Do I have to replace my pedals?
 

Last night I was checking over my bike to get ready to ride this week. I always spin the pedals to make sure there is nothing out of the oridinary.

When doing so last night the left one spun off into my hand. But just the pedal. It left the shaft, and nut still attached to the crank arm. I saw that there are threads inside the pedal "body" or "housing" and on the shaft. So I spun it back on. When I tried to tighten it back down I felt something give and now the pedal free spins on the shaft and I can not get it off to figure out what is wrong with it.

Starting from the crank arm here is how it is set up:

1. The nut that threads into the crank arm, this does not spin of course.

2. Then a washer or spacer.

3. Then another nut where the bearings are housed.

4. Then the pedal itself.

When the pedal spins during normal operation the second nut and pedal spin together. After I felt something give last night they now spin seperatly. This should only happen if just the pedal is to be taken off the shaft. That is not what is happening. And the pedal will not back off again so I can try to determine what is happening with it.

What does anyone think happened? And does it sound like I need to replace the pedals?


Last year I had a accident where I slid on the pavement for about 10 or 12 feet on my left side. It did scar up the pedal pretty bad. But other then the severe scrathces the pedal worked fine. I guess now it is possible some damage was caused internally that I was unaware of until now.

Thanks.

Sounds like they're toast. Good thing it didn't happen during a ride. :eek:

What kind of pedals are they?

Ryan, they are Icon clipless pedals.

I bought them brand new when I bought my road bike in 1996. ai just had them put on my recumbent when I traded in my old road bike in 2001. They have never given me problems until now.

BTW I have been wanting to get a new pair of pedals though. I'm looking at getting either of these style here:

http://bike.shimano.com/Footwear_Ped...number=PD-M424

or

http://bike.shimano.com/Footwear_Ped...number=PD-M324

So if I have to replace them it will be no big deal. But it would be nice if I can continue to use the Icon's for a little while longer.

Who made/makes Icon's anyway? Are they their own company? Are they a private label made by a company sush as Shimano? Or are they a Shimano product?

I seem to remember Icon being a Trek label. I think the pedals are a Trek rebadging of Welgo pedals which are themselves a clone of the Shimano designs.

Since they are icons I am not sure that small parts will be readily available for them. If they were shimano or something more mainstream then it might be a better deal. You might however visit your local trek dealer and check with the mechanics - sometimes they have stuff laying around such as another set of broken icon pedals - maybe the one you need. Shimano makes very good clipless pedals however I do not favor the double sided (recreative use) or the large platform (BMX or Downhill use). Their best pedal is the 959 which I have been racing on for about a year and they are by far better than any other pedal in their lineup. Good Luck.

-Ryan

Ryan, thanks. The reason I am going with the 324 or 424 is the is a preferable choice for a lot of recumbent riders. On a 'bent some people suffer with hot and/or numb feet as a result of the position of their legs and feet, (straight out in front versus down). Pedals like the 324 & 424 help to alleviate the hot/numb feet problem. Because the foot has more of a wider surface to push against when pedallng. When I had my road bike I never had this problem.

I have adjusted my seat position. The further back the seat is the sooner my feet go numb. My shoes and socks are the proper hit, etc. Now all thats left is getting the recommended pedals, at least they are recommended by other recumbent riders who have this same problem.

It is possible that even after buying and using these pedals my feet will totally stop going numb or getting hot. But they should at least help. Time will tell.