How To Change The Pedals On A 10-speed Bike

Knowing how to change the pedals on a 10-speed bike is one of the most basic bike repairs you can do. Use a skinny, long-armed pedal wrench to make the job easy. If you don’t want to spring for a special tool, just use a crescent wrench, but that may make it harder to do the job.

To change the pedals on a 10-speed bike, you will need:

• A pedal wrench (or a 15 mm crescent wrench with the longest handle possible)
• A bike stand (optional)
• Waterproof grease
• A set of new pedals
• Work gloves

1. Put the 10-speed bike on the bike stand if you are using one. Otherwise, turn your 10-speed bike upside down. Put on your work gloves, so you don’t skin your knuckles on the chain.
2. Place the pedal wrench between the pedal and the crank arm of the right pedal. The right side of your 10-speed bike is the side with the chain rings. Loosen the pedal by turning the wrench to the left (righty-tighty, lefty-loosey). Once the pedal becomes loose enough, just loosen it the rest of the way with your fingers. Remove the pedal.
3. Now loosen the pedal on the left side of the 10-speed bike. This is the opposite side from the chain rings. This side is reverse-threaded, so turn the pedal wrench to the right to loosen it. Once loose enough, loosen it the rest of the way with your fingers. Take the pedal off.
4. Look at the end of each new pedal, near the threading. You will see that the right pedal is marked with the letter “R.” The left one is marked with an “L.” Make absolutely sure you get the correct pedal on its correct side.
5. Generously and thoroughly grease the threads of each pedal before installing it. If you skip this step, you may end up with pedals that have rusted in place at some time down the road.
6. Finger tighten the right pedal into place, turning to the right. Do not tighten further unless the pedal went on smoothly when you finger tightened it. When it’s all smoothly on there, tighten to the right with your wrench, just to make it snug.
7. Now, repeat the installation process for the left pedal as in step six.  Take note of one major difference: tighten the left pedal to the left.