to write this blog.
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