Bike pedals as is any other part of the bike will occasionally require a complete overhaul or repair. That is understandable as they bear too much weight not to mention being engaged for a longer duration of time. This, naturally begs the burning question: How to take off bike pedals?
Well, there are basically two ways to accomplish this purpose. In our discussions below, we are going to look into how to remove bike pedals with and without a pedal wrench, as they are the two main avenues to use. How about you taking the time to read through to find the necessary inspiration?
How To Remove Bike Pedals With Pedal Wrench
We start out by discussing how to remove bike pedals with the pedal wrench. This basically entails making use of a pedal wrench to do the work of getting out the pedals. It is the default procedure for this kind of exercise. Take your time to read the steps we have outlined below:
Step I: Prepare the bike for the pedal removal
Kick off the exercise by preparing the bike for the subsequent task of pedal removal. To do this, place the bike in a repair stand and then shift the chain to the largest chain ring. This posture helps protect yourself from the cuts that arise with exposure to and direct contact with the teeth of the chain ring.
Needless to say, you also have to cordon off the work area to ward off unauthorized access and intrusion by passersby and third parties. Particularly, let the children stay away from your work areas throughout the pedal removal exercise, all for their maximum safety.
Step II: Make the pedal readily accessible
Now, make the pedal readily accessible. This is something that you should do by rotating the bike until such a time that the right pedal may be easily accessed. Be slow and cautious as you go about this to prevent any injuries from arising in the course of doing that.
Step III: Slot the wrench on the pedal
Slot the wrench on the pedal now. To be able to do so, try the different wrench positions until such a time that the crank arm and the wrench form an angle of around 90° or less. This is to give the wrench the correct mechanical advantage that is critical towards the performance of the right task.
Step IV: Remove the pedal
Get down to the core business now of replacing the bike pedal. To do this, follow the steps outlined below:
- Grab the opposite crank for the second lever.
- Rotate the pedal in the counterclockwise direction to remove the right pedal.
- Turn the crank in such a way as to let the pedal move in the forward direction.
- Take great care that you abrade your skin.
- Wrench the pedal continually in the counter-clockwise direction.
- Eliminate the pedal completely from the crank.
Step V: Repeat the procedure
After you have eliminated one pedal, move over to the next and repeat the procedure a second time. Follow the steps we have outlined above to achieve the necessary objectives. It is important that you keep a keen eye on the screws and the other accessories to facilitate re-assembly later on.
How To Remove Bike Pedals Without Pedal Wrench
Sometimes, it may not always be that you have a wrench where you are. This is especially in times of emergencies when you are basically on your own wherever you are. You have to be certain of this time too. That is why we have dedicated this segment of the conversations to looking into how to remove bike pedals without a pedal wrench.
Step 1: Position the bike accordingly
Commence the exercise by positioning the bike accordingly. To do this, face the driver’s side of the bike. This basically is the bike’s right-hand side that coincidentally comprises the chain set and the chain itself. After positioning the bike in this way, go ahead and turn the crank arm to the 3-o’clock position.
Step 2: Insert the spanner where it is to belong
Next, now, place the spanner on the flat surface in between the crank arm and the body of the pedal. It is from this position that you will subsequently launch your removal exercise. Take great care that the spanner does not interfere with the other parts of the bike as is naturally bound to happen.
Step 3: Rotate the spanner in the anti-clockwise direction
At this stage, you should now rotate the spanner in the anti-clockwise direction. To do this, hold the brakes using your hands. Then, push your feet down onto the spanner. Be sure to press firmly to prevent the parts from falling apart or inflicting serious injuries.
It is not uncommon for you to experience a loss of balance at this stage. Take great care that this happens not. Watch out for the pedals as they are similarly bound to break loose all of a sudden. You do not want to suffer the adverse consequences that generally arise with that.
Step 4: Free the Pedal
With the pedal having been loosened, you now have to go on rotating the spanner anti-clockwise. This action is to free the pedal completely from the bike. Apply a moderate amount of effort to prevent a situation in which you may have to pose some serious damage to the entire structure of the bike.
Step 5: Turn the bicycle around
After you have completely freed the pedal, you now have to turn the bicycle around. This simply means making the non-drive side or the left-hand side of the bike to be the one that is now facing you. It is this position that will allow you to now work on and change bicycle pedals as well.
