Do all pedals take the same size wrench?
#1
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Do all pedals take the same size wrench?
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Almost all good quality pedals require a 15 mm wrench and are threaded 9/16" x 20tpi. Most good quality pedal wrenches are 15 mm only.
Those that take a 9/16" wrench are mostly on cheap "Department Store" quality bikes or on older American bikes with Ashtabula cranks and are threaded 1/2" x 20 tpi.
Park Tools makes one pedal wrench that fits both 15 mm and 9/16" wrench flats but their other pedal wrenches are 15 mm only.
So be careful with the 9/16" designation as it can refer to either the thread size or the needed wrench size.
Those that take a 9/16" wrench are mostly on cheap "Department Store" quality bikes or on older American bikes with Ashtabula cranks and are threaded 1/2" x 20 tpi.
Park Tools makes one pedal wrench that fits both 15 mm and 9/16" wrench flats but their other pedal wrenches are 15 mm only.
So be careful with the 9/16" designation as it can refer to either the thread size or the needed wrench size.
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However, some pedals (such as the Crank Brother's Egg Beaters) take neither a 15mm nor a 9/16" wrench. Instead they take an allen wrench.
#5
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What is the BMX standard? I know they use a 1/2 inch thread instead of the 9/16 so maybe the flats are 9/16 for them?
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I just use a 15mm open-ended wrench anyway, works fine on all the pedals i've ever used it on.
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#7
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A thicker budget priced 15 will often not fit on some pedals. But I've had good luck using a rather flat 15 that came with a slightly thinner wrench set. It fits anything I've got or ever had so far.
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Some pedals use a 6mm or 8mm Allen wrench on the backside of the spindle.
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If we're going to sit here listing what pedals have what system for taking them on/off we'll be here for a while.
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True, but we will in so doing answer the OP's question.
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Well, let's wrap it up, shall we? OP: Yes, that wrench is for a specific size (15mm), which is the most common size for pedals for modern 3- and 2-piece cranks.
If you're not sure what size wrench your pedals take, measure it or go the trial-and-error route.
If you're not sure what size wrench your pedals take, measure it or go the trial-and-error route.
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1-piece (Ashtabula) cranks come on department store, lower-end BMX, and older bikes: https://sheldonbrown.com/opc.html . The cranks are smaller than 3-piece (your 12-year old bike did not come with newer 2-piece) because one arm has to slide through the bottom bracket. On 3-piece systems, the cranks bolt onto the bottom bracket spindle.
See: https://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_bo-z.html#bottom . The left two are 3-piece, the right one is 1-piece.
See: https://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_bo-z.html#bottom . The left two are 3-piece, the right one is 1-piece.
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JiveTurkey, you're really helpful. Thanks man! I'll check my crank type before I begin my commute home this afternoon.