Bicycle Mechanics - pedal tantrum again...

hello i think u can guess what im gonna say buy the name... my right pedal is stuck i have taken the pedal apart with just the shaft. I have been using a normal spanned and a good old hammer have been trying to take it of counter clockwise which i think it the right way.. i dont cafe what i do to the pedal shaft as long as the crank pedal threads are ok.. what im thinking of doing is taking my crank to school 2moz wich i normal to tend to do my bike stuff in school he he and stick the shaft in a metal vice and then twist could somone please tell me if this would work ok? and would i get enuff leaveridge.. i have been applying wd40 every hour so far.... cheers:)

You need a BIG pedal-wrench (Park Tool makes 'em), and possibly a cheater-bar, which is a long hunk of pipe that fits over the handle of the wrench. This gives you more leverage to pop the axle out of the crank-threads.

i dont have anymoney atoll atm as i spent on spray paint -.- is it not possible to heat the shaft and then unscrew?

You take the right pedal off counterclockwise. Left comes off clockwise. Roger

heating will help. Once you get it moving, turn it out a bit, then back in and so on and slowly work it out. That's your best chance of not taking the threads out of the crank with the pedal.

i dont have anymoney atoll atm as i spent on spray paint -.- is it not possible to heat the shaft and then unscrew?

That's the rock'n'roll method of bike maintenance. A big hammer and all your cash spent on spray paint and anodized parts.

It sounds like you're going to have to use the most fun part of mechanics, a blowtorch and brute force.

thanks i shall try it if it doesnt work tomorrow

Penetrating oil will work far better than wd40. A BIG pedal wrench would also be good. Finally, the vise should work if you don't screw something else up in the process. Some capital letters, punctuation, and grammar would go a long way as well.

yes im sorry I do suffer from slight dyslexia.......

Do soak it, as best you can, in a penetrating-oil. And let it soak in at least overnight - turning the bike on the floor so the pedal is facing down on the floor, resting on the floor. This is to help the oil soak down into the threads, applying more freely. Best to let it sit for 24 hours or more. Then try again with a wrench. Save the incineration for last.

Boiling water might be enough heat, and wont do any metalurgical damage

Stand behind the bike.
To remove right pedal, put it closest to the front wheel with the crankarms parallel to the ground.
Put the wrench on as close to parallel to the arms/ground as possible.
Hold left pedal in your left hand and wrench in your right.
If your wrench is so short that your hand is close to the chainrings;
a. put chain on large ring and be very careful
b. get a cheater bar or longer wrench, or
c. best bet, do both.
Push down on the wrench while holding the left pedal.
From this position it is usually very easy to remove even a stubborn pedal, you never have to remember what side is which(it works on both sides) and the bike is easy to hold between your knees.


Liquid-wrench works awesome to penetrate, as does Bike-aid.
If you use heat, heat the arm and cool the spindle.

I had a few beater bikes with pedals that I thought were frozen. I tried getting them off with adjustable wrenches, hammer, blocks of wood, WD40 etc etc... and I couldn't even do any damage. I finally caved and bought a Park wrench, and it took me about thirty seconds to remove six pedals without breaking a sweat. I can't stress how much the right tool will make your life easy!

managed to get it of 2day in school just stuck a spanner in a metal vice pushed down came of fine :) but i hit my head on the table as i pushed my body wheight down onto it lol :)

Should wear your helmet when working on your bike, I guess... :D

Congratulations. Now always apply grease, or never-seize, to the threads before attaching pedals to the crank-arms.

Happy Trails!