theHomelessJedi

So I recently got my first set of 'clipless' pedals. Speedplay Zero's from my LBS. They set everything up for me and said if something doesn't feel right after a few rides, to come back in and they'll help me adjust some things. Well I've been on one ride on them so far, successfully, with no 0mph falls (not including one inside my apartment practicing clipping in and out). I LOVE THEM!! Had no idea what a big difference these would make to... well, everything! I control the bike better, I feel more efficient, faster, more confident. It's awesome!

That said, I have a question. Hope I'm posting in the right place.
The right pedal seemed to be purging the blue/green lubricant while I was riding. I have a general idea of what to do to put new lube in them, usually purges the old as you squeeze in the new. So, is this normal for a new set of Speedplay Zero's?? I was thinking maybe the LBS just put too much in there or they come from the factory like gun parts do, bathed in lubricant. Either way I don't see it as a 'problem' just something else to clean after every ride.

wannabemekon

Try wiping the grease off and see if it continues. Perhaps the pedal had excessive grease in it from the factory.

I had a similar issue with a Shimano 105 pedal and read around and this seemed to be a common issue and a common suggested solution.

It worked for me. One wipe and it hasn't recurred.

Do they spin fine? No noise? Smooth spin?

squirtdad

This would not surprise me

IIRC right speedplays need special attention to lubrication, both internally using a special grease gun at 2000 mile intervals (which is why some oozing grease is not a surprise

and externally on the cleats and pedal



https://www.speedplay.com/pubs/instru...2014.07.30.pdf

NILS14

It's normal to see grease come out from the spindle side when freshly greased. They do come greased from the factory-marine grease. You do have to lubricate the cleats every 2-3 rides or after especially wet or dusty rides, with a dry ptfe lube.

If the grease comes out from the body of the pedal, try tightening the screws, they're T15 screws.

If grease keeps coming out, bring them back.

Grease every 3 months, 2,000 miles or when the pedals spin more than 2 full turns. When freshly greased, they should spin half a turn.

I love these pedals, but they do need special care.

Andrew R Stewart 

Speedplays are well known for their minimal internal volume and resulting need for routine grease injections. After such some bleed out is common, usually past the inner body seal. I won't claim any mileage interval as that depends on factors unique to the rider and conditions. But my 150lbs, spinner, and 3 season riding here in the rust belt wants a regrease every off season.


Oh BTW my Xs cleats only last a couple thousand miles at best. The springs get worn flat and the AL top plate will wear down until the screw heads are gone.


Great pedals, my knees love them, any drawbacks are just the cost for this. Andy

speshelite

SPEEDPLAY : HIGH PERFORMANCE PEDALS

Speedplay recommends that you grease the bearings with a synthetic, waterproof grease every 2000 miles or more frequently if you ride in wet or dusty conditions. If the pedals spin freely by hand (more than 1/2 turn before stopping), inject grease immediately to avoid damage to the bearings and spindles. The Zero pedal’s built-in grease port makes greasing quick and easy. Remember, grease is cheap insurance and saves you money on replacement parts by preventing wear or water damage. Speedplay Grease guns and recommended grease are available at your local Speedplay retailer or call us at 1-800-468-6694 to order.

mtnbke

After the underhanded, and in my evaluation unethical, way Speedplsy engaged in unfair trade practices first ripping off Bebop then getting an injunction against Bebop, I've never used Speedplay pedals again.

Bebop won the litigation but got $1 in damages and lost the war. Bebop are still the pedal of choice on road bike, tandems, mountain bike builds. A lot of customers don't know what they are and I grew tired of trying to convince people that their crap was...crap.

Lakerat

If you can summarize the case for a non lawyer, that'd be great. It made me dizzy.

SPEEDPLAY INC v. BEBOP INC | FindLaw

Andrew R Stewart 

I have to admit only passing knowledge of the litigation. But I do have some first hand with both Bebhop and Speedplay early on in their model cycle. Independent of the legal issue Speedplay won the function round in the road market, IMO. Had Bebop evolved and their cleat to shoe fit was refined the mountain/touring market might be different today. I suspect the tri guys would still like their Zeros though. However it's history that a round pedal interface and cleat were around (bad pun) for decades before these modern designs came to market.


I understand the bike world is full of people who reinvent and claim. Shimano is famous for walking the fine line WRT earlier patents... If I had to guess with B vs S the road shoe fit won the early wars. Andy

operator

Worrying about a problem that doesn't exist. Wipe it off and ride.

Speedplays lacking lubrication is the #1 destroyer of those pedals. Usually the roller bearings explode which are non replaceable due to lack thereof.

Speedplays are ****ing terrible pedals and if you need them because you have ****ed up body geometry, GLHF

operator

If you mean by "special grease gun", any grease gun with a needle nose tip, then yeah.

It's ****ing special.

Secret Squirrel

They should stop oozing grease shortly. You won't need to constantly clean them. The bearings are not shielded so thAt you can routinely push grease past the outer seal with a grease gun. I use a finish line grease gun with superlube grease. Pedals have been good for the last 20 years.

speshelite

They need fresh grease every 2K miles. Not exactly the most arduous or difficult of maintenance schedules.

A chain by way of comparison needs to be relubed every 200-300 miles, so 10X as often to relube chains than it is to keep speedplay pedals functional.

You need to clean a rim and pads THOROUGHLY after each ride in the wet.

You need to relube a chain after EVERY ride in the wet.

You need to pump up your tires every few days if you ride regularly.

If you ride 200 miles a week you only need to regrease speedplays every 2.5 months.

bikeme

I don't have problems with lube leaking, here's why. I first used Looks when I started back in 1990 with zero problems. However, after a few years I got Speedplays because they seemed cool and everyone was hyping them. All I encountered were pedal/cleat engagement issues on several brands of shoes as well as having to rebuild the pedals often because the knife-like edges would get dinged easily. I'm back to Looks with absolutely zero problems and zero servicing.