Problem with pedals- broken bolt

USS Silversides said:

Just recently I have been having trouble with my left pedal "slamming". When my left foot comes up and then starts to descend, it has about 10 degress of play in it and subsequently has no resistance. As a result of the lack of resistance, the pedal's speed obviously increases and when the pedal once again meets resistance, it does so accommpanied by a pounding sound.

Very frusterated, I unscrewed a bolt that went through the pedal "shaft" sideways, right above where the pedal assembly attaches to the spindle that couples both pedals together. The bolt was about 3/8" wide and 1 1/2" long, with the last 1/2" or so smaller in diameter and threaded. One other thing noteworthy about the bolt is that part of it has a flattened surface on one side, sort of like a half round pin. The problem is, in my trying to fix my problem, I ended up breaking the bolt. Living in a small town with no bicycle repair shop nearby, I am not sure what to do. I have no idea what this part is called, and as you can probably tell from my post, I don't know what much of anything on a bike is called 🙂 . Could someone inform me on exactly what this part is and where I can get it?

Thanks, and sorry for the lack of appropriate bike jargon,
JD

Can you tell us what kind of pedals these are? Pedals vary quite abit and it is difficult to know exactly what your talking about without the name/model of pedal. Or maybe put a link in to a picture of the pedal.

Sounds like the cotter pin that goes through the crank arm and bottom bracket axle was loose and is now stripped or damaged.

Buy a new cotter pin.

Don't know if this will work, but take a look at these pics:

81x.comWTmyProjects.aspxOpen ↗

You might have to scroll through a few photos of my R/C submarine but the pics of the pedal should be there at the bottom of the page.

Thanks very much!

The link has timed out?? 😕

Oh, duh... I linked the editor page. Here is the real page:

81x.comMiscpicsOpen ↗

That should work now....

USS Silversides said:

Oh, duh... I linked the editor page. Here is the real page:

81x.comMiscpicsOpen ↗

That should work now....

Good luck trying to find that bolt. Your best bet might be to find an old school bike shop that still has boxes of old parts kicking around.

It is just a normal cotter pin, old but worn and stetched, any hardware or bike shop... 😉

I have to say I like the second answer better.... Thanks guys.

Are there cotter pins with the end threaded though?

USS Silversides said:

Don't know if this will work, but take a look at these pics:

81x.comWTmyProjects.aspxOpen ↗

You might have to scroll through a few photos of my R/C submarine but the pics of the pedal should be there at the bottom of the page.

Thanks very much!

I think gclark8 has nailed it you have old style pinned crank arms. The pins are obtainable at any good bike shop, and are inexpensive, but you must use caution in installing them. They are bicycle specific, other tapered pins are no good. There is a tapered flat on the pin which mates with the flat on the bottom bracket spindle. This may be filed down to provide sufficent insertion of the pin so that the threads protrude enough for the washer and nut to be fully tightened. DO NOT try to pull the pin in by tightening the nut, you will strip the thread or break off the end. The nut is there to keep the pin in place. Support the bottom of the crank arm with a piece of wood and give a moderate tap on the pin with a hammer. If you don't support the crank arm you can destroy the bottom bracket. If you get enough thread protrusion you can put on the nut, otherwise tap out the pin and file down the flat until you can. The pin in final installation must be set in place with a sharp tap and then the nut installed.

Well it was a cotter pin. I easily got one at a bike shop and I had no trouble installing it. Thanks for the help!