New Pedals - Tips Please?

[Snoop Doug]

Hi folks

I've got some shiny new pedals for my mtb. The dude who serviced my bike was supposed to fit 'em but he forgot

I think I have a pedal spanner somewhere, just wondered if anyone has any good ideas on how to make this job easy(...er). I imagine undoing the old ones might be quite tricky, thinking leverage and lack of...

Cheers in advance

Snoop

[Sylv]

make sure you don't tighten the old ones by mistake -with the bike upright, to tighten your spanner needs to go forward, to loosen backwards.
pedals might accept both 8 or 6mm allen key (inside) and/or i think 15mm spanner (outside). to increase leverage you can insert allen key/spanner in a long tube, ie old seatpost or mtb handlebars.
don't wreck your hand on the chainrings - best done with the chain on (use chain to counter your torque on the left side), and your hand wrapped in a big rag. you can use your foot too if needed, but watch out for flying spanners

[Andrew G]

If the old ones are stuck spray liberally with WD40 and leave overnight for it to have a chance to work.

Sylv's tips are good, and if you have a proper pedal spanner (and the pedals you have accept one which some current pedal models stupidly don't only giving you the allen key/grating your knuckles on the chainring option ) then you should have enough leverage.

When undoing, so pulling the spanner towards you if you are behind the bike with it upright, it's easier with tough ones to have the spanner at 9 o'clock so you can use your body weight on it. When doing up it's a doddle as once you start the thread just slip the spanner on and pedal backwards using the spanner and it will tighten itself quickly. No need to over tighten either, just till it stops and then pinch it off as when you pedal you are turning against the thread.

[Jon H]

My tip is to go for clip-in pedals modified to take double toe-straps, like the trackies use.
Just so your feet are nice and secure like

[Elliot M]

my tip: with bike upside down or on workstand, get the spanner on to the pedal flats* so that it forms an acute angle with the crank.

then wrap both hands round the spanner and crank as much as possible and squeeze them together. you get a surprising amount of leverage with no risk of injury.

*easier if the pedal has more than one set of flats

[Phil H]

Elliot: That's the method I use. If you have small hands it might not work so well.

You can get square-drive socket set compatible allen keys if you don't have flats (I've got an 8mm one for the chainset on my cheap MTB). Those can be easier to work with than messing around with an allen key and a pipe.

[Elliot M]

even works with my little hands and twig like biceps

[kieran]

also, if desperate, hit spanner end with soft mallet to increase force, I do as Elliot does. Note you can put your foot on the pedal to keep it in position as the spindle is the thingy that unscrews.

[Snoop Doug]

I used a mix of these tips, wd40, twig like biceps, a rag and some swearing.

tis done

Thanks for coming to my rescue so quickly folks, what a wonderful bunch

Snoops

[Dominic]

But did you remember to liberally grease the threads of the new ones so they come off when needed

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="Dominic"]But did you remember to liberally grease the threads of the new ones so they come off when needed