Re: More for the FAQ -- which way to ride.

M.R.Sands@iasos.utas.edu.au
Wed, 12 Oct 1994 15:23:40 +1000

>Julian Orbach (julian@cs.uq.oz.au) writes:
>
>>Sure enough, the pedals are labeled L and R on the inside, which
>>indicates the direction of the thread. Prolonged riding in the wrong
>>direction apparently causes the pedal to become loose (as they have,
>>on my unicycle.)
>
>Forward riding on either a unicycle or bicycle will tend to tighten
>the pedals. However, backward riding on a unicycle will tend to
>loosen the pedals.
[snip]
>Seriously, just tighten the pedals with a long (12 in.) pedal wrench
>until the wrench simply does not budge. Carefully apply a little more
>torque to be sure the pedal is really tight, but not enough torque to
>strip the threads. That's all there is to it.

Also very important to prevent stripping the thread is to put a little
greese on the thread before you attach the pedal. This prevents the thread
on the pedal from binding to the thread on the crank, which happens if the
thread is dry, resulting in a brittle join which will crack under pressure.
In my experience it is this, rather than pedaling the wrong way, which
makes the pedals loose.

Mark Sands o o
o
E-mail M.R.Sands@iasos.utas.edu.au o o
IASOS/CRC Ph: +61 20 2941 Fax: +61 20 2973
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Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies o @_/
CRC for Antarctic and Southern Ocean Environment \/|
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