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Pedals--going nuts

Old 09-23-20, 11:47 AM
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Elbeinlaw
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Pedals--going nuts

I have this pedal:
And yesterday, as I was doing some maintenance, I unscrewed this nut ...
And then lost it. Looked all over for it ... it must've bounced and rolled, or evaporated into thin air as small parts tend to do.

Anyway, I've looked all over the internet for identification or specs. Can't find any information. Or a Forte site. Two questions:

1. Does anybody know what the specs on this nut are?
2. Is it safe to ride with this nut missing (until I can find a replacement)?
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Old 09-23-20, 01:08 PM
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What is behind it? Does it hold the pedal together? Or is it just a dust cap.
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Old 09-23-20, 01:14 PM
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If it appears to just be a dust cap, you could put some sticky tape over the hole, or plug it with a wad of rope caulk, chewing gum, cut-down cork or similar.
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Old 09-23-20, 01:20 PM
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it might be M12x1.5
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Old 09-23-20, 01:20 PM
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If it's a dust cap, you can get them on eBay (shipped from China). Personally, I'd keep looking for it.
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Old 09-23-20, 01:24 PM
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It does not appear to me to have any function, which was confusing. In the space the nut used to occupy there's nothing, obviously. Behind it there's just a blind shaft that looks like the closed end of a bearing race. With the nut gone, the pedal doesn't appear to be any looser or more wobbly. I rode it very briefly--maybe 100 yard to test something else out--and I couldn't detect any difference in the pedal. So I'd think "dust cap." BUT what lead me to ask this question is the reflection that given the race to the bottom in costs on bicycle parts … why would anyone manufacturing bicycle parts make a dust cap that's a more expensive hex screw, not just a simple cheap tap-in white metal cap?

I confess that I did think about bubble gum and duct tape … IF it's just a dust cap. But that begs the question: How do I ever find a replacement for this? In the old days a lot of little parts like this were pretty standard. But now it seems like there's a greater mix of parts: imperial units & metric; hex and torx and standard slots and Phillips; etc.. My half-sassed solution was going to be to take the pedal with its missing nut to bicycle shops in the area and try to find someone who has one of these nuts sitting forlorn in that little parts tray in their tool box.
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Old 09-23-20, 01:29 PM
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Dude!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Rolla
If it's a dust cap, you can get them on eBay (shipped from China). Personally, I'd keep looking for it.
You just exceded my wildest hopes, never mind expectations. Thank you thank you thank you. You gave me a place to start looking for replacements.

By the way, I would keep looking, but my "shop" (for bike repair) is a carport with lots and lots of stuff in it, opening into deep ivy on one side and a somewhat shaggy lawn on the other. I looked for an hour, on my hands and knees, taking into consideration that these suckers bounce and roll. I've given up. But I'll do anything to keep from ordering something that would come on a slow boat from China.
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Old 09-23-20, 02:21 PM
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That is all good information. Thank you.
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Old 09-23-20, 03:50 PM
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Don't you have another pedal to check, or are you 1 legged?
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Old 09-23-20, 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Bill Kapaun
Don't you have another pedal to check, or are you 1 legged?
I must give you credit on this post!
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Old 09-23-20, 04:33 PM
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Originally Posted by delbiker1
I must give you credit on this post!
It stems from when I first started fooling with bikes.
I was installing my 1st chain and screwing up the "tab" on the RDER. I was scratching my head when I thought-
Hows it go on my other bike? DUH.
People just want to ask instead of thinking/observing.
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Old 09-23-20, 04:58 PM
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If you go to what ever is the bolt and screw supplier in your area to local industry, they'll be able to tell you real quick what it is.

The older one in my area that has been around since forever has a bowl of miscellaneous screws, nuts and plugs on the counter, if you come in needing one item and can find a match in it, then you can have it since it cost them more money to write a ticket up for one little screw.
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Old 09-23-20, 05:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Elbeinlaw
I have this pedal:
And yesterday, as I was doing some maintenance, I unscrewed this nut ...And then lost it. Looked all over for it ... it must've bounced and rolled, or evaporated into thin air as small parts tend to do.

Anyway, I've looked all over the internet for identification or specs. Can't find any information. Or a Forte site. Two questions:

1. Does anybody know what the specs on this nut are?
2. Is it safe to ride with this nut missing (until I can find a replacement)?
”Forte” is the house brand for Performance. It is likely made by Welgo or some other mass manufacturer. I’d say it’s unlikely to find a replacement cap. You might get lucky but the cap isn’t usually something that is replaceable.

As for being “safe”. That depends. On many pedals, the cap is just a dust cap. On other pedals...QBP iSSi, for example...it is integral and needed to keep the pedal together. In my experience, most of the time it’s just going to be a dust cap, however.
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Old 09-23-20, 05:31 PM
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Autoparts stores sell "caps & plugs" sets in various sizes. Try there using the other pedals cap...
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Old 09-23-20, 09:55 PM
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Once, ages ago, I crashed in an overheated turn, & later found that the dustcap had spun off the pedal.

Spent a lot of time trying to find a replacement, & finally went back to the crash site and found the part.

So I suggest looking more- use a small leaf blower and a strong flashlight.
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Old 09-23-20, 10:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Troul
Autoparts stores sell "caps & plugs" sets in various sizes. Try there using the other pedals cap...
I was going to suggest the same, automotive trim plugs come in all sorts of sizes. Replacing both for a uniform look would look pleasing and keep junk out. For about $2.00?
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Old 09-24-20, 12:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Elbeinlaw
I have this pedal:And yesterday, as I was doing some maintenance, I unscrewed this nut ...And then lost it. Looked all over for it ... it must've bounced and rolled, or evaporated into thin air as small parts tend to do.

Anyway, I've looked all over the internet for identification or specs. Can't find any information. Or a Forte site. Two questions:

1. Does anybody know what the specs on this nut are?
2. Is it safe to ride with this nut missing (until I can find a replacement)?

I have a set end caps from an old pair of pedals that may work. PM me your shipping address & I can send them to you pending where they need to be shipped to, shipping should not be very much.
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Old 09-24-20, 12:39 PM
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If it was dropped on a relatively level indoor piece of floor, then it will be near wherever it was dropped. It might be tricky to find but it's there somewhere. Behind a leg of your workbench or in the shadow of a lamp or something. It's there!
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