weird pedal threading issue?
08-06-07, 01:13 PM
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weird pedal threading issue?
heres a weird one:
so i took the pedals off of one of my bikes to store it for a couple of weeks. when setting it up this morning to ride again, i wanted to use a different set of pedals. but the new pedals wouldnt thread into the crankarms past halfway. both of them stop threading in at exactly halfway. i thought 'hmmm weird' and tried a couple more times (cleaning the threads, regreasing, making sure they arent going in crooked, etc) and still no go. so i tried with the previous pedals and they went in smoothly without a hitch. weird, huh?
so im not sure what the issue is, but here are the specs in case they might help give a clue to whats up:
old pedals = beat to death time atac aliums
new pedals = 1,000 mile old time atac xs
crankarms = 90s era campy chorus
the new pedals are fresh off another bike with some older dura-ace cranks, and the bike giving me issues is a brakeless fixed gear (lots of backpedaling and skidding). ive never had this type of issue before so i dont know what to suspect. i want to guess it is somehow the threads in the cranks got 'set' to the old pedals (maybe they werent installed right or..?) and so they still work, but the new ones wont go in without pushing around the threads some more? i wish i had a third set of pedals on hand to try, but im traveling and wont be able to mess with it for another month or so.
so i took the pedals off of one of my bikes to store it for a couple of weeks. when setting it up this morning to ride again, i wanted to use a different set of pedals. but the new pedals wouldnt thread into the crankarms past halfway. both of them stop threading in at exactly halfway. i thought 'hmmm weird' and tried a couple more times (cleaning the threads, regreasing, making sure they arent going in crooked, etc) and still no go. so i tried with the previous pedals and they went in smoothly without a hitch. weird, huh?
so im not sure what the issue is, but here are the specs in case they might help give a clue to whats up:
old pedals = beat to death time atac aliums
new pedals = 1,000 mile old time atac xs
crankarms = 90s era campy chorus
the new pedals are fresh off another bike with some older dura-ace cranks, and the bike giving me issues is a brakeless fixed gear (lots of backpedaling and skidding). ive never had this type of issue before so i dont know what to suspect. i want to guess it is somehow the threads in the cranks got 'set' to the old pedals (maybe they werent installed right or..?) and so they still work, but the new ones wont go in without pushing around the threads some more? i wish i had a third set of pedals on hand to try, but im traveling and wont be able to mess with it for another month or so.
08-07-07, 09:50 AM
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08-07-07, 11:51 AM
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Well, do you have an explanation for it?
Fwiw, it's possible that the threads on the pedals are mis-cut. Tools wear so clearances aren't always as spec'd. You might try returning the pedals for another example.
Fwiw, it's possible that the threads on the pedals are mis-cut. Tools wear so clearances aren't always as spec'd. You might try returning the pedals for another example.
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08-07-07, 12:08 PM
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Time to break out the measuring tools. Take the 2 pedals and measure the outer diameter of the threads. Also, compare the thread pitch by touching the threads together - threads that are the same will "zipper" together.
08-08-07, 03:34 AM
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the thing thats weird is the newer ones were already on a bike, and installed no problem. bah, i will look at it in a month when i am home. my guess is the threading on the cranks got mashed around somehow, and the old pedals fit it, since they were in it during the 'mashing around'.
08-08-07, 08:19 AM
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If the cranks are french thread, you can still use the pedals, they will just be tight fit. I had french stronglight cranks for over 20 years and it never saw a french thread pedal in it and worked just fine.
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Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
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08-08-07, 09:12 AM
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Since you are for from home and won't be able to access your normal support network try threading both pedals in from the back side of the crank arm. If they still only thread in half way then it is possible that the thread pitch is off by a VERY slight amount.
I don't happen to have the French specs (or should I say Freedom specs) handy so I can't really comment on this possibility (although I find it HIGHLY FRICKEN' UNLICKELY that the Italians at Campagnolo would ever cut a French thread).
Either way, run a tap though there when you get home and clean that s**t up.
I don't happen to have the French specs (or should I say Freedom specs) handy so I can't really comment on this possibility (although I find it HIGHLY FRICKEN' UNLICKELY that the Italians at Campagnolo would ever cut a French thread).
Either way, run a tap though there when you get home and clean that s**t up.
08-10-07, 01:39 PM
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thanks for some sanity in this thread mr. dopolina. i was beginning to wonder. maybe the fellows at time made a super limited edition 2007 french threaded mtb pedal? lolz4eva. im guessing i mustve either forced the older pedals in and munched the threads, or the roughness of fixed riding did something. in any case, yeah i will sort out what happened and get it all in tip-tapped shape when i return stateside (ive been in germany for a year, and now my possessions are scattered all across europe)
tschuess, ciao bello, or should i say au revoir.
tschuess, ciao bello, or should i say au revoir.
08-10-07, 01:45 PM
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"Older French bicycles used a different, smaller diameter where the pedal screws into the crank, 14 mm x 1.25 mm. The vast majority of French bicycles imported into the U.S. used standard 9/16" x 20 tpi crank threading, but if you find an older bicycle that was bought in France, you may run into this problem."
from sheldon, of course.
from sheldon, of course.
08-10-07, 02:05 PM
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The reason I didn't suggest re-tapping is that until you find out the true thread pitch of the cranks, running the (correct) tap through the (wrong) threads would essentially remove the threads and you'd be up **** creek without either pedal.
Even if you do successfully chase the crank threads, I bet a $ that the new pedals still won't thread in nicely. In other words, that the problem is with the pedals.
Even if you do successfully chase the crank threads, I bet a $ that the new pedals still won't thread in nicely. In other words, that the problem is with the pedals.
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Last edited by DMF; 08-10-07 at 02:15 PM.
08-11-07, 05:24 AM
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then why would they thread in perfectly in my other set of cranks?? o_0
as far as i can tell--
it is either the OLD pedals have always had (dont think so, cuz theyve been on multiple cranks w/o issue) or have developed some defect in their threads, OR the campy cranks have had or have developed some defect. since cranksets are made with much softer threads than the pedals, im betting it is the crankset that got mashed around in the course i riding the hell out of them on my breakless fixed gear.
i will know for sure in mid-september some time, when i try threading both sets of pedals into a couple other cranksets, measure them, etc.
as far as i can tell--
it is either the OLD pedals have always had (dont think so, cuz theyve been on multiple cranks w/o issue) or have developed some defect in their threads, OR the campy cranks have had or have developed some defect. since cranksets are made with much softer threads than the pedals, im betting it is the crankset that got mashed around in the course i riding the hell out of them on my breakless fixed gear.
i will know for sure in mid-september some time, when i try threading both sets of pedals into a couple other cranksets, measure them, etc.
