getting the clipless pedals swapped for flat pedals. do you reckon the risk they mention is legit? should i get them to remove it or get the adapters
by raasclartdaag
getting the clipless pedals swapped for flat pedals. do you reckon the risk they mention is legit? should i get them to remove it or get the adapters
by raasclartdaag
13 Comments
It would have to be really badly seized to cause the thread to come loose. Give it a few sprays with penetrating fluid and take it to a different shop.
It’s certainly legit. I would ask if they’re using some sort of anti-seize like PB Blaster, and if it’s safe to use on carbon cranks. I’ve only used it on aluminum. I ended up pulling the cranks and secured in a vise (very carefully) to remove the pedals.
It’s indeed nice to get this hint from the bike shop.
But hey, if you do this stuff at home, what would be your possibilities?
You go for it, because carbon parts can be fixed really good with money.
Just kidding, but you would go for it. Because you just bought new pedals.
You will put them in place.
Either you will ride around with the shame that your pedals are melted to your frame or “I wanted to rebuild a couple of parts, so I changed them”.
And that’s the moment you maybe buying a whole groupset 😉
I had Shimano R540 pedals stuck in Ultegra cranks. I actually purchased them with the knowledge they could be stuck but believed I could get them unstuck. It turned out I couldn’t at first. I knew there was a failsafe method which involved welding a large nut to the pedal axle.
Instead I left them on the work bench for a week soaking in penetrating oil. I didn’t intend to leave them that long. I just forgot about them. The pedals did come out then but still required significant effort. The penetrating oil still had got maybe just half way through the threads but it seamed to be enough to release them.
Those click-in plastic platform adapters don’t work well at all. They are meant for short term use like test rides. Can’t rely on them for long term use. The plastic surfaces wear and they get loose in the pedal.
I’d say encourage them to hit it with penetrating spray and try again tomorrow, knowing that you might also need a new crank. That is unless you’re okay just using the clipless pedals.
Most high end cranks the threaded section isn’t a simple insert, its a block or capsule of metal if not a whole arm running through the carbon. If the threads are damaged there’s more than enough to heli-coil and I wouldn’t be concerned with the metal coming loose in the arm.
The bike shop is being upfront because of the risk of damage. As a tech I would be willing to send it and try to get it off. But only if the customer consents to this, so the shop doesn’t end up buying a new crank. I would probably say the same thing, even if there were a small chance of damage. It’s better to be upfront and communicate about this before sending it and cranking on the pedal wrench.
I will note things like this for things as simple as a derailleur hanger because there’s always a risk they can snap off when straightening.
Quite a few bike shops would outright refuse to try now because of financial liabilities and insurance refusing to cover if things go wrong.
If it is sized there is a possibility that the force needed to remove it could cause it to break loose ruining the crank arm so the shop is being upfront with you about the risks involved if they try. The choice is yours let them have a go it might work or you could be looking at new chainset and pedals.
The plastic adaptors are a waste of money they wear stupidly quick and almost always fail.
Is the risk legit? Are you implying they might want to take your pedal out easily, and then destroy your crank arm on purpose in order to sell you a new set?
There is indeed a chance that it will be damaged while attempting to remove it. Every mechanic likes a good challenge so they won’t have a problem doing the work, it is the liability that is the problem. They want to make sure you are aware of the risk of damage so you can make a decision based on your budget. If you can’t afford a new crank, then you don’t risk ruining your crank. Otherwise you accept you may need a new crank, and you hope that the old isn’t damaged while pedal is removed
I regularly give customers warnings like that when there’s a 1/50 chance of something out of my control happening that’ll cost them a few hundred bucks. I just don’t wanna be held liable.
Why are you running high end (I assume) carbon cranks with flat pedals if you can’t afford to throw money at new cranks if they break em?
Very much a legitimate issue.
I had my sparkplugs changed on my car a few years ago. The shop called and let me know 3 came out easily and the 4th was stuck. Now they could continue with the work and possibly snap it and gave me a price for the repair if this happened.
This is a good bike shop to see it feels wrong , stop work and let you know of the possible issues.
As it needs to come off anyways just let them know to do the work and if it snaps you’ll be buying a new crank.
Good customer service from the shop informing you beforehand. I’d use Loctite freeze’n’ release on it to help reduce the force required.
It’s certainly a reasonable concern, tech is covering his butt. Unless the rest of the bike is absolutely trashed, I’d get them to quote you new crank arms just in case and then tell to go for it.