How to Remove Bike Pedals in 6 Easy Steps


I’ve known how to remove bike pedals for many years now. This knowledge has proven useful to me in several situations.

There were times when I couldn’t reach my bicycle mechanic for assistance and I needed to take off the bike’s pedals. Thanks to my ability to handle the situation myself, I was able to get myself out of a tight spot.

The question now is: do you know how to remove bike pedals? If you don’t, this article will help you. I have provided the necessary steps to follow when removing bike pedals. Keep reading to know more.

How to Remove Pedals from a Bike

Removing bike pedals isn’t a god-level task. This is something you can do within a short timeframe if you have a good bicycle tool kit and you follow all the right steps we will go through below.

1. Prevent Knuckle Wounds

To take off the bike’s pedals you don’t need to turn the bike upside down or hand it on a bike stand.

With the bike standing normally on its wheels, proceed to shift the chain to the bigger ring. Doing this will go long ways to prevent knuckle wounds resulting from the chainring slipping.

2. Adjust the Position of the Crank

The next step is to adjust the crank’s position. From the drive end, shift the crank into a forward-pointing horizontal position; this means that the crank lies in a side-by-side manner with the ground beneath.

Usually, you can use an Allen key with many bike pedals. Fit the Allen key beneath the crank, push down and forward, and let the pedal turn in an anticlockwise direction.

3. Do the Same Thing on the Right Side

Move to the other end and make adjustments to the crank’s position on the right. This time around the crank should lie in a backward-pointing 180⁰ horizontal position.

Place the Allen key in the same place as the previous step – the pedal should move in a clockwise direction. After that, roll off the pedal. Don’t misplace the washers in the process.

4. Inspect Everything

The next step is cleaning and inspecting. Shift your attention to the axle threads and the interior of the crank’s end.

As you clean out these areas, observe to see if anything is spoilt. You may need a tapping tool if those areas have started wearing.

5. Apply Grease on the Pedals

If the axle threads haven’t worn out, you can proceed to apply some grease to the pedals. The application of grease to the pedals serves as a means of lubrication and friction-reduction.

This way, the pedals can turn smoothly as you engage them when riding your bike. Adding grease also makes it easy to remove them at another time.

6. Spin the Pedals

After completing the previous procedures, it’s time to spin the pedals back on. Check the body of the pedals for indicators of which is right and which is left.

Get hold of the washers you removed before and put them back in the bicycle. Carefully spin the pedals back into place on the crank. Turn the left pedal anticlockwise and turn the right pedal clockwise.

I tried all these steps when practicing how to remove pedals on a Trek race bike, and they worked perfectly.

Why Do I Have to Remove Bicycle Pedals?

Bike pedals, same as all bike accessories, would normally run smoothly when the bike is new or recently serviced, however difficulties may be experienced when pedaling later on.

  • After some time, dirt and grease start to build up on the surface of the pedals. This means that the once smooth pedals begin to feel uncomfortable to your feet. Your feet may even keep slipping off as you ride the bike. This isn’t a pleasant effect and it may even lead to accidents.
  • Apart from dirt and grease building up, the pedal’s rubber covering also becomes worn out over time. The rubber is supposed to improve traction on the foot. However, once it gets really worn, the rubber fails to provide your feet with the needed traction/grip.

Conclusion

Knowing how to remove bike pedals without a pedal wrench can help you in a desperate situation. Removing bike pedals is a simple process that you can do on your own. So far as you follow the right steps, you’ll remove and reinstall the pedals quickly.

In addition to knowing how to remove stuck bike pedals, you should also cultivate a habit of lubricating them from time to time. This will reduce friction and give room for a smooth transition.

The bike pedals are usually removed by rotating them in different directions; depending on which one is being removed, it could be clockwise or anticlockwise.

Shailen Vandeyar

A proud Indian origin Kiwi who loves to plant trees and play with my pet bunny when not out doing about every kind of biking and experiencing the occasional tumble. Ready to share the ride with you.

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