Was I correct?

[Cp40Carl]

My LBS put some new pedals on my son's road bike in May 2016. I'm guessing he's only ridden about 30 miles since then. However, one of the pedals fell off when he was riding home this week. When I looked at it, the pedal thread is fine but the thread in the crank was completely shot. The pedal is a cheap platform one although the crank is a rather nice Shimano one.

Took it back to LBS today and they denied any responsibility for damage to crank arm. My view was that must have been caused by cross thread or something when they fitted the pedal. Ended up paying for a replacement crank arm, albeit at cost price.

Was I being duped by LBS?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Maybe or maybe not.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

If the story is exactly like you tell it, then they didn't tighten the pedal enough. Pretty common with rookie mechanics. However, they could have repaired the crank with a special insert instead of selling you a new one. Was it a very cheap crank?

 

[raleighnut]

If the story is exactly like you tell it, then they didn't tighten the pedal enough. Pretty common with rookie mechanics. However, they could have repaired the crank with a special insert instead of selling you a new one. Was it a very cheap crank?

Yep, classic 'loose steel screw into aluminium wear' caused by not getting the pedal tight.

 

[Cp40Carl]

If the story is exactly like you tell it, then they didn't tighten the pedal enough. Pretty common with rookie mechanics. However, they could have repaired the crank with a special insert instead of selling you a new one. Was it a very cheap crank?

It was a Shimano crank from a Scott Speedster, they cost £35 each. I ended up having them put a cheap crank on for £10 as I didn't think it was right paying anything in the circumstances.

 

[Cp40Carl]

Maybe or maybe not.

Why might it not be their fault?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Why might it not be their fault?

Crappy quality/machining in the crank or the pedal threads

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Crappy quality/machining in the crank or the pedal threads

Well, then the mechanic would have picked that up at the time of installing the pedal and pointed it out to the customer. No chance. It is the mechanic's fault if all is as the OP says it is.

 

[raleighnut]

Crappy quality/machining in the crank or the pedal threads

It could be but a decent mechanic would have spotted that although,

Well, then the mechanic would have picked that up at the time of installing the pedal and pointed it out to the customer. No chance. It is the mechanic's fault if all is as the OP says it is.

An inexperienced or inept mechanic could easily fail to notice.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

It could be but a decent mechanic would have spotted that although,



An inexperienced or inept mechanic could easily fail to notice.

You're assuming the mechanic was decent

 

[raleighnut]

You're assuming the mechanic was decent

No it seems pretty obvious whoever fitted that pedal was pants.

 

[swee'pea99]

Next time do it yourself. That way you know it's been done properly.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Next time do it yourself. That way you know it's been done properly.

It's not difficult Or is it?

 

[swee'pea99]

It's not difficult Or is it?

It's really easy. 15mm spanner and one thing to remember: 'Right is right & left is wrong' - ie, the left hand pedal screws off the opposite way to the way you'd expect - looking towards the bike, you have to screw clockwise to remove the pedal. Screw off the old one, screw on the new one, done.

(One caveat: if it's old/hasn't been done in a long time, it might be a bit reluctant to shift. Give it some welly. If that doesn't shift it, try penetrating fluid - PlusGas or, at a pinch, WD-40. If that doesn't work, consider a firm tap or two with a hammer. At your own risk (and do be sure you're going in the right direction) but I've done it a few times, and never had a problem.

 

[Cp40Carl]

Next time do it yourself. That way you know it's been done properly.

Yes, the irony is I have replaced or swapped pedals many times on my own bike without any issues. I let only let the LBS put new pedals on my son's bike as they were carrying out a lot of other work in it. I suppose I'd better check the other work carried out by the LBS, now just to be safe.

Flipping annoyed by this, basically the LBS has trashed the decent Shimano crank and left me with a cheap replacement on one side. Even worse, they charged me for it. The mechanic who replaced the crank actually had the cheek to come out of the workshop and shop me how easily the pedal should go into the crank arm; think he needs to save the demonstration for his fellow mechanics!

I'll try to avoid this LBS from now. Halfords here I come! Just hate being duped or lied to.