1. PEDALS
WARNING:
Attachment of an incorrect pedal into a crank arm will
cause irreparable damage. Unless the shoulder of the pedal spindle is tight to the
face of the crank arm, the pedal may back out causing serious injury or death. Make
it tight so the shoulder is in complete contact with the surface of the crank arm.
Before your first ride, please check to ensure your pedals are attached
correctly.
• There is a right side pedal marked “R” and a left side pedal marked “L”
• The right pedal has a RED sticker, the Left pedal has a GREEN sticker.
• Pedal marked “R” has right hand threads. Tighten in a clockwise direction.
• Pedal marked “L” has left hand threads. Tighten in a counterclockwise
direction (see Figure 3).
After putting some white grease on the threads of the pedal, place the
pedal into the crank, and use your fingers to get it started. Threading it in
can be tricky, so make sure to do it correctly. Regardless of which side
you’re working on, the top of the thread will rotate towards the front of
the bike to tighten the pedals. Once you’ve finger tightened the pedals,
use a 15mm open-ended wrench to snug them down. They are properly
tightened when the pedal spindle, which is the axle that the pedal
platform spins around, begins to bite into the metal on the crank.
If you have a three piece crank, check the crank bolts to make sure they
are tightened (see Figure 4). Re-check the bolts after your first ride.
If you have a one piece crank, firmly grasp the crank arm on the left side
of the bicycle and wiggle it gently. If there is any movement or play in the
crank, use a 15 mm open-ended wrench to tighten the locknut. Repeat
the process until there is no more play in the crank, being careful not to
overtighten (see Figure 5).
WARNING:
Never ride your bike if the cranks are loose. This could
damage the crank arms beyond repair, and result in a loss of control, injury or death.
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
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