Pedal spanner recommendations?

Border Cyclist · June 2007

Hi,

After a bit of an incident at the weekend I need a new pedal spanner... as well as a new crankset and pedals to replace those I wrecked [B)]

Does anyone have any recommendations? Does anyone rate the more expensive Park models (PW3 and PW4)?

Thanks.

gkerr4 · June 2007

surely any open ended 15mm spanner will do no?

I just use the one that came in a spanner set I got about 10 years ago - I can't imagine that the park ones do anything special. They are probably a bit longer so you can get the pedal done up a bit tighter, but I've never had a problem with my std spanners!

JWSurrey · June 2007

I have a Tacx pedal spanner - It's actually for use as a cone spanner, as it's the only thing the shop had which was narrow enough - cost an arm and a leg.

If you have hex bolts slots on the back of the pedal axle, you could use a torque wrench instead.

Unknown · June 2007

PEDROS pedal spanner is nice

A standard 15 mm spanner can be too fat to fit some pedals, and the teeth ain't always deep enough

Mleh Mleh Mleh

il_principe · June 2007

Park Tool's one is excellent.

My Best Bike

Garybee · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by gkerr4

surely any open ended 15mm spanner will do no?

I just use the one that came in a spanner set I got about 10 years ago - I can't imagine that the park ones do anything special. They are probably a bit longer so you can get the pedal done up a bit tighter, but I've never had a problem with my std spanners!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

There is no need to grolly pedals up to this extent. The extra length of these spanners is to make removing pedals easier, not to help you do them up tighter.

Spanners made specifically for pedals are often thinner, sometimes the flats on pedals are quite shallow. This often means you can't use a standard spanner on them.

Hypocrisy is only a bad thing in other people.

pbiggs · June 2007

Save your money for more interesting things, is my advice. This inexpensive pedal spanner from Mike Dyason does the job: http://tinyurl.com/2vazve

~Pete

domtyler · June 2007

My pedal spanner is one of the things I'm always glad I bought when I have to use it. So much easier than a standard spanner. When replacing pedals I always grease the threads and only do them up finger tight, they tighten as you pedal anyway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Porridge not Petrol
________
HEADSHOP

pbiggs · June 2007

"Note! The precession effect doesn't substitute for screwing your pedals in good and tight. It is very important to do so"

- www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_p.html

FatBlokeFromFelixstowe · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by gkerr4

surely any open ended 15mm spanner will do no?

I just use the one that came in a spanner set I got about 10 years ago - I can't imagine that the park ones do anything special. They are probably a bit longer so you can get the pedal done up a bit tighter, but I've never had a problem with my std spanners!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

No my standard 15mm spanner is too fat to fit in the gap.

My e bay bargain œ 31.05
http://tinyurl.com/366awv

photojonny · June 2007

My Lidl toolkit pedal spanner was too soft to get my pedals off, the metal just bent before the pedals budged. Taking the bike to LBS when the rain relents.......

where there's two wheels, there's a way....

Positron · June 2007

I've got the short Park pedal and headset spanner which is excellent for home use. Any decent bike shop will get a pedal off with their big spanner if you ask nicely. It's one of those tools which is just pleasing to use - the trick is to stand on it if they're stuck, very carefully that is.

p.

gkerr4 · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by FatBlokeFromFelixstowe

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by gkerr4

surely any open ended 15mm spanner will do no?

I just use the one that came in a spanner set I got about 10 years ago - I can't imagine that the park ones do anything special. They are probably a bit longer so you can get the pedal done up a bit tighter, but I've never had a problem with my std spanners!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

No my standard 15mm spanner is too fat to fit in the gap.

My e bay bargain œ 31.05
http://tinyurl.com/366awv
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

oh right - maybe i have a skinny spanner or been lucky.

I can see that the length would help remove rather than tighten, thinking about it, as that can be difficult!

scherrit · June 2007

a good pedal spanner should be skinny enough to fit onto the flats of any pedal(so skinny-er than most standard open wrenches) but not as skinny as a cone spanner or headset wrench (nowhere near strong enough)- you are looking for one about 4mm thick. Std good open wrench is say 6mm and a cone spanner about 2mm. Further improvements are a plastic cover so you don't scratch the cranks (which are very soft and easily scratched!!) and a broader handle and/or plastic cover on the handle so it hurts less when you're trying to remove a pedal that some nutter has installed with some violence and no grease!

