General Cycling Discussion - removing stock pedals

ok, i just got my clipless pedals today and I'm trying to install them. Problem number 1: how do i get the crank to stop spining so i can take the stock pedals off?

thanks
-Ross

It's all leverage, get the wrench so your almost squeezing the crank arm and wrench together, remeber the opposite threads, i believe the wrench always goes towards the rear of the bike.

alright, < 1 hour later with some assistance from a wall and my little sister "we have gone clipless!" The first time i saw someone getting into their clipless for the first time, i laughed and thought that it had to be easy... I now know it takes Talent to not fall over!!!

Still this begs my first question, how would you go about locking the crank arms, is there some technique, tool or magical chant?

Hold it!

http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQpedls.shtml

Ross

Glad you got it! Let me know how you like them. Hi to Becky. See you next week.

Joe

Park Tool site recommends torquing the pedals down to 360 inch pounds. Why so much? Like automobile spark plugs, I only give them maybe an extra quarter to a half turn with the pedal wrench after tightening by hand. This makes removing the pedals so much easier in the future. Never had loose pedal problems....ever! The direction in which pedals are threaded and with the crank motion, it's impossible for them to work themselves loose. That's how I look at it...

spaze - You could try applying brakes, or sitting one pedal on a raised step so it wont move.

To remove pedals, rotate the crank forward at about the 10:00 position. Place the spanner (us wrench) on the pedal, but facing backwards, with the handle pointing slightly upwards. Apply brakes. Stand on wrench. The wrench will turn a little, till your foot stands on the crank arm. You can then spin off the pedal by hand.

It's kind of hard to describe how to remove pedals. A couple of the folks here have done a pretty good job. The key for me is aligning the wrench essentially right beside the crankarm and pushing down, or along the inside of the crankarm and having the wrench move towards the bottom bracket. It's an angle thing. You really don't have to do anything to hold the crankset that way.

360 in lbs. really isn't all that much, 22-23 foot lbs. Really that's just snug and a small grunt. Most folks put too much torque on their pedals, or attempt to cross thread them. That's why they can be so tough to remove.

Originally posted by MichaelW
Stand on wrench.

Ouch! I do that only when trying to remove lugs from automobile wheels where the last guy overtorqued them using an air wrench. I hate that. :mad:

I say stand because if you grab the wrench with your hands and push down, the pedal will suddenly loosen, and you will catch your fingers between the wrench handle and the crank. A gentle nudge using your weight on the wrench is finger-safe. I wouldnt use my feet to tighten the pedal.