Step 6: Rotate the crank arm
Having performed the procedure above, you now have to rotate the crank arm to the 9 o’clock position. While at this stage, be sure also to align the pedals so that it is horizontal with the floor. That will put it at a strategic location from which you may subsequently be able to impact it conveniently.
Step 7: Position the spanner accordingly
Now, position the spanner which you will use to remove this other pedal accordingly. Align it with the crank arm as you do so. Proceed now to push down your foot onto the spanner. This will rotate the pedal in the clockwise direction and subsequently loosen it. You are now good to go!
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
This process of removing pedals is potentially risky and injurious. You hence have to adhere to some precautions to be able to do a great job and prevent the likely dangers that come by. Here below we delineate the precautions that have been noted to do a great job:
Tips I: Put on the necessary safety gears
Your first and foremost precaution should be that you put on the necessary safety gear. These are the clothing that you adorn to prevent you from getting into direct contact with the bare parts and components of the bikes. They include gloves, aprons, overalls, hats, and of course, goggles.
Tips II: Cordon off the work area
Move on now to cordon off the work area. This basically means you place a firm boundary around where you are based. You may use a rope or tape to delineate the work area appropriately. Then again, you should clearly label the area as ‘Work in Progress’ to deter intruders from getting into the place and interfering with you.
Tip III: Work in a well-lit area
The screws and other parts of the pedal are ordinarily too tiny and minuscule to behold with the natural eyes. You hence cannot rely on your natural eyes alone to be able to work properly. You no doubt have to light the parts well. This can only happen if you see to it that you supply the necessary lighting by the use of sharp and powerful lamps.
Tips IV: Be gentle and cautious
When articulating this task of removing the pedals, you are advised to be gentle and cations. Of importance is the fact that you should not rush into it. Take your time hence to go through each stage of the journey. That will also ensure that you do not pose any harm to the delicate parts and material components.
Tips V: Keep a watchful eye on the screws and other accessories
While at it, see to it also that you maintain a watchful eye on the screws that fall off the bike parts. If unsure, you may have to take the videos of the removal process to know how to fit the constituent parts and components together at the conclusion of the removal exercise.
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FAQs
As with any other subject, some mysteries do abound concerning the subject of removing the bike pedals. We now take our time to answer some of the questions that are consistently asked about how to remove bike pedals. These we do hope will satisfy your built-in curiosity and make you fully knowledgeable about the subject at hand:
Q1. Which way do you unscrew a left pedal?
The left pedal, unlike the right one, is reverse threaded. To unscrew it, you have to turn it in the clockwise direction while facing the crank arm. It goes without saying that you have to be slow and meticulous to prevent inflict permanent damages to the bike structures.
Q2. Can you use wd40 on bike pedals?
NO! The WD-40 does not really lubricate the parts of the bike as need be. As a matter of fact, this item is actually a de-greaser as it removes any lubricant from the chains of the bicycle. What does this mean? You should never attempt to use it to clean your metallic parts and components.
Q3. Which is the left pedal on a bike?
The left pedal on a bike is the one that exists on the non-drive side of the bike i.e. that portion of the bike that does not contain the chain-ring. Its screws are threaded in the anti-clockwise direction. It hence goes that you can only un-thread the same in the clockwise direction.
Q4. Why is the left pedal reverse threaded?
It bears the reverse threading because it rotates in the counterclockwise direction relative to the crank arm. The use of reverse threading is to eliminate confusion when un-threading the same. Then again, the reverse threading also yields forth some consistency when engaging the pedals.
Q5. How tight should bike pedals be?
The bike pedals should be finger-tight. This is to prevent the pedals from falling off the feet wherein they are fixed. To guarantee this tightness, you have to shake the pedal slightly after tightening it. You may also attempt to ride around a designated location just to be sure of it.
Q6. What are some of the dangers that may come about with this exercise?
The main danger that potentially comes about is the loss or misplacements of the parts and components of the bike. That stems from the smaller and minute sizes of these parts overall. That is why we can never over-emphasize the need to be slow and cautious while disengaging the parts.
Final Verdict
Our long and in-depth look into how to remove bike pedals comes to and ends there. We believe we have furnished just about every other piece of information you might need to go about this issue carefully. Why not thus take your time to familiarize yourself with the matter before proceeding?
For all practical purposes, you are not the only one who is in need of this information as we speak. There are others who badly need the same piece of information elsewhere. Why not thus take your time to push this information forward to them? Help others in need!
Last Updated: June 10, 2022
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