Peek the Geek

Has anyone successfully re-greased their Crank Brothers pedals using the method in the instruction manual?

I've tried this a couple of times, using the supplied grease adapter and a grease gun to shoot grease into the pedal and force out the old, dirty grease. The problem is, it takes forever to get even the slightest bit of old grease to come out. And in the meantime, a vast majority of the new grease I'm trying to put in just escapes out the hole of the grease adapter instead of going into the pedal (despite my best efforts to keep the hole sealed with the tip of the grease gun).

Basically I end up with a mess, a ton of wasted grease, and a pedal still full of old grease. What, if anything, am I doing wrong?

mp123

You're not alone at least, I get the same results. Laying the bike down on the ground so you can really keep pressure helps a bit but it's still a mess. Too bad that little screw in plastic adapter (the one that's sooo easy to cross thread) doesn't have a real zerk fitting on it for the grease gun to attach to.

comradehoser

no problems for me.

Peek the Geek

Any tricks/secrets to it? What type of grease gun are you using? Thanks.

Peek the Geek

I just so happened to come across this blog post,https://pedaldamnit.blogspot.com/2007...servicing.html, in which a Crank Bros customer service agent recommends against the grease gun/grease port method. He suggests pulling the spindle out, regreasing it, and putting the spindle back in using the existing nuts.

I knew disassembling the pedal was an option, but the Crank Bros manual makes it sound like I'd have to purchase a rebuild kit, with the insinuation being that certain parts could not be reused. I guess not.

The blog also mentions why the grease port method is such a pain in the rear---"...the only way for the grease to get to the rest of the pedal is to push through the seals of the cartridge bearing. Ouch."

ginsoakedboy

The bearings are tiny cassettes, so it fairly easy (unlike cup/cone bearing pedals) to pull the spindle out for re-greasing, and when the bearings are finally shot, you can buy the little re-build kit that has replacement bearings, O-rings, and dust caps.

Peek the Geek

Thanks. I actually just gave the blog's advice a go, and everything worked out fine. Good to know, since I have Crank Bros pedals on all four of my bikes.

smurf hunter

I just rebuilt my cheapo chromoly eggbeaters. I have mixed feeling about paying $15.00 for a pair of new bearings, rings and nuts. I *still* have an annoying clicking in my left pedal at the top of my pedal stroke. It does spin smoother though...

You can remove the spindle without a rebuild kit. In fact I plan to do that tonight as that persistent click is really getting under my nerves. I intend to shove as much Phil Wood grease as possible in there.

-Sean

rosiewoodboat

It's really easy using the ol' standard shop grease gun, the ol' Dualco.

masiman

It could be something other than the pedal such as the BB, cleat, etc. Tracking down creaks and clicks can be annoying .

BikeGarage

I am using an "unapproved" method - get a cap off the pedal, pack the cap with grease, screw it back on while rotating the pedal on the spindle. If no grease is coming out on the crank side of the pedal, do it once more. Don't even have to get pedals off the bike...

smurf hunter

As info, I emailed CrankBrothers and got an RMA # to send in the pedals for a free replacement.

I suggest you do the same rather than waste time and grease

AndreasT

To disassemble the pedal in order to regrease it seems like a complicated approach, I think that the intended method is faster and results in a completely grease filled pedal within 30 seconds, I wish all components was so easily maintained 

idcruiserman

Use a needle tip grease gun. Works fine.