Pedals wont come off

[alanw89]

I'm trying to change the pedals on my bike but cant get the ones on it to budge at all. looking at where the pedal joins the crank theres some white stuff and im starting to think it could be some sort of glue, but i cant work out why someone would have put glue there. I've tried wd40 but still cant get it to move at all. does anyone know of anything that would help to loosen it up a bit.

[groomi]

I'm sure you know this already, but are you sure you're trying to turn them the right way as they will have opposite threads?

Also, do they have an allen key hole on the inside of the spindle? If so then put an allen key in which fits very snug and give it a bash with a hammer just to loosen it.

[alanw89]

I've tried both ways as its just like me to be turning it the wrong way but no luck either way, and no allen key on the other side either.

[groomi]

OK, first approach would be to soak a penatrative agent into the thread. Something like parafin would be good. Give it a liberal douse, leave for an hour or so, then douse again and leave for another hour etc. Then, use a long spanner to give good leverage and it should budge. Don't use a hammer on a spanner unless it has a really good tight fit and you don't mind buggering it up.

[alanw89]

Thanks, i'll give that a try but whereabouts would i get something like paraffin?

[groomi]

alanw89 said:

Thanks, i'll give that a try but whereabouts would i get something like paraffin?

Not sure, I normally get it off my Dad. Maybe a garden centre? Alternatively Diesel should do the same trick.

[BOR]

A pedal spanner with a long handle would be a good use of 5 quid if you don't already have one.

As said above, to losen the side with the sprockets on, you need to turn clockwise (ie the opposite direction that you would normally losen a bolt)

[Parrot of Doom]

Using an allen key, or a spanner?

If the former, get a ring spanner on the allen key for more leverage. If the latter, get a bit of metal pipe on the spanner for more leverage (vacuum cleaner pipe for instance).

[mk1fan]

Worst case possibility is that the 'white' stuff is oxidisation where the pedals and the cranks have seized together. If whoever fitted the pedals didn't put 'anti-seize' grease (like copper grease) or at the very least normal grease the different metal materials may have reacted together.

That's worst case though. A long spanner, penitrating oil and patience would be my first action.

[alanw89]

Finally managed to get them off, gave the non pedal side a good whack with a hammer and a screwdriver a few times and that seemed to do the trick along with lots of wd40, no more slipping off the pedals and falling balls first onto the frame

Thanks for the tips.

[groomi]

mk1fan said:

Worst case possibility is that the 'white' stuff is oxidisation where the pedals and the cranks have seized together. If whoever fitted the pedals didn't put 'anti-seize' grease (like copper grease) or at the very least normal grease the different metal materials may have reacted together.

That's worst case though. A long spanner, penitrating oil and patience would be my first action.

Copper grease shouldn't be used where you have steel and alloy together as it actually makes the problem worse.

[alanw89]

Dont know what the white stuff was but it was on all the thread and the bikes only a few weeks old so dunno if it could be oxidisation. But now that ive put the other pedals on should i get some anti seize grease for them?

[groomi]

Deffo put a liberal amount of normal grease on the threads.

[Nick_F]

Hmmm...the 'white stuff' could be 'white grease' which is used to prevent electrolytic corrosion between steel and alloy components.

[WildCards]

Nick_F said:

Hmmm...the 'white stuff' could be 'white grease' which is used to prevent electrolytic corrosion between steel and alloy components.

Is there a possibilty thread-lock has been used?

[mk1fan]

groomi said:

Copper grease shouldn't be used where you have steel and alloy together as it actually makes the problem worse.

Someone better let Cycling Plus know then.

[SCOOTERMAN]

groomi said:

mk1fan said:

Worst case possibility is that the 'white' stuff is oxidisation where the pedals and the cranks have seized together. If whoever fitted the pedals didn't put 'anti-seize' grease (like copper grease) or at the very least normal grease the different metal materials may have reacted together.

That's worst case though. A long spanner, penitrating oil and patience would be my first action.

Copper grease shouldn't be used where you have steel and alloy together as it actually makes the problem worse.

In what way?

[Nick_F]

The steel/alloy corrosion is electrolytic: copper grease conducts electricity.

[busta]

But surely the fact the copper grease is in between the steel and aluminium stops the chemical reaction which causes the battery effect in the first place? Whether it conducts electricity or not is irrelevant.