to loosen right side......clockwise, left side counter clockwise? is this right?
having trouble taking off...........very tight. any suggestions?
thanks.

pedal wrench.

Here is an easy way to remember (at least for me anyway) I have owned a bike shop for 15 years or so...

With the bike upright (in a stand is nice) put the pedal wrench on the pedal and pedal the bike forward.
Same thing with either side.
If the wrench is being held on the pedal and the bike is pedaling forward, you are removing the pedals.

Good luck.

Dave

No, you've got it reversed. The right side is a standard thread, so you turn to the right to tighten (clockwise) or left, (counterclockwise) to loosen. The left side is a reverse thread, so reverse the previous directions.
EDIT: The right side is the chainwheel side.

And grease the threads when you put them back on.

And if you're going to put on and take off your pedals frequently, invest in the largest shop quality pedal wrench available. You won't regret it.

rocco is right. The OP has it backwards.

www.parktool.com

helps a lot.

thanks

Nope, you've got it backwards. Right pedal has a conventional right hand (lefty loosey) thread, left pedal is a backwards thread.

I bought my bike used and had to use a propane torch to heat up the crank near the pedal end in order to get the pedals off. When I put my speedplays on, I used some anti-seize and have no issues removing the pedals when swapping them between bikes.

I think the easiest way to remember is RH pedal RH thread. LH pedal LH thread.

The easiest way to remember is to loosen AWAY from the bars and tighten TOWARD the bars for either pedal.

And I second the idea of the biggest pedal wrench - for the tiny difference in cost the extreme ease of Park's biggest pedal wrench is SO worth it.

The easiest way for me is to stand behind the bike, put the wrench on the top of the pedals and pull the wrench towards you. Works from either side.

Just remember they don't make them so they could inadvertently loosen while pedalling ... that would be a bad thing! Then work backwards from there and you can always figure it out.

i just remember the right pedal is right-hand threads (standard), and the opposite for the left.

Once you get it all figured out, use nail polish to put arrows into the spindle.

+1 - Pedals are easy. Left is reverse or "left-handed" thread. Period. Left=Left thread, Right=Right thread.

That was my first introduction to L.H. threads. I had never heard of thembefore. I was cranking on the bike as hard as I could and nothingwas budging (I was 11). Friend's grandfather came by, looked at us, then said, "it's probably a reverse thread. Go the other direction."

I thought he was smoking crack. Old fart didn't know what he was talking about. When it worked I learned right then that you ALWAYS ask the oldest guy in the vicinity when you have a question. Period.

After putting a couple of coats on yourself first...you girl. Go shave your legs.




*actually not a bad idea for a noob*

Best pedal wrench I've ever used.

It's a Wrench Force. I think Trek dealers can get them.

Beh, just move pedal wrench towards the rear wheel. Problem solved.

forget about clockwise RH LH stuff ,it's confusing. just remember that no matter what side your on just wrench toward the front of the bike to tighten. wrench toward the back of the bike to loosen. Piece of cake. you can get some more leverage by putting your wrench just back of the crank arm then grab the crank arm and wrench and using your palms pull the wrench even to the crankarm this will break a tight bond. then make sure to use grease or anti-seize when you re assemble.

This is how I remember it. Only took me a year to realize that.

Beating a dead horse, but yes, investing in a pedal wrench is 100% worth it. I once screwed up a set of speedplays and the pristine chorus cranks they were on trying various wrenches and pliers and whatnot. Finally took the bike to the shop thinking the mechanic would have to use some special method. He put the bike on the stand. turned the pedal wrench an inch or so, and rolled the bike back to me.

I have always remembered that "sinister" comes from "sinistre" which is "left" in Latin. So the abnormal one is the left one.

But, uh, the rear wheel thing seems kinda sensible too.