pedals won't loosen from crank arms
- jules21
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pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby jules21 » Wed Dec 19, 2012 10:10 am
i've tried spraying them with wd-40 but this hasn't worked yet. i may keep trying that.
yes, i'm turning them the right way. i've tried using a 6mm hex wrench and 15mm spanner (open end and cone spanner), to the point where i'm worried i'll strip the 'bolt' head if i pull any harder.
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby TheLBJ » Wed Dec 19, 2012 10:36 am
- More torque (get a solid piece of tube over the end of the spanner - this has worked for me before)
- Remove the crankarm from the bike and try to remove the pedals with the crankarm in a vice (if available)
- I've never tried this but I've read about using a gas flame to heat the pedal up to loosen it. I wouldn't do it near carbon components, but depending on how brave you are, it might be worth a shot
If all else fails can I suggest taking it to your LBS? I think you'd be surprised at what they can do!
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby Marty Moose » Wed Dec 19, 2012 10:36 am
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby LG » Wed Dec 19, 2012 10:48 am
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby drubie » Wed Dec 19, 2012 11:11 am
+1 - a proper pedal spanner designed for the job makes very short work of stuck pedals. Best bike tool in my toolbox.Marty Moose wrote:Take it too a shop with a park pedal spanner.Most shops have one.
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but really, that's rubbish. We get none of it because the choices are illusory.
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby ColinOldnCranky » Wed Dec 19, 2012 11:33 am
Set the pedal so it is at around 3 o'clock forward with the handle end of the spanner hanging 9 o'clock to the rear and then press down on the spanner. Do the same with the other side.
You may reason that that will do the same as when you are pedalling which tightens the thread. But because you have a layer of rotating ball bearings between the shaft and the pedal it is in fact the opposite.
And like drubie says. it will budge with the right spanner.
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby jasonc » Wed Dec 19, 2012 11:36 am
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby g-boaf » Wed Dec 19, 2012 1:18 pm
Never do the torch near carbon, is too risky - the LBS is the best bet. Otherwise, I'd suggest the longest and most solid piece of tube and the park pedal wrench, this will help - and keep your hands well clear of the front chain rings.TheLBJ wrote:A few ideas
- More torque (get a solid piece of tube over the end of the spanner - this has worked for me before)
- Remove the crankarm from the bike and try to remove the pedals with the crankarm in a vice (if available)
- I've never tried this but I've read about using a gas flame to heat the pedal up to loosen it. I wouldn't do it near carbon components, but depending on how brave you are, it might be worth a shot
If all else fails can I suggest taking it to your LBS? I think you'd be surprised at what they can do!
I've only ever done this job once and did manage to get a decent gash in the hand after it loosened and whack, got the chain ring. When the pedals loosen, they really loosen.
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby jacks1071 » Wed Dec 19, 2012 1:28 pm
Failing that, add heat as suggested by another poster above.
Brute force should be your absolute last resort.
When you eventually replace the pedals, grease the threads or use Anti-sieze and do them up tight. Many that I've seen jammed on had mashed threads from the pedals being under-tightened at the initial installation. I've heard you can helicoil the pedal threads on some cranks but I have never done this personally.
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby il padrone » Wed Dec 19, 2012 9:18 pm
Correct spanner in place. Use your foot on the spanner-end, or if necessary also try a sharp strike with a hammer on the end of the spanner.ColinOldnCranky wrote:Just a caution in case you are trying to use reasoning to establish the direction that you apply the torque.
Set the pedal so it is at around 3 o'clock forward with the handle end of the spanner hanging 9 o'clock to the rear and then press down on the spanner. Do the same with the other side.....
....And like drubie says. it will budge with the right spanner.
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby Mulger bill » Wed Dec 19, 2012 10:37 pm
You in the CBD Friday Jules? Can bring one in...Marty Moose wrote:Take it to a shop with a park pedal spanner. Most shops have one.
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby Wal42 » Thu Dec 20, 2012 6:06 am
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby Marty Moose » Thu Dec 20, 2012 10:12 am
Point is he had not used the correct tool.They may well not be stuck.Wal42 wrote:This won't help after they're stuck, but I remove mine once a month, re-grease the thread then re-fit them. Getting them off if you service them occasionally involves sticking your pedal spanner on & giving it a tap with a rubber mallet (and I do mean tap), just to break the tension.