With some viligent sutfing, you should find a cheapish one that works.YMMV!
Good luck,
Scherrit.

If you're as fat as me, all bikes are bendy.

domtyler · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pbiggs
"Note! The precession effect doesn't substitute for screwing your pedals in good and tight. It is very important to do so"

- www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_p.html
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Oh! [:I]

Thanks Pete. I shall tighten them from now on. Never had one fall off or even loosen though.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Porridge not Petrol
________
Herbal Health Shop

Unknown · June 2007

An ordinary 15mm spanner fits my pedals ok. I am thankful for that, as most cycle specific tools are designed to slip as you reach maximum torque and guide your knuckles toward the chainrings.

Nobody ever got laid because they were using Shimano

bobbyp · June 2007

I got the park one and its excellent. Nice soft handle that doesn't dig in, narrow enough to reach the flats and there's satisfying about using a great big spanner.

domtyler · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Smokin Joe
An ordinary 15mm spanner fits my pedals ok. I am thankful for that, as most cycle specific tools are designed to slip as you reach maximum torque and guide your knuckles toward the chainrings.

Nobody ever got laid because they were using Shimano
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Why do they do that?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Porridge not Petrol
________
Michigan medical marijuana dispensary

MrKawamura · June 2007

My girlfreind calls me a geek for reading cycling forums. After having read 17 posts on the subject of pedal spanner recommendations I have, for the first time, caught a glimpse of her point of view.

Anyway, I would recommend pretty much any made for purpose pedal spanner. After having broken a general purpose Draper spanner on my pedals I went into the LBS and bought the cheapest one they had for œ15. Any old 15mm will not always get the job done, but I saw no need to own anything beyond an 'entry level' pedal spanner, as having the one that Lance uses will not make them spin quicker.

pbiggs · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by domtyler

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pbiggs

"Note! The precession effect doesn't substitute for screwing your pedals in good and tight. It is very important to do so"

- www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_p.html
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Oh! [:I]

Thanks Pete. I shall tighten them from now on. Never had one fall off or even loosen though.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I think it's one of those things where you will get away with not tightening 99% of the time, but for the sake of a quick push on a spanner, you can be absolutely sure it's going to be OK (assumimg no fault with the threads).

Shouldn't be a problem removing tight pedals if antiseize was used or if the pedals have been regularly removed and refitted, with the threads regreased - say once or twice a year.

~Pete

rrsodl · June 2007

I got mine from eBay for under a fiver and it is excellent [:D]

Rick

dannygcp · June 2007

I'm intrigued to know whether the "bit of an incident" referred to in the OP was a crash, or an ill-fated attempt to remove a pedal with a dodgy spanner[?]

I've managed to destroy pedals and cranks doing both.

And yes 17+ responses on pedal spanners is definitely geeky, or at least a sign that some of us need to find better things to do.

Border Cyclist · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Smokin Joe

An ordinary 15mm spanner fits my pedals ok. I am thankful for that, as most cycle specific tools are designed to slip as you reach maximum torque and guide your knuckles toward the chainrings.

Nobody ever got laid because they were using Shimano
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Ouch! The incident in the OP was a bit of an issue with removing apedal. I would have felt unlucky to trash cranks and pedals in a crash ... never mind a perfectly good (and not cheap) pedal spanner too.

Before spending œ15-30 on a new spneer, I thought I would canvass opinion. I never thought that Ii would get so many responses, so I am very grateful. I'm still not sure what to buy, though! The Park ones look good (and most Park tools are the best, except Tacx for bottom bracket tools) but I now seem to remember that there is one with little plastic side plates to avoid scratches.

Unknown · June 2007

A pair of cone spanners do fine in 90% of cases - and they work as....cone spanners!

d.j.
"Not much to see,
Not much left to lose"

Fab Foodie · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pbiggs

Save your money for more interesting things, is my advice. This inexpensive pedal spanner from Mike Dyason does the job: http://tinyurl.com/2vazve

~Pete
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Seconded. Unless you are an everyday mechanic I've found Mike Dyason's tools thus far to be very very good value for money.

The pessimists of this world are rarely disappointed....
Fab's TCR1

Pedal spanner recommendations?

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