Stationary Exercise Bikes

Question: How do i take the pedals off a stationary exercise bike?

(Posted by: pumpkinlettuce on 2008-03-13 15:37:30)

I need to take the pedals off one bike and put them on another because I refuse to pay $25 for replacement straps. I just need the footholds themselves, but if I have to take off the whole metal bar, that's okay too. It looks like it's just a screw that you'd use a wrench on right next to the foothold but it refuses to budge... Okay, so the left pedal itself goes counterclockwise. Does the nut go that direction too? I really can't see the treads on the arm...and I broke my wrench....

Posted by: McG on 2008-03-13, 15:48:32

Use an appropriate sized wrench. If it were a bicycle it would be 15mm. The stationary bike may be the same. Take the entire pedal off as that will be easier. The pedal on the right (chain wheel side) is lefty loosey, righty tighty. The one on the left is righty loosey, lefty tighty. You may have to apply a good amount of force to break it loose. If you have a brake or a tensioner you can tighten down firm, do so. Have someone help you if you can't budge it. They can hold the crank with their foot on the opposite pedal until you break one free. Don't fully remove the one you first loosen until you have them hold that one while you break the other free. Turning them in the correct direction is of utmost importance in this procedure.

Posted by: intrepidfae on 2008-03-13, 19:06:28

Don't try to take pedals apart. Take the whole pedal off as a unit. If you look carefully, you will find flat spots on the pedal shaft right near the spot where it screws into the crank arms. These flats will fit either a 9/ 16 inch or 15 mm wrench, depending on your specific model. Usually, the only problem is finding a wrench thin enough to fit between the pedal and the crank arm. If you know a cyclist, he might have a pedal wrench you can borrow. I bought mine for about $10. The pedal you push with your right leg is clockwise to tighten, counter clockwise to loosen. The pedal you push with your left leg has a reverse thread: counter clockwise to tighten, clockwise to loosen. You usually have to push pretty hard to loosen pedals. Be careful. When loosening a pedal, see if you can brace the other one. When putting pedals onto the cranks, use a little grease on the threads. HTH