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby jules21 » Thu Dec 20, 2012 10:35 am
hey shaun if that's possible for you, it would be much appreciated. i am in the CBD. i could buy you a coffee.Mulger bill wrote:You in the CBD Friday Jules? Can bring one in...
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby Ozkaban » Thu Dec 20, 2012 10:57 am
+1 to this. I've had similar issues and ever since have lightly greased the threads. No probs since.jacks1071 wrote:When you eventually replace the pedals, grease the threads or use Anti-sieze and do them up tight. Many that I've seen jammed on had mashed threads from the pedals being under-tightened at the initial installation. I've heard you can helicoil the pedal threads on some cranks but I have never done this personally.
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby brentono » Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:01 am
Merry Xmas
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby Mulger bill » Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:47 pm
My pleasure mate. Expect inbound PM with contact details.jules21 wrote:thanks everyone for useful suggestions. i love this forum!hey shaun if that's possible for you, it would be much appreciated. i am in the CBD. i could buy you a coffee.Mulger bill wrote:You in the CBD Friday Jules? Can bring one in...
Shaun
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby bychosis » Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:11 pm
http://www.rotorburn.com/forums/showthr ... -are-stuck
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby JustJames » Fri Dec 21, 2012 8:52 am
Why would you need to re-grease?Wal42 wrote:This won't help after they're stuck, but I remove mine once a month, re-grease the thread then re-fit them.
The thin layer of grease is not going anywhere, and it's doing its job of preventing electrolytic welds while you leave it there.
http://pedallingcharm.wordpress.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby Wal42 » Fri Dec 21, 2012 4:22 pm
JustJames wrote:Why would you need to re-grease?Wal42 wrote:This won't help after they're stuck, but I remove mine once a month, re-grease the thread then re-fit them.
The thin layer of grease is not going anywhere, and it's doing its job of preventing electrolytic welds while you leave it there.
Obviously, because I have nothing better to do than service my bikes. I've sort of noticed if you pull things apart regularly, clean, inspect, re-lubricate & re-assemble then you find faults before they happen & everything comes apart without too much force.
But that's my hobby, I don't expect most people to understand where that type of thinking comes from.
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby jules21 » Fri Dec 21, 2012 4:24 pm
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby twizzle » Fri Dec 21, 2012 4:43 pm
Oh yeah, I'm always thrilled about blood loss.jules21 wrote:once again, thanks to everyone for your useful suggestions. for the record, the very generous Shaun (Mulger Bill) brought his park tool pedal wrench to work, which made light work of the pedals (bar a bit of blood loss). thanks very much Shaun. i'm sure everyone is thrilled to hear this
Do tell! Chain ring attack, was it? I've done that to myself a couple of times. You would think once would be enough.
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby barefoot » Fri Dec 21, 2012 4:46 pm
This.il padrone wrote:if necessary also try a sharp strike with a hammer on the end of the spanner.
Shock will break it free.
It's probably more gentle on your parts (and tools!) to apply a momentary force like this, than to apply an equivalent force over a longer duration by way of massive levers and brute effort.
tim
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby drubie » Fri Dec 21, 2012 6:23 pm
Well, don't leave us hanging! Whose blood and how was it spilled? I have a lovely scar in the base of my right hand where a chain ring bit me like a white pointer trying to remove a pedal (with the wrong tool ). Haven't hurt myself since I bought a proper pedal spanner so I'm eager to hear the gory details.jules21 wrote:once again, thanks to everyone for your useful suggestions. for the record, the very generous Shaun (Mulger Bill) brought his park tool pedal wrench to work, which made light work of the pedals (bar a bit of blood loss). thanks very much Shaun. i'm sure everyone is thrilled to hear this
but really, that's rubbish. We get none of it because the choices are illusory.
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Re: pedals won't loosen from crank arms
Postby Mulger bill » Fri Dec 21, 2012 8:40 pm
Not much blood, I took a bit of bark off a knuckle against the RH crankarm is all. One well placed bandaid and it's gone. Fact is, it'd be easier to tell people when I don't lose some skin when I approach a crankset with tool in hand.
Shaun
London Boy 29/12/2011
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