Pedal came off crank arm while riding

I would of never believed it but my left pedal came off the crank arm
when riding. Luckily I was slowing down and reached the end of my
destination when the accident occurred. I believe I did not tighten
the pedal enough and the pedalling motion loosened the pedal. My
theory is that the pedal came 75 % off and on my final downward power
stroke the lateral force stripped off the pedal from the crank arm.
After getting up from the crash, I looked inside the threading of the
left crank arm and noticed that the last few threads were completely
stripped. I was lucky and not too seriously hurt, but it could of been
more serious (even fatal) if was travelling alongside cars and going
at a higher speed. Once the pedal comes off you use control of the
bike. I know why people use loctite on pedals.

I looked over the bike and most of it looks okay. I am wondering
though what I should do with the pedal and left crank arm? I can force
the pedal back into the first few broken threads, but that doesn't
seem too smart. Should I get the left crank arm re-threaded or maybe
just get another replacement left crank arm? Its only a Sugino VP,
nothing spectacular.

Thanks.

"Gordon" wrote in message
m...
I would of never believed it but my left pedal came off the crank arm

snip..

bike. I know why people use loctite on pedals.

I've never seen loctite on pedals. In my experience, if you properly
tighten the pedal, it is not necessary. In fact, the opposite is
true..pedals are usually difficult to remove once they've been in there a
year or two.


I looked over the bike and most of it looks okay. I am wondering
though what I should do with the pedal and left crank arm? I can force
the pedal back into the first few broken threads, but that doesn't
seem too smart. Should I get the left crank arm re-threaded or maybe
just get another replacement left crank arm? Its only a Sugino VP,
nothing spectacular.

Thanks.

Get a new left crank. They're generally pretty cheap if you don't have
something exotic. The threads are garbage on the old arm and it's not worth
fixing, IMHO. You can try to heli-coil it but nothing else will work. The
pedal is likely fine, being much harder than the alu. crank. Make sure no
thread or alu. bits are left in the pedal threads.

Cheers,

Scott..

On 4 Sep 2003 12:00:28 -0700, (Gordon) wrote:

I can force
the pedal back into the first few broken threads, but that doesn't
seem too smart. Should I get the left crank arm re-threaded or maybe
just get another replacement left crank arm? I

your local bike shop can chase the threads for you. I've had that done
and the threads were restored.

charlie

"Gordon" wrote in message
m...
I would of never believed it but my left pedal came off the crank arm
when riding. Luckily I was slowing down and reached the end of my
destination when the accident occurred. I believe I did not tighten
the pedal enough and the pedalling motion loosened the pedal. My
theory is that the pedal came 75 % off and on my final downward power
stroke the lateral force stripped off the pedal from the crank arm.
After getting up from the crash, I looked inside the threading of the
left crank arm and noticed that the last few threads were completely
stripped. I was lucky and not too seriously hurt, but it could of been
more serious (even fatal) if was travelling alongside cars and going
at a higher speed. Once the pedal comes off you use control of the
bike. I know why people use loctite on pedals.

I looked over the bike and most of it looks okay. I am wondering
though what I should do with the pedal and left crank arm? I can force
the pedal back into the first few broken threads, but that doesn't
seem too smart. Should I get the left crank arm re-threaded or maybe
just get another replacement left crank arm? Its only a Sugino VP,
nothing spectacular.


Don't locktite them, use a grease or oil and check the right pedal after you
buy a new left arm. Sugino lefts are ubiquitous and dirt cheap. You only
need to know the length which is stamped/cast in the inside of the arm.

Lubricate the crank taper [or not*] and lubricate the fastener's thread and
face.

*Illogical as it may seem, respected adherents of both persuasions seem not
to experience failure. Me, I lube everything that moves and a lot of things
that don't.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

A Muzi wrote:
"Gordon" wrote in message
m...

I would of never believed it but my left pedal came off the crank arm
when riding. Luckily I was slowing down and reached the end of my
destination when the accident occurred. I believe I did not tighten
the pedal enough and the pedalling motion loosened the pedal. My
theory is that the pedal came 75 % off and on my final downward power
stroke the lateral force stripped off the pedal from the crank arm.
After getting up from the crash, I looked inside the threading of the
left crank arm and noticed that the last few threads were completely
stripped. I was lucky and not too seriously hurt, but it could of been
more serious (even fatal) if was travelling alongside cars and going
at a higher speed. Once the pedal comes off you use control of the
bike. I know why people use loctite on pedals.

