Mountain Biking - Oops!

I cross threaded a pedal into my crank. Not a big deal because I never plan on taking these pedals out. But is there anything I can do to fix it?

could I just buy a new crankset to fix it?

That'd probably be the easiest way, yes.

will I be able to get the pedal out of the crank without damaging the crank?

Also, my bike came with a 42/32/22 crank. can i get a 44/32/22 crank to put on it?

Well, you now know what the next upgrade is.

Well, you now know what the next upgrade is.

haha. Am I going to need to get another crank thats a 42/32/22 or can i get a 44/33/22? Also, will it damage the pedal too? and how much is all this work going to cost at an LBS?

The pedals will be fine, the threads on the crank are ruined.

It will be a bit costly.

like $50 or $100? just give me a guess for the labor. I think I can get a good crank for around $150.

Labor depends on the specific bike shop.

Or you could do it yourself. All you need is a crank-puller and a wrench, won't be more than $50 for both and you get tools and knowledge for life.

Labor depends on the specific bike shop.

Or you could do it yourself. All you need is a crank-puller and a wrench, won't be more than $50 for both and you get tools and knowledge for life.

what would i need to get the pedal out without stripping its threads? and how would I adjust for the new crank being a 44/32/22 as opposed to a 42/32/22?

Also when putting the new cranks on, make sure that you put them on flush. Putting them on crooked will ruin the bb and crankset.

How would i get the pedal out of the old crank? It's an almost new crank bros. mallet c, so i really want to get it out.

How would I adjust to make the 44 big chain ring fit?

Also, could I just leave my pedal as it is for now? I don't plan on changing pedals on my bike anytime soon.

bump

I had something similar happen to me. I have an entry level Kona hardtail that comes with the Truvativ 5D cranks. The crank arms are made of a really soft alloy and I got the first thread or two mangled while trying to put my pedal in not too long ago. However, once I noticed it was a problem I stopped trying to force it in.

I brought the bike to my LBS and they chased the threads with a tap and it was perfect. The mechanic at the shop told me that they have installed helicoils with success in cranks that were even used for downhill. I suspect the helicoils would work well on a nice allo that is found on higher end stuff. My Shimano XTR and my Shimano road cranks are really nice and you don't see the metal flaking away like on my Truvativs.

Try your LBS to see if you can have the bad thread tapped to see if that helps.

I had something similar happen to me. I have an entry level Kona hardtail that comes with the Truvativ 5D cranks. The crank arms are made of a really soft alloy and I got the first thread or two mangled while trying to put my pedal in not too long ago. However, once I noticed it was a problem I stopped trying to force it in.

I brought the bike to my LBS and they chased the threads with a tap and it was perfect. The mechanic at the shop told me that they have installed helicoils with success in cranks that were even used for downhill. I suspect the helicoils would work well on a nice allo that is found on higher end stuff. My Shimano XTR and my Shimano road cranks are really nice and you don't see the metal flaking away like on my Truvativs.

Try your LBS to see if you can have the bad thread tapped to see if that helps.

Thanks, santiago. It seems like you've always got good advice and a lot of experience to back it up.

I had something similar happen to me. I have an entry level Kona hardtail that comes with the Truvativ 5D cranks. The crank arms are made of a really soft alloy and I got the first thread or two mangled while trying to put my pedal in not too long ago. However, once I noticed it was a problem I stopped trying to force it in.

I brought the bike to my LBS and they chased the threads with a tap and it was perfect. The mechanic at the shop told me that they have installed helicoils with success in cranks that were even used for downhill. I suspect the helicoils would work well on a nice allo that is found on higher end stuff. My Shimano XTR and my Shimano road cranks are really nice and you don't see the metal flaking away like on my Truvativs.

Try your LBS to see if you can have the bad thread tapped to see if that helps.
you beat me to it :D

do what he said

How would i get the pedal out of the old crank? It's an almost new crank bros. mallet c, so i really want to get it out.

How would I adjust to make the 44 big chain ring fit?

The pedal threads are steel while the crank is probably aluminum. There shouldn't be any damage to the pedal threads since it's the harder metal. Just use a 15mm box wrench and back it out like normal. Next time, if it don't go in easy don't force it:eek:

Don't worry, however, everybody makes mistakes. Some are just cheaper than others. I've ruined my share of expensive parts:o

The replacement crank can have a 44 tooth outer without too much issue. Depending on how close your derailer is set to the existing crank, you might get away without doing any adjustments. To check, use a penny as a feeler gauge between the outer ring and the bottom of the derailers outer plate. It should slip into the gap without problems. I set mine a little more like a nickel's width above the outer chainring.

If there isn't enough of a gap, here's (http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=75) a step-by-step guide. The task looks worse than it really is. Just go slow and follow the directions.

Good luck.

it turns out that I just had the pedals in tighter than I could get them out. My LBS got them out and put them back in fine. They just went over some stuff with me and even gave me some free stuff for bringing it in and tuned it up for free while they were at it.

My LBS rules.
Sunshine Bicycle Shop, Greenville, SC
sunshinecycle.com