Bicycle Mechanics - cracked pedal casing

I have tightened my wellgo Look pedals up as tight as they will go and they seem to have cracked the casing some how... i have attatched a pic for you to see.... is this because I have overtightened?

Brendon
:beer:

Probably.

No, but that pedal is now junk. You can search the archives for the scathing article I wrote about this cheap pedal about 2 years ago. My Wellgo pedal lasted all of 4 rides before it broke. Replace it with something decent.

errr why is it junk? and what type should i get...... it still clips in!

Brendon
:beer:

errr
Is it this thread here? (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16316&highlight=wellgo+pedals) I dont like the sounds of it.....how much more are Look pedals as opposed to wellgo?

Brendon
:beer:

I might just ride them into the ground and them replace them me thinks.....they still work at this point!

Look makes some pedals that can be had for as little as $80 (US). Better Look pedals can run as high as $150 (not including high-zoot multi-coloured models made specially to fit certain bikes), and are well worth the money.

From the picture you posted, and from knowing the internal construction of this pedal, I can tell you that your cleat-clamp tensioning spring will shortly break through the cracked casing, leaving you unable to clip in. Carry a small bungee cord with you if you intend to keep riding this pedal.

After breaking my Wellgo pedal, I used the remaining unbroken pedal as a subject for an engineering maufacturing analysis assignment for a class at my college. I found that the external casing was poorly cast, and that the bearings were a low-grade industrial bearing. BTW, there was only 1 bearing per side-Looks (as well as other good pedals) use 2 bearings.

FWIW, a Wellgo pedal is just a cheap, $40 pedal. Accept it for what it is, and toss it when it breaks. Just don't expect it to be durable.

Honestly I would not ride it if it is cracked, you are risking serious injury to yourself? Is a doctor bill less then buying a new pedal? I realize it is workign right now but if it breaks in the middle of you pedaling hard up a hill or something you could seriously hurt yourself.

Originally posted by D*Alex
No, but that pedal is now junk. You can search the archives for the scathing article I wrote about this cheap pedal about 2 years ago. My Wellgo pedal lasted all of 4 rides before it broke. Replace it with something decent.

Wellgo's are low quality (go figure, why the do not cost much) you probably will be better off with an actual look pedal... I own a pair of wellgo pedals, and I'm simply waiting for them to break before I replace them... :rolleyes:

Originally posted by D*Alex
Look makes some pedals that can be had for as little as $80 (US). Better Look pedals can run as high as $150
D*Alex your right but you have to realize that here in N/Zealand bike parts are expensive even more so for a young man of 16. I myself cannot justify the high price of bikes & equipment when I have a family to feed, cloth & keep a roof over our heads, I ride an old bike wich most of you would consider junk but I ride 300ks a week & i get as much enjoyment from cycling as anybody else.Both my bikes cost me nz$40 each (us$20 ?) at auctions& most of my upgrades come from other bikes i.e my 105 brakes & christof peddles are off an other old bike with a bent frame, I bought at auction for $10 !!. I buy a lot of the equipment from Trade me (like your e-bay). I do buy good quality new tyres tho as the cheap ones are a false economy, but if I couldnt afford a good tyre & the bike needed one I would buy a cheapy to keep the it on the road. cheers sorry to get on my high horse but expensive "label" equip is good no dought but the ordinary working guy has to get his priorities right.:beer: :beer:
ps: the bent frame is now been cut &welded into a wheel trueing stand.:D

In a case such as yours, you would be better off using toestraps. There must be thousands of perfectly good high-quality pedals with toestraps available, and cheaply, too. Once clipless pedals came around, nearly everybody switched, leaving perfectly good pedals laying around unused. Look around.

As far as your Wellgo pedal is concerned, yeah, they are half the price of a Look (and use different cleats, too), but they only last a quarter as long. Doesn't really pay to cheap out in this case....

I am serious about my riding doing a couple of 60/70km rides per week (getting longer as i get better) and am going into racing for secondary schools.

I will stick with clipless etc. I have some look cleats anyway, so i just need the new pedals...(groans)

Those cleats that come with Wellgo pedals don't fit Looks. OTOH, Look cleats do fit the Wellgos...

I know that....i bought some replacement LOOK cleats..... still have them hanging around.

Brendon
:beer:

I also made the mistake of purchasing Welgo pedals when I was rather poor. It isn't worth it.