IT WON’T COME OFF! I’m I turning the wrench the wrong way? I think this pedal is a permanent part of my crank; I have to admit that I’m using crappy tools and not a professional pedal wrench.
Dave in VA
yes.
correct
.
I was told to always turn the wrench toward the BACK of the bike to loosen the pedal, and toward the FRONT of the bike to tighten it.
This helps you get it “right” without having to strictly remember all that “reverse threaded” nonsense.
If it still isn’t coming off… umm… very carefully heat the joint a little?
I think this pedal is a permanent part of my crank
It sounds like it has become one with your crank. Try putting a few drops of penetrating oil as near to the treads as you can get and let it sit for an hour or so. (WD 40 is OK but something like Liquid Wrench is better).
When you are putting it back on, put a little grease on the threads so it will come off easier next time.
You need a pedal wrench.
I fought with my bike using a regular wrench. Three hours and bloody knuckles later I took it to the bike shop where I bought the pedals and shoes the day before. The had the old pedals off and the new pedals on in a matter of minutes. They then promptly charged me $5. I haven’t bought anything substantial from them since.
You need a pedal wrench.
I fought with my bike using a regular wrench. Three hours and bloody knuckles later I took it to the bike shop where I bought the pedals and shoes the day before. The had the old pedals off and the new pedals on in a matter of minutes. They then promptly charged me $5. I haven’t bought anything substantial from them since.
Did you buy a pedal wrench from them? 
lol.
The following words have helped enormously in numerous applications over my lifetime:
Lefty loosie;
Righty tightie.
Tri Hard !
A standered metric wrench isn’t long enough to get the required amount of torque.
Physics for ya.
Let me introduce you to two more:
Reverse Threaded
.
If your pedal allow an Allen Wrench on one side try that instead of the pedal wrench. Works better for me.
Great until you have reverse threading like on the left side crank…
As a 70 yr old non cyclist pointed out to me, “You must tighten the pedals in the same direction as you pedal, otherwise when you pedal they’d eventually come off”. IOW to get them off, unscrew in the direction you back pedal.
I just went through this last night while packing for IM CDA. Despite all the warnings I still had bloody knuckles. I just used an open end wrench and dont’ really understand why a pedal wrench makes a difference?
The trick I finally learned was to lay the bike on its side (on carpeted garage surface) and stand on the opposite side crank while opening the other.
Buy a pedal wrench. It’ll pay for itself after the bandaids and repairs to your bike frame paint job. Here’s another trick (first one being as someone stated before, grease the pedal threads next time) – always put the chain on the BIG chain ring before touching that pedal with a wrench. Chain ring scars on hands really don’t look very cool before a race.
Unfortunately, that’s not entirely true - Loosen your pedal on the right hand side, hold it by the axle, and rotate the crank in the pedalling direction - what happens? you unthread the pedal. There was a huge discussion on the canadiancyclist forum a while back about why this is so and it’s too bloody complicated for me to remember.
I know this much - it involves physics.
Hello,
Being slightly dislexic I can never remember this either. This works though - Put the wrench on the pedal (either one) Now hold the wrench handle and use it to rotate the crank in the forward direction ie as if you are pedaling the bike. Thats the direction to loosen the pedals. To tighten rotate the wrench backward ie as if pedaling in reverse. That said pedals don’t get removed much and they are downby all that moisture, so they can get stuck. If in doubt go to a bike shop and when installing them grease liberally. Also they need to be snugly tightened on, not using gorilla strength.
Styrrell
I usually end up trying one way and if it doesn’t work I try the other way.
If nothing else, the tightening before trying to loosen it breaks the threads loose. At least that is what I tell myself . . . .
Loosen your pedal on the right hand side, hold it by the axle, and rotate the crank in the pedalling direction - what happens? you unthread the pedal.
I can attest to that. I was riding home yesterday when a felt something funny with the left pedal. “?” A minute later, my pedal disassociated itself from the crank. (It’s a little disconcerting to look down and see the pedal spindle sticking out from your shoe, disembodied from the bike.) I stopped and put the pedal back where it belonged, but I didn’t have a wrench with me. Coupla hundred yards later, it’s working it’s way out again. Had to one-leg it for a couple of miles until I found a place open to lend me a wrench to tighten it down. (Sounds on Wheels, in Spokane Valley, is bike friendly, btw. I’ll have to remember that when I get the latest ipod hifi system installed on my bike.)