If you’ve ever tried to put on or take off a set of pedals, maybe you’ve run into the confusion of not being sure which way to turn the wrench. Right pedals loosen by turning counterclockwise and left pedals loosen by turning clockwise. It’s not an easy thing to remember.
But it turns out that there is an easy way to keep things straight that’s always the same. When you loosen a bike pedal, turn the wrench handle when it is at the top or “noon” position (or allen wrench handle if you’re using one of those) toward the rear of the bicycle. It doesn’t matter which side of the bike you’re working on. Turning the wrench toward the back of the bike will loosen, and turning the wrench toward the front of the bike will tighten.
The reason for this makes a lot of sense. Pedals are threaded in the opposite direction that you push them so that pedaling forward will tend to keep the pedals screwed in place. If they were threaded in the other direction, then you might end up pedaling them loose so that they could fall off while you’re riding.
Before I learned this trick, I’d always have to either look it up again or painstakingly study the threads of each pedal or use trial and error to get my pedals on. And when taking them off, there were a few times where I accidentally tightened them instead of loosening, which made it much harder to get them off. But now it’s always a snap to remember how to take my pedals BACK off.
The use of a pedal wrench makes the job much easier.
Yes, but Dura Ace pedals require an 8mm allen wrench and cannot be installed or removed with a pedal wrench. Which really sucks if you have those pedals on tight and you’re trying to get them back off!
“… When you loosen a bike pedal, turn the wrench handle [WHEN IT IS AT THE TOP/NOON POSITION] or (or allen wrench handle if you’re using one of those) toward the rear of the bicycle. …”
Here you go, Fixed it for you:
Otherwise, not clear, because: When the *wrench is at the 6:00 PM position* – “turning it towards the rear of bike”, will inevitably tighten your pedals even more!
Ha ha. Good catch! I corrected it. Thank you.
I remember the threading with this little slogan: Pedal Forward / Bottom Bracket Back.
On the “right” side of the bike, right tighty, lefty loosy. Opposite on the “wrong” side.
Or get another pair of pedals and look at the threads and the label if there isn’t one on the installed pedal.
Another vote for “Pedal forward, bottom bracket backwards”, learned many years ago when I was a novice cyclist, and one of the few things I still remember from then.
It’s so simple.
right pedal============== right hand thread
left pedal================ left hand thread
That’s the way I remember also, that the right side is right (normal as righty tighty) and the left is backwards.
I always remember it towards the front or forward when you are putting the pedals on (preparing to move forward) or towards the back of the bike when you are taking the off (done with the ride and back at the shop)
Also, when installing pedals, DON’T OVER-TIGHTEN. Finger-tight is plenty (that way they’ll be much easier to remove later). They will not loosen with riding, and if anything, they’ll tighten a bit.
For years, I’ve told students in my classes the easiest way to remember how to remove pedals is to “BACK OFF.” I got the idea from decals on cars. BOCK OFF means turn the wrench towards the back of the bike. It works & is easy to remember.
For years, I’ve told students in my classes the easiest way to remember how to remove pedals is to “BACK OFF.” I got the idea from decals on cars. BACK OFF means turn the wrench towards the back of the bike. It works & is easy to remember.
Always, always, always remember to thoroughly clean & apply grease to threads before installing.
YES!
Stand/straddle the rear wheel to take the pedal off. Put the pedal wrench/Allen wrench on with it pointed up …… pull toward you. Saw a mechanic do this & never forgot.
Right is right. Left is wrong.
When I read the beginning of the article I was going to comment about loosening by turning the wrench or the Allen toward the back of the bike…then I read further…I guess a lot of people already knew it.
These tips all work in the Northern Hemisphere. Remember to reverse it south of the equator.
The pedaling direction is the loosening one.
H K is right – pedaling forward loosens. Everyone else is still right about the thread directions (left pedal is reverse threaded). This is an easy mistake to make since the pedal bearing rotates oppositely to the crank. The rationale is to prevent the threads from seizing over time due to normal riding. On the other hand, properly installed pedals with greased threads and tightened sufficiently, will never come out just due to the weak torque transfer through the bearings.
The left BB thread is also reversed for the same reason.