Pedal Removal Question - Quick Guidance Required !

bobbydazzla

I just got a new bike and a set of Ultegra SPD-SL pedals. Both ordered online

I wanted to check my position on the bike using my turbo so popped the pedals on. I just screwed them both in by hand and didn't tighten any bolts or use an allen key.

Now I can't get the pedals off, despite trying to loosen the bolt with a spanner.

Can someone who's less of a mechanical dunce than me advise how I can do it ?

ianbz

Daft question, are you undoing them correctly, one side has a left hand thread!?

bobbydazzla

IanBz wrote:

Daft question, are you undoing them correctly, one side has a left hand thread!?

I think so.

The pedals have a "tighten" on them and an pointing in one diretion, I'm turning the spanner in the opposite direction....

Monty Dog

Put allen/pedal wrench on pedal pointing towards front wheel, press down on pedal whilst pulling wrench upwards, towards you to unscrew. Works regardless of side. If you only used hand pressure to screw in, should only need little force to remove. Remember to grease threads for proper install.

bobbydazzla

Monty Dog wrote:

Put allen/pedal wrench on pedal pointing towards front wheel, press down on pedal whilst pulling wrench upwards, towards you to unscrew. Works regardless of side. If you only used hand pressure to screw in, should only need little force to remove. Remember to grease threads for proper install.

Tried that and no joy.

Using an adjustable wrench as the 15mm pedal wrench I have doesn't fit these pedals. And i don't have an allen that the right size.

Could I be struggling because I'm not using a pedal wrench ?

pastey_boy

The tighten graphic only applies to the collar that holds the axle in place.

bobbydazzla

pastey_boy wrote:

The tighten graphic only applies to the collar that holds the axle in place.

Here's a pic of the pedal.

The bit I'm trying to turn is the silver bolt shape that runs flush to the black part of the pedal. Is this the correct bit ?

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/components/pedals/product/review-shimano-ultegra-pd-6700c-carbon-road-pedals-12-46394

pastey_boy

Noooooooo. you need an allen key to remove these.

jgsi

Its a 6mm allen key you'll want on those pedals
Start with the drive side.. ensure the chain is ON THE BIG RING.
If you can fashion some copper pipe or other tubing to extend the leverage of the allen key then sort it.
It's always a bit awkward but you insert the allen key and you will be pushing down in the direction of the REAR wheel.
Think of the rotation of the pedal in normal use... it tightens up as you pedal along... a nifty safety feature that ensures your pedals don not drop off in the road.
Reverse your thinking for the other side.. again you will undoing in the direction of the rear wheel.
Leverage is what you need not violence.

bobbydazzla

Thanks for the info on the allen key, that explains why I was having no joy with the wrench ! I'm a numpty :oops:

Although to be fair Shimano could make it clearer to mechanical dunce's that an allen key is required for the pedals, everything I could find online said wrench or allen would both be fine and there were no removal instructions in the box...

And I have a nice cut on my thumb after a slammed it onto the big ring. Won't make that mistake again.

jgsi

bobbydazzla wrote:

Thanks for the info on the allen key, that explains why I was having no joy with the wrench ! I'm a numpty :oops:

Although to be fair Shimano could make it clearer to mechanical dunce's that an allen key is required for the pedals, everything I could find online said wrench or allen would both be fine and there were no removal instructions in the box...

And I have a nice cut on my thumb after a slammed it onto the big ring. Won't make that mistake again.

We all learn... I nearly had no thumb at all last week when I messed up trying to extract a bb30 bearing with what I thought was a foolproof way....

dandrew

I had trouble getting my pedals off. Need to turn the alum key the opposite way to which the pedals turn. I used a coal hammer to knock the alum key gently until it moved.

MichaelW

After some bashed knuckes, I take a careful approach to removing pedals. I put the crank pointing rearward and up a little, apply my spanner/key, rearward, pointing up a little. Apply both brakes and gently but firmly press down on the tool with a foot. It is a press not a stomp.

Make sure you haven't crossed the threads, this can make then pedals stick and damages the softer metal of the more expensive cranks. When putting the pedal on, reverse the spindle to click the threads in place then screw in the correct way using finger and thumb only. When hand tight, apply the tool and tighten.

Monty Dog

That's why pointing the cranks and wrench towards the front wheel and pulling up is important - there's many a bloodied-numpty that's found out the hard way that pressing down toward the chainring is not a good idea.

jordan_217

I always put the chain on the big ring when I'm doing anything like this, just in case.

Padeye

I avoid smashed up knuckles by putting the spanner on the pedal in such a way that the spanner is making a 'V' with the crank. you can then gently squeeze the handle of the spanner and the crank arm together until it moves.