How to Install Bike Pedals
Bike pedals experience wear and tear and sometimes replacements are needed. Luckily, installing or removing pedals is easy if you have a pedal wrench and know that the left pedal is a left-hand thread. Follow these few steps to replace your bicycle parts.
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Instructions
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Get a pedal wrench. Most bikes these days require a 15-millimeter pedal wrench. Pedal wrenches work best because they are narrow and can easily fit between the pedal and the crank arm.
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Understand that the right pedal is right-hand thread, but the left pedal is LEFT-HAND (reverse) thread - thus, when you go to loosen the left pedal, pretend that you are tightening it.
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Apply enough pressure to loosen the pedal. Once loose, you can remove the pedal easily be turning the crank forward while keeping the wrench on the pedal (though this may be difficult if you don't have a bike stand to allow the rear wheel to turn freely).
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Screw in the new pedals with your fingers to make sure you don't cross-thread the pedal and strip the threads on the aluminum crank arm. Tighten the pedals securely using the pedal wrench.
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Tips & Warnings
Always shift the chain onto the big ring before tightening or loosening pedals. This will prevent you from cutting yourself on the sharp chain-ring teeth if you slip.
Some clipless pedals have no wrench flats and will require a 6-millimeter Allen wrench. Some older pedals will require a 9/16-inch wrench.
Before installing new pedals, be sure to grease the threads.
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Comments
View all 20 Comments-
Thanks Guys. Left pedal = reverse direction to normal.. saved my day too.
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shubhoh
Sep 21, 2010
left pedal has b turned the opposite, thank u, u saved my day, i was struggling otherwise, now can ride new bike :)
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goosedog
May 10, 2010
I meant to say CRANK (not crack)
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goosedog
May 10, 2010
Another tip is to position the pedal spanner / allen key so that the shaft is almost on line with the crack - in inch or so gap at the farthest end - think of the hands at 10 past 12 on a clock. You can then squeeze these two together with both hands. You don't need a stand or a hammer and you're less likely to skin your knuckles.
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rexineffect
Jun 04, 2009
"Before installing new pedals, be sure to grease the threads" should be listed as one of the steps.That crucial tip is easy to miss and should be above the steps, not after them and below the advertisements. "Tips and Warnings" definately seems like something that should stand out before the work/order of work is listed.
