Tricks for loosening too tight hex bolts?

[farrellcollie]

or is it nuts? I am trying to change pedals on a bike and it has a hex bolt (or niut) (I am so not mechanical) - I got one off - but I cannot get the the other off _ I am turning it the correct way. Should I try liquid wrench or something? Hex wrench slips out, I have cut up my right hand and am about to just beat the old pedal with a hammer. I have been trying to get this pedal off for a couple of hours and am frustrated and a little bloody. Thanks for a place to rant and thanks for any suggestions.

[KnottedYet]

Ummm, don't they turn one way on the left pedal, and the other way on the right pedal?

I recall a mnemotic someone posted "Back off, forward onward." Then you don't have to worry about which way which one goes.

As you face the pedal, you turn toward the back of the bike to get the pedal off.

Edit: OOPS, nevermind... I reread your post and you said you are turning it the right way. I guess I'd tried some liquid wrench. Or maybe use a pipe extension to give you more leverage?

[r900]

Could you post a photo of your problem pedal? Liquid wrench is ok to use if you have a rusty thread problem, but, you must let it soak into the parts overnite.Are you using a hex key or an open ended wrench? Don't grab the hammer just yet.

[farrellcollie]

I am using a hex key - (I think - a 5-6 inch piece of metal that has about an 11/2 inch bendy part so that it looks like a tall L). I agree about the hammer - it would just be satisfying until I wrecked something. The reason I think I am right aobut the turning is that I read about it on the park tools site and I am turning in the opposite direction of what I did to get the first one off. I don't think it is rusty - just overtightened - it is my dahon folding bike - and just about every bolt has been over tightened. so much so that there are complaints about it on their website. I may just have to take it bike shop tomorrow. It is not really a problem except that I hate to take them things that I can do myself - like changing pedal (unless one won't come off) Thanks

[r900]

Is the key slipping inside the hexhead?

[farrellcollie]

It slips out - I am kind of concerned about stripping it - I don't know if this is a concern with these type of bolts - but I have done it to too tight screws.

[r900]

If everything is still tight (key in head) and you say that most all your bolts in you bike were orvertorqued,AND you are ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE that you are turning in the correct direction then we go to a cheater.Find a pipe or crescent wrench to slip over end of wrench to gain a longer handle to twist that little bugger out.There is a risk that something could break but its nothing an electric drill and a good bit wouldn't take care of. It wouldn't hurt to apply a little liq,wrench to threads anyway. Regards, Frank

[DebW]

I am using a hex key - (I think - a 5-6 inch piece of metal that has about an 11/2 inch bendy part so that it looks like a tall L).

That's a really short wrench for removing a pedal. Pedal wrenches are typically 10-14 inches long. See if you can buy a longer allen wrench, or find a way to extend the length of what you have, perhaps with a piece of pipe.