How to Remove Bike Pedals

Removing your old bike pedals and installing upgraded pedals can make as much as a 10% difference in your speed and if you have the right tools, which cost less than a trip to the bike ship, you can easily remove the pedals yourself. Once removed, simply grease the threads on the new pedals and screw them in paying attention to the direction (described below). They will tighten more as you ride.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 15mm or 9/16" inch pedal wrench
• 6 mm allen wrech
• Ruler or caliper

1. For any kind of bike repair, the most important part to getting the job done is having the right tools. Do not try to remove the pedals with a cone wrench or an adjustable cone wrench. The problem is that such wrenches are generally too thick and they will therefore scratch your crank arms if you try it. If you don't mind that, go right ahead.
   
   You may be lucky that the pedals unscrew with a 6 mm allen wrench. Check to see if that is the case on the inside of the crank arms. If not, you need the smaller thickness of a pedal wrench. First, you need to find out what kind of pedal wrench to get by measuring the bolt with either a caliper or a ruler. Take care, because 15mm, the most common size, and 9/16" (=14.2875mm), generally found on very old bikes, are less than a millimeter in difference.
   
   If you have a relatively new and well maintained bike, and you don't plan or changing a lot of pedals, you can get a small pedal wrench made out of a flat piece of steel. If the pedal looks rusted, you may need to apply more force. In that case, look for a shop quality pedal wrench with a long rounded handle that will allow you to apply more leverage.

2. Right hand pedals, that is, the pedal that your right foot is on when riding is right-threaded. This way the pedal will not unscrew while you are riding in case the bearings in the pedal start binding. So if you look at your bike from the right, the pedals screw in clockwise and unscrew counter-clockwise.
   
   Left hand pedals, that is, the pedal that your left foot is on when riding is left-threaded. If you look at your bike from the left, the pedals screw in counter-clockwise and unscrew clockwise---opposite to the right side.

3. See if you can use the 6mm allen wrench first. If that does not work, you have to use a pedal wrench.
   
   First, shift the chain to the largest ring. This is to prevent your knuckles from hitting the teeth if you slip. It may be a good idea to wear some leather working gloves.
   
   When removing the right pedal, grab the left crank arm for leverage as it points straight back and put the pedal wrench on the right pedal at an angle less than 90 degrees with the right crank arm which is pointing straight forward. This provides maximum leverage. Hold the left crank arm and press down (counter-clockwise) on the pedal wrench with your right arm.
   
   For the left pedal, it's exactly opposite. You will still be pressing down with the pedal wrench which will unscrew the pedal clockwise.
   
   If you are not getting anywhere, check step 2 to see if you are unscrewing in the correct direction. Note that pedals may bind a lot though.

Tips & Warnings

• If the pedal binds, try applying WD-40 or similar from a spray can.
• If the pedal binds, a shop-level pedal wrench will make it possible to remove the pedal whereas a cheaper stamped metal wrench might make it impossible. The difference between the two is only $10. Shop around.
• To apply more force, slip a pipe over the handle of the pedal wrench for extra leverage.
• Watch your knuckles when removing the right pedal, smashing your knuckles into the chain ring really hurts, even if it is "covered" by the chain. Having a long pedal wrench helps.