Pedal bearing gone. Wear and tear or warranty ?

[maltloaf]

Hi,

I bought a pair of Shimano R550 spd sl pedals around 3 months ago. Admittedly they have had some hammer, i.e. The worst of the winter and a 19 stone bloke pounding them, but today the bearing in the left one developed loads of play. I did a 40 miler and could feel it clicking more and more as the miles went on.

I would guess they have done about 1000 miles give or take. Possibly more. I'm pretty disappointed they have only lasted this long.

I'm just after some advice if this would be considered wear and tear or if I could get them replaced under warranty ? I don't have the splined tool for the pedal bearing or I'd probably look in there myself.

Also on the same subject, I noticed that on one shoe, two out of the three cleat bolts have cracked heads. Is this me tightening them too much ? They were fine until last week and seem to have gone all of a sudden and the other shoe's bolts are perfectly ok.

Many thanks,

Kev.

 

[screenman]

I would try warranty on the pedals if you have the dates correct, at the same time I would buy a torque wrench, that way you would know how much to tighten them.

 

[AndyPeace]

Shimano pedals are easy to maintain, the bearings are in a fixed unit. It's worth getting the tool to do it- as all you need to do is undo the bolt, to which the bearing unit pulls out, put grease in pedal body then screw it back together (old grease gets pushed out).

 

[maltloaf]

Thanks.

The dates are definitely right. I bought them with a bike shop gift card my missus got me for Christmas.

Is it a coincidence or related that the shoes with the split bolts is the same side as the duff pedal ?

 

[Sharky]

If only 3 months old, would definitely try and return them as faulty. If you are lucky, they might even give you a boxed set, with a new pair of cleats as well.

But I am always amazed at the (small) price differential between cleats by themselves and a new pair of pedals+cleats, so if you have more than one bike or want a spare pair, I would buy a new pair of pedals and get a pair of cleats with them and then you can keep riding and send the old pair back for a replacement.

Cheers Keith

 

[maltloaf]

Shimano pedals are easy to maintain, the bearings are in a fixed unit. It's worth getting the tool to do it- as all you need to do is undo the bolt, to which the bearing unit pulls out, put grease in pedal body then screw it back together (old grease gets pushed out).

Another specialist tool to add to the kit I guess.

My other option is to buy a pair of r540 as they're only £21.50 including cleats.

 

[maltloaf]

But I am always amazed at the (small) price differential between cleats by themselves and a new pair of pedals+cleats, so if you have more than one bike or want a spare pair, I would buy a new pair of pedals and get a pair of cleats with them and then you can keep riding and send the old pair back for a replacement.

Cheers Keith

You Beat me to it ! See my post above

 

[screenman]

Sometimes it is not the product that costs but the handling.

 

[Smurfy]

The spline tool for shimano pedals is very cheap, so there's little lost in buying one.

 

[mickle]

Don't pish about. Warranty. Simple. End of thread.

 

[wisdom]

With 3 months very hard use they shouldnt fail.First port of call is where you bought them.

 

[maltloaf]

Thank you all, I'll dig out the receipt and take them back.

 

[young Ed]

is this the tool to open up the shimano pedals?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-S...sure_Cycling_BikeLocks_SR&hash=item20e0466291
is it the only special tool i need for it?
so i don't need this?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-P...sure_Cycling_BikeLocks_SR&hash=item27df2bcdf8
Cheers Ed

 

[AndyPeace]

is this the tool to open up the shimano pedals?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-S...sure_Cycling_BikeLocks_SR&hash=item20e0466291
is it the only special tool i need for it?
so i don't need this?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-P...sure_Cycling_BikeLocks_SR&hash=item27df2bcdf8
Cheers Ed

Just the first tool will open them, so you can re-grease them (simple job). As for the second tool, I recall tighening the bearings just by using spanners, on a set of M540 MTB pedals that had done around 15000/20000 miles. Not sure why you'd need a £60 tool to do that job. If it was neccessary it would likley be cheaper to buy new pedals!!!
As a general note not all shimano pedals require the first tool, some like the pedals I've mentioned, use a standard 15mm nut instead.

 

[young Ed]

a good vid

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkH7gClG8NM


Cheers Ed