Author Topic: Well Buttered Bear Claw (alternately: Pedal Rant)  (Read 3558 times)

Well Buttered Bear Claw (alternately: Pedal Rant)
on: March 28, 2006, 20:53:27 PM
Why cant you get a well lubed and adjusted pedal unless you spend $$$?

Invariably, I get a set of wellgo rat traps, either for $15 or as OEM, and theyre just horrendous. They wont even spin once.

Take them apart, put actual grease in them, not just the thin smear they think is enough, then adjust the cones properly, and presto: they feel like $100 pedals.

Youd think that a bit of grease and 10 seconds of human intervention on the production line wouldnt cost that much.

Perhaps Im a snob, but I gotta have my cups and cones perfectly buttery. Id rather go forward faster, than heat up metal via friction.

/rant

Btw, they feel great now. :lol:

Well Buttered Bear Claw (alternately: Pedal Rant)
Reply #1 on: March 28, 2006, 21:02:55 PM
Explain that one for the non bike literate...... maybe with piccies too...... :D

I think i got the basics tho.... how much does a decent pedal cost any way?

Well Buttered Bear Claw (alternately: Pedal Rant)
Reply #2 on: March 28, 2006, 21:38:32 PM
You can get a quite serviceable pedal for cheap, but if you repack it, it should last a long time.

Ive put 10K on a set of cheapie Wellgos before. I did service them first thing. I like both their rat trap city bike pedals and their cheapie atb spd pedals cant be beat for the price: http://wiggle.co.uk/Default.aspx?Main=ProductDetail.aspx&W=0&Manufacturer=&UberCatName=&Cat=cycle&CategoryName=pedals%20-%20mtb&ProdID=5360006646&UberCat=0

My fave city pedals are MKS platforms with steel clips and leather straps, very very comfy and retro:
http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/webalog/pedals_clips_straps/14030.html

Should get another set when my current kit wears out. :thumbup:

Re:Well Buttered Bear Claw (alternately: Pedal Rant)
Reply #3 on: March 29, 2006, 18:04:27 PM
Hmmm...

Both my sets of shimanos werent very free when I got them.  Now though, after a few hundred miles the M324s are a lot looser.  I reckon my M540s will go the same way.  Could this be deliberate, allowing them to "bed in" or something?  Or should I disassemble them and adjust?  I know my M540s are definately adjustable, not sure about the others...

Well Buttered Bear Claw (alternately: Pedal Rant)
Reply #4 on: March 29, 2006, 18:24:09 PM
Bearings are often a bit sticky from the factory to account for preload and the fact that theyll loosen a bit over time and most folks never adjust them.

Usually better to leave well enough alone. :P

If theyre loose ball bearing hubs, you can extend their life by doing a repack with craploads more than the factory grease to keep out moisture, but theyre likely cartridge bearings, afaik, which you just replace when they get crunchy.

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