I Cannot Get my Pedals Off!

[Velocivixen]

I have a 2011 Trek FX 7.3 WSD that I bought in October. I ordered new pedals for it just for kicks. I ordered the MKS "Lambda" aka Rivendell "Grip King" pedals and they'll be here in a couple of days. So I went to a lbs and bought a Park tool long handled pedal wrench, some Phil Wood grease, and I thought I'd practice today getting my current platform pedals off. I have watched videos and have read how to remove them, so I understand how to get them off. I am familiar with tools and am no wimp as far as strength. I CANNOT get them off (I've only tried the right pedal or the one on the drive train part of the bike).
There is a hole for a 6 mm hex wrench on the other side of the crank where the pedal spindle goes into and I've tried that also.

So.....how in the h*ll am I supposed to be all independent and change my own pedals if I can't get these off!??? Sorry...I'm just about in tears and I'm frustrated. Why are they on so tight? I think I'll go to my LBS and have them at least "break the seal" so to speak, so later this week I'll be able to do it.

I've tried it on a repair stand and with the bike on the floor. I've tried it from different leverage vantages and no such luck. I'm about ready to stand on it (the pedal wrench).

Ideas? Hugs? Kleenex?

[Veronica]

Are you turning the wrench in the correct direction? Counterclockwise on the right, clockwise on the left.

Veronica

[Velocivixen]

Yes.

[Veronica]

Sometimes they just get too tight. I've been known to hit the pedal wrench with a rubber mallet to loosen it up.

Brace the crank on something if you go with this method.

Veronica

[Biciclista]

take it to your LBS..
give the guy a 5 dollar tip when he tells you "no charge"

[Velocivixen]

Thanks ladies for your quick replies. What do you think if I spray some WD-40 on it first, let it set while I drink some coffee, then try it again? Or will that just be wasting time?

[Veronica]

WD 40 might help. You probably want to let it penetrate for 24 hours or so.

Veronica

[Velocivixen]

Okay, I've just sprayed some on and will try it one more time by standing on it! Let's hope the bike and I don't fall over!
Otherwise I'll try the LBS. I'll let you know how it turns out.

[tangentgirl]

Man, it sucks when guys tighten things like this. They always make it super-duper-tight, not thinking that someone else might need to undo it one day. Nothing like trying to get a wheel off to change a flat or just to get the bike in the car, to realize the LBS over-torqued it at the last tune-up. Grr.

Good luck, Velocivixen!

[Velocivixen]

I did it. I sat the bike on the floor with the affected pedal on it's down stroke and the wrench parallel to the floor. I leaned back onto my car for balance, applied the brakes on the bike, stood on the pedal with one foot and used the other foot to stand on the handle of the pedal wrench and sort of hopped up and down until I broke the seal.
The right side (drive train) side crank arm is unmarred, however the left side crank arm is now scratched up and I chipped a tiny bit of paint! Oh well....just a sign of a newby bike mechanic! ;) I used my new grease and put them back on "firmly" but not super tight.
I'm feelin' like a rock star about now.
Thanks for your support and help.

[jessmarimba]

Glad you did it! I gave up and took mine to REI, since I bought the pedals there.

[OakLeaf]

Woot!

Before you re-install them, put a little bit of anti-seize lubricant on the threads. That'll save you from having to go through that again.

[Biciclista]

woot woot!!!
always always put grease on them!!

[lph]

oh well done! They can be a real pain to get off sometimes. Kudos!

[Catrin]

Don't they normally get tighter during use once they have been installed or am I mistaken?

[Bike Chick]

Yeah!!!! Ain't it a great sense of accomplishment? I tried to picture that scene in my head as you described it and I'm impressed by your creativity. I could so see myself slipping off and cutting a gash in my ankle. Good job:D

[wildrover]

+1

And let us know how you like the GripKings!

[Velocivixen]

I ordered the Grip Kings (aka Lambda) from Universal cycles, who happen to have a warehouse & retail location in Portland, however they didn't have them so they will ship from their warehouse in Minnesota. Should ship either today or tomorrow. I hope I like them.

[Grog]

Congrats!

Yes, don't forget grease and perhaps even a washer when you put the new ones back on.

My husband had pedals on his old mountain bike that were totally seized up. One of them eventually came off but the other one nobody could ever remove.