I looked over the bike and most of it looks okay. I am wondering
though what I should do with the pedal and left crank arm? I can force
the pedal back into the first few broken threads, but that doesn't
seem too smart. Should I get the left crank arm re-threaded or maybe
just get another replacement left crank arm? Its only a Sugino VP,
nothing spectacular.



Don't locktite them, use a grease or oil and check the right pedal after you
buy a new left arm. Sugino lefts are ubiquitous and dirt cheap. You only
need to know the length which is stamped/cast in the inside of the arm.

Lubricate the crank taper [or not*] and lubricate the fastener's thread and
face.

*Illogical as it may seem, respected adherents of both persuasions seem not
to experience failure. Me, I lube everything that moves and a lot of things
that don't.

And, if at all possible, use a torque wrench when you tighten it! All
the pedals that I've used have a hex key hole on the inside so that you
can do this. YMMV.

David

NOT LOCTITE-Use a good grease and install tight-gordon- I would of never
believed it but my left pedal came off the crank arm
when riding. BRBR
I know why people use loctite on pedals. BRBR

NOT LOCTITE-Use a good grease and install tight-

Gordon I can force
the pedal back into the first few broken threads, BRBR


Take it to a decent bike shop and have them chase the threads, and check the
right pedal as well...

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:


Take it to a decent bike shop and have them chase the threads, and check the
right pedal as well...


I have found that the threads can generally be successfully cleaned up
by inserting the pedal from the wrong side (and then putting it back as
normal before riding off :-)

I've had a couple of pedals unscrew on me, before I learnt that they
really did have to be done up properly (not hugely tight, but properly
snug) despite the precession effect.

James

lfdavis wrote in message ...
The same thing happened to me with the right pedal. I had taken the
crank off and cleaned it, and apparently just hand tightened the pedal.
I was more unfortunate as I hit the pavement and came away with bruised
ribs and a busted helmet. Other than the stripped pedal, the bike was
all right since it landed on me.

You were less fortunate than me, I only had scrapes on my left knee
and arm. Even though I was wearing wearing, its an extremely dangerous
and scary situation losing control like that. Once the pedals pops
off, you lose most of your balance and control. I was really lucky
that it did not pop off on the major streets with cars zooming by me
(I usually go pretty decent speeds on those stretches).

When I was referring to using loctite on pedals I meant stores, my
friend bought a Miele MTN bike and they used loctite on most of the
parts (including pedals). I guess they didn't want a rare situation of
a pedal coming off (could possibly lead to a lawsuit?). I am pretty
sure that there must be a case of some business store having a
customer returning a bike with a pedal coming off.
Rare situation, but probably an unpleasent situation.

A bike store can chase the threads for me, but I would like to know
more about the process how it works? Its hard for me to visualize it
repairing the threads and still being as durable originally. Doesn't
chasing make the pedal hole bigger?

I am purposely not using that crank and pedal to prevent further
damage to the bike and myself. I want to make the best and safest
decision.

Thanks.

"Gordon" wrote in message
om...
A bike store can chase the threads for me, but I would like to know
more about the process how it works? Its hard for me to visualize it
repairing the threads and still being as durable originally. Doesn't
chasing make the pedal hole bigger?

I am purposely not using that crank and pedal to prevent further
damage to the bike and myself. I want to make the best and safest
decision.

Thanks.

Sometimes, if you didn't take out too many threads when the pedal came out,
you can clean up what's left, put the pedal back in and there will be enough
purchase left to tighten the pedal again against the crank. I've had this
both work and not work. You really can't tell until you try and see how it
tightens up. All in all, a new left crank like yours is probably $20 or so.
When working in a shop, you've got to be VERY certain that nothing
catastrophic will happen once that bike leaves your shop. As a consequence,
we just generally replaced the arm and that was that. If it was someone we
knew and they understood the risks, we'd try chasing and re-installing.
It's your (and your shop's) call. Re-installing that pedal in that crank
will NOT be as strong as when it was not damaged. The question is, is it
strong enough?

Cheers,

Scott..