Help Changing Pedals

[Rob500]

Hi Guys.
Saw what I thought was a great bargain in Decathlon the other day: £19.99 for a set of SPD 520 pedals. I use flat Wellgo pedals with straps at the mo and never had any inkling to try clipless. But seeing this "bargain" I decided to lend myself £20 and buy them. If I end up hating them I can always stick the old one's back on.

Q. 1. Is taking the old pedals off just a simple spanner operation where the pedal joins the crank arm ?

Q. 2. Do I really need to know what torque I tighten the new pedals to as long as I don't tighten too much and make it impossible to get them back off if required?

Q. 2. I don't have any bike grease to smear on the threads, will petroleum jelly be ok to use?

 

[MattHB]

1. Yes, although some 'get you home pedals' need a narrow spanner to get in the gap.

2. Nope

3. I don't recon petroleum jelly would do much at all. But you could always fit the pedals, get some copper grease or some such like and redo them later on.

 

[Steve Malkin]

What MattHB said, plus remember that the left hand pedal (non-chain side) unscrews by turning clockwise.

 

[Rob500]

Thanks Matt. Think I'll do the prep work but wait until tomorrow when I can call into Deca or CRC and get some proper grease before fitting the new ones. Also need to get a look at the shoes when I'm out.

Thanks Steve. That's a very hand tip.

 

[MattHB]

I wouldn't worry overly about seized threads, I find it's winter salt that's the main culprit. But if you can copper grease is certainly the stuff, essential on cleat bolts too.

 

[guitarpete247]

I put some SPD pedals on my 1988 MTB a couple of years ago. The old pedals came off so easily. I could see the remains of the copper grease from when the pedals were fitted 22 years earlier. I then did my 1982 road bike fitting M 520's and the same there. I'd put the pedals on my road bike and used copper grease so knew they'd come off. (From my reading up you don't necessarily need copper grease but I always have and will continue to). I believe it stops the electrolytic action of 2 dissimilar metals, Aluminium of the crank arm and Steel of the pedal spindle.

 

[Banjo]

Bike shop grease is scandalously priced. Get a tub of water resistant from a motor factors for jobs like that ,dont get any dirt in it ,keep the lid on and a small tub will last you years.

 

[Rob500]

Cheers Pals. Thanks for the advice on this.

 

[Banjo]

Re torque, I have never bothered torqueing pedals. I normally just give them a gentle nip with a pedal spanner.Probably not technically correct but seems to work.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Re torque, I have never bothered torqueing pedals. I normally just give them a gentle nip with a pedal spanner.Probably not technically correct but seems to work.

Me neither - and thinking about it, unless your pedals take an allen key (e.g. Look Keos), how would you get a torque wrench on them?

 

[Paul J]

Me neither - and thinking about it, unless your pedals take an allen key (e.g. Look Keos), how would you get a torque wrench on them?

With a torque spanner like this. Still excessive for pedals.

 

[green1]

Petrolum jelly will be fine, it's just lubricating the threads so they don't gall. It won't be exposed to heat so it wont break down.

 

[youngoldbloke]

With a torque spanner like this. Still excessive for pedals.

View attachment 8842

Thanks - not a common tool.

 

[jay clock]

Re torque, I have never bothered torqueing pedals. I normally just give them a gentle nip with a pedal spanner.Probably not technically correct but seems to work.

+1. A bike shop once tried to terrify me with the consequences of not tightening them up to 900% but I do them gently and never have a problem

 

[Rob500]

Happy Days.
Got the old ones off and new ones installed. RHS required more effort than LHS to get the pedal off but in the end it was not a very big job. Thank you for helping me out.