Road Cycling - Taking Peddles off question

I have a Specialized Sirrus Comp (2001) that came with Shimano 443 peddles. They are double sided road peddles with a black plastic that forms a platform around the main peddle. I am interested in taking off the plastic (which is an option I am told).

I went to my trust LBS and got a Park peddle wrench and went home to take the peddles off so I could do the mod. UNFORTUNATELY the peddles are on so tight that I can't even budge them!! I am using the Spin Doctor Essentials stand which rests the bike on the bottom bracket in an uproght position.

Am I doing something wrong, or did the meganinc who set up the bike get a bit over zelous and put them on too tight??

Just in case you are wondering - I do know Lefty-Looey, Righty-tighty and I do know that the left (non Drivetrain) side is backwards!! I just can't get them to budge at all. I am not a big beefy guy, so that may be part of it. The other is that the handle on the wrench may not be long enough (they did have a bigger and more expensive one.

Anny suggestions would be greatly appreciated

You cant apply enough force with the bike on a stand, a short spanner, using your hands, so:
Put the bike on the ground.
Place the crank facing back (pointing upwards a bit) along the chainstay, with a long pedal spanner facing back.
Apply the brakes.
Stand on the spanner and apply more weight until the spanner turns.

Yup, that's it: stand on the wrench with the tires on the ground.

RichC

Rich and Michael are correct. Just let me add that if that still doesn't work spray the suckers with wd40 good and come back in a couple of days and try again.

Good Luck

Remember that the pedals tighten in a direction so they stay tight when you're riding the bike. Make sure that you're trying to loosen them and not further tightening them!

Correction. You have to stand on the wrench with the cranks positioned so they try to turn the wheels, not reverse freewheel. This means pointing the crank forwrd and the wrench back. If the crank is pointing up a little, you get better access to the wrench for standing.

.... but be careful because they can "let go" all of a sudden when you are applying a lot of force. Skinned knuckles and a bent up fingernail happened to me recently whilst I was removing pedals..... and I was trying to be careful and control my effort to avoid this danger!

Good luck,

Ed

Thanks for all the feedback!!!

It turns out that I was ill informed by the specs on the bike!! The peddles are NOT convertable as I was told, so they stay on the bike as they are until I decide I just have to blow $50 -$75 for stricly road SPDs!! Not likely to happen anytime soon since the bike has less than 400 miles on it total!!

When I have the time I will probably still take the peddles off to make sure the mechanic who set up the bike actually used some grease on the threads and to give them a good cleaning and lube.

By the way, the mechanic at the bike shop ( I got over there last night) suggested setting the drivetrain side peddle to the bake and the wrench to the front and pushing down on both at the same time (opposite for non-drivetrain side). It it works, it may save some knuckle skin!! I plan to try it first and go with your suggestions if it fails (which it may if the mechanic who set the bike up was a gorilla or didn't use any grease on the threads).

Later...Bill

ugh, i'm having the same problem right now (not being able to get the pedals off)

even tried standing on the wrench, nothin doin :( :(

Repeat after me: pedals...pedals...pedals...

"peddles"....To go from place to place selling stuff.

By the way, the mechanic at the bike shop ( I got over there last night) suggested setting the drivetrain side peddle to the back and the wrench to the front and pushing down on both at the same time (opposite for non-drivetrain side).

You mechanic has it backwards, so he probably didnt grease the threads before installing the pedals. Take them off now, as MichaelW said with crank forward and wrench back, apply anti-seize or grease and reinstall. If you pour boiling water over the crank the expansion of the Al will ease the removal. You dont need to be forceful when you install as pedalling will tend to tighten them.

okay so i wd-40'd the crap out of it, got them off, put on the clipless. i rode around my neighborhood, clipping in and out at every stop, then when i was back in my driveway...

http://members.cox.net/alexoyola/damnit.jpg

:cry:

What the hell happened????

i dont know! i jsut tipped over in my drive way and when i get up i notice the tape's ripped and the hood's all crooked, i pulled the hood back into place, but still...damnit!

Most people, including me, recommend practicing for a long while in a trainer or in a doorway before heading out for the real deal. You just learned why.

are the bars carbon??? If so you better check them :(

ugh, i'm having the same problem right now (not being able to get the pedals off)

even tried standing on the wrench, nothin doin :( :(

Put a little Liquid Wrench on the pedal, so it can penetrate the threads. Get a rubber mallet and smack the wrench with it. You need to have the crank held solidly while doing this.

WD-40 did the trick

now the only problem is my evil driveway and my hurt bar tape

i was planning on switching to blue tape anyway, so now i have an excuse

the crooked brifter scared me though

oh, and they're al bars

WD-40 did the trick

now the only problem is my evil driveway and my hurt bar tape

i was planning on switching to blue tape anyway, so now i have an excuse

the crooked brifter scared me though

Many that I ride with wonder why I unclip so early when I coast up to a stop. Some unclip at the last second. I do if I have to, but if I can, I unclip earlier. When I'm coming into my short driveway, I just coast at the end, then turn into the driveway while unclipped with one foot. I stop and walk the bike the reest of the way. If I rode closer to the house, I'd go across the grass(cars in the driveway).

All you really need is a pipe that will fit over the end of the wrench. About 2 feet is enough for the leverage to loosen the peals.

Did it myself about 3 weeks ago.