Pedal loose? Something else?

[jimmy156]

So I’ve put about 1000km on a set of Shimano spd pedals on my gravel bike which are flats on one side, spd on the other, both new a few months ago.

I had been getting a slight clicking that I could feel through my right foot, a bit intermittent, I’d assumed it was cleats moving, and tightened them which seemed to fix the problem. But then it came back again, and today going up a climb I felt it again, so I unclipped and pedalled on the flat side and could still feel it. Jumped off an undid the pedal slightly which turned with only a small amount of force (just using a little multi tool) and then nipped back up with medium force (never want to over tighten things and I’m balancing the bike in the rain at the side of the road ) which seemed to fix, was then not doing it for the rest of the climb but it recurred later in the ride (doing the same seemed to sort it to get me home, but tried to tighten a little harder, but with pedals once they are “done up” they don’t really screw any further, so not sure what help extra force will be!

Any thoughts as to what this could be? I’m scratching my head a little bit, as unscrewing and tightening the pedal seems to help, buts it’s not as if it was loose, and I though the threads on pedals were designed to stop them just coming loose. I checked the bolts on the Chainring the other day, and they didn’t move with 8nm of force. Anything else it could be? Could the pedal be borked?

[lufbramatt]

Shimani are crap at putting enough grease in their pedals. Take the spindle out and re pack it with a decent bearing grease (shouldn't need to adjust the bearings but they are tiny cup and cone bearings so they can be nipped up if required with a couple of small spanners).

[deeen]

Check the cranks are tight on the "axle", and that there is no play in the bottom bracket.

[Piginapoke]

jimmy156 said:

I though the threads on pedals were designed to stop them just coming loose.

The opposite- the threads are designed to not tighten when you pedal otherwise you'd never get them off again- they do need to be pretty snug. I'd try the obvious thing first - a bit of copper grease and nip it up a bit tighter.

[gazza285]

Piginapoke said:

jimmy156 said:

I though the threads on pedals were designed to stop them just coming loose.

The opposite- the threads are designed to not tighten when you pedal otherwise you'd never get them off again- they do need to be pretty snug. I'd try the obvious thing first - a bit of copper grease and nip it up a bit tighter.

It is the other way round. Bearing precession does tighten the pedals, but it only works if they are already tight enough, it will not tighten a loose pedal.

[jimmy156]

Thanks for the replies all.

Yes it makes sense to remove and refit with some new grease, I will try that first.

With regards to taking the pedals apart, that will be beyond my very limited skill set, I will defer to a bike shop if we get to that point!

When you say check the cranks are tight and there is no play in the BB... Here is an image of my set up (not my bike, pic from the net)



The four things that look like bolts are in fact, not, but there are four bolts on the small ring side of the chainrings, which I have tested and they are tight. How would one check the BB for play (without taking everythign apart, preferbly!)

[Justin S]

Grab the cranks and see if there is any sideways wobble would tell you of any crank being loose.
As for pedals, depending on what you have. If there are the lower range of shimano pedals, you will need a pedal axle tool remover. More expensive (540 and above) you need a normal spanner. They are arrowed on which way to loosen and tighten , on the pedal next to the axle.
Tool is here
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shimano-Pedal-axle-tool-T...

Its very easy to dismantle although adjusting the bearings has a slight art about it and you will need a slim 10mm and slim 7mm spanners to do this. Quick plop of decent grease and screw the axle assembly back in the pedal.
Video is here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVmSrsnVUGI

[MockingJay]

I had a similar issue recently, so I gave them a good clean and degrease, got all of the gunk out and then reapplied some wet lube as it's what I had to hand. Been silent for the last two weeks.

[jimmy156]

Thanks for the further replies all...

Pedals removed, old grease from the thread cleaned with a rag, new grease applied and tighten right back up and they were fine for 25km including a a couple of climbs.

Hopefully they remain that way! If not the next step will be to take the pedals apart! I guess YouTube will be my friend here! Pedals are pd-eh500 (I think that’s the right code!)