Pedal Adapters
10-03-21, 10:10 AM
#26
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Had you shown the bike to the people in the shop previously? Did they tell you that you need 1/2" pedals sight unseen? Just by looking at your picture I can tell that you almost certainly need 9/16" pedals
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10-03-21, 10:13 AM
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Wow - thanks. I actually bought the bike from the bike shop that's telling me that it requires 1/2" pedals. I'll take it by another bike shop tomorrow to see what they can tell me.
10-03-21, 10:22 AM
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I figured out that with my serial # being SA996596, that this looks like it was made in 1979 rather than 1980, at least per what I found here https://www.schwinnbikeforum.com/SLDB/serial.htm
https://thirtythree.org/projects-unco...n%20Frames.pdf
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10-03-21, 10:33 AM
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10-03-21, 10:40 AM
#30
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(but if you don't have a pedal wrench, by all means go to another shop and have them switch pedals. Once they take the old one off, it should be obvious whether the new one is too big)
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10-03-21, 10:45 AM
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I'm going to bet it has 9/16" pedals. I've only seen 1/2" on three piece cranks on kids bikes or steel arm cruisers from Europe. Schwinn did make a lot of one piece crank derailleur equipped bikes and they are fated to 1/2" pedals. The best being the Atom 440, but hard to find in good shape.
But I'm thinking that if it is 3pc. and aluminum arms, it has 9/16" pedals.
Although it would be VERY interesting if they are actually 1/2"
Take one off and look for Chrysakes.....
But if you do end up needing them, I have a pair of adapter extenders you can have for postage. You need to use short pedals or the bike looks like its a duck paddling. Kind of an orthopedic bicycle look.....
But I'm thinking that if it is 3pc. and aluminum arms, it has 9/16" pedals.
Although it would be VERY interesting if they are actually 1/2"
Take one off and look for Chrysakes.....
But if you do end up needing them, I have a pair of adapter extenders you can have for postage. You need to use short pedals or the bike looks like its a duck paddling. Kind of an orthopedic bicycle look.....
Last edited by macstuff; 10-03-21 at 10:48 AM.
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10-03-21, 10:46 AM
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Don't you have a pedal wrench? It's easy enough to take one of the pedal off and put the 9/16 pedal to the hole. It should be pretty obvious if it's too large.
(but if you don't have a pedal wrench, by all means go to another shop and have them switch pedals. Once they take the old one off, it should be obvious whether the new one is too big)
(but if you don't have a pedal wrench, by all means go to another shop and have them switch pedals. Once they take the old one off, it should be obvious whether the new one is too big)
10-03-21, 10:50 AM
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Kind of.
Depending on bike model, the threads of the crank and pedals are opposite on each side.
So facing the bike, you will need to turn the pedal shaft (to loosen) clockwise on the right side and counter clock wise on the left side.
So you would need two different taps.
There are rare exceptions to this rule so definitely check.
so:
https://www.amazon.com/20-Right-Left...75N48H1S&psc=1
Depending on bike model, the threads of the crank and pedals are opposite on each side.
So facing the bike, you will need to turn the pedal shaft (to loosen) clockwise on the right side and counter clock wise on the left side.
So you would need two different taps.
There are rare exceptions to this rule so definitely check.
so:
https://www.amazon.com/20-Right-Left...75N48H1S&psc=1
I’m actually perfectly happy with Ashtabula for my current needs. Except….. lack of pedal variety.
I was scratching my head about using 9/16 without adapter. Now I can put a little weld bead on the tip and open up the hole.
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10-03-21, 10:51 AM
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I'm going to bet it has 9/16" pedals. I've only seen 1/2" on three piece cranks on kids bikes or steel arm cruisers from Europe. Schwinn did make a lot of one piece crank derailleur equipped bikes and they are fated to 1/2" pedals. The best being the Atom 440, but hard to find in good shape.
But I'm thinking that if it is 3pc. and aluminum arms, it has 9/16" pedals.
Although it would be VERY interesting if they are actually 1/2"
Take one off and look for Chrysakes.....
But if you do end up needing them, I have a pair of adapter extenders you can have for postage. You need to use short pedals or the bike looks like its a duck paddling. Kind of an orthopedic bicycle look.....
But I'm thinking that if it is 3pc. and aluminum arms, it has 9/16" pedals.
Although it would be VERY interesting if they are actually 1/2"
Take one off and look for Chrysakes.....
But if you do end up needing them, I have a pair of adapter extenders you can have for postage. You need to use short pedals or the bike looks like its a duck paddling. Kind of an orthopedic bicycle look.....
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10-03-21, 11:01 AM
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I did'nt notice that you were here in town right away.
Good, then if you do end up needing those adapters we can just meet at BICAS.
Good, then if you do end up needing those adapters we can just meet at BICAS.
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10-03-21, 01:55 PM
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I actually have a pedal wrench, but I once tried removing a pedal and it was impossible. I have trouble with this stuff for some reason. I can never unloosen a bolt or screw that the bike shop has installed. I often have to take my bike in for things like saddle changes since I can't get the strength to move the bolts once they've been tightened by a mechanic. I also tend to not tighten them as much as I should and that can be problematic as well. And since I don't have a vehicle (by choice), I worry if I get a pedal off and can't get it back on, that I'll have to walk the bike to the LBS, which is quite a distance. It's a shame because I would love to be more self-sufficient. My LBS usually only charges $5-10 for basic stuff so it's usually not a huge deal.
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10-03-21, 01:57 PM
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can't he just look at the backside of the crank arm w/ a ruler? the hole goes all the way thru, right?
Last edited by rumrunn6; 10-03-21 at 02:03 PM.
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10-03-21, 03:05 PM
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Haha! Good point. But don't you need grease and everything to put a pedal on? I also don't really understand whether it would immediately be obvious in putting a wrong sized pedal on that this was the case, or would I just screw up the threading by trying to put the wrong size on. I also have heard there can be ball bearing issues and other things that are over my head, so I'll probably just wait. Also, I don't have any 9/16" pedals laying around for sure - I have one spare set of pedals but am not sure of their size and don't really want to take the Lamdas off my other bike to test it. It's probably some of my own issues creating this "fear" of messing with the bike too much myself, but I have had issues where I tried to do something myself and it turned out to be a disaster so I just leave it to the professionals. I think it's pretty silly myself and wish I could just get over it but I rely on my bikes so much, it makes me nervous to mess them up.
Last edited by ciclista_pazza; 10-03-21 at 03:13 PM.
10-03-21, 03:11 PM
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I'm not sure what you mean exactly. I held a flashlight up to the other side of the crank arm and I can't see the flashlight through the small hole (which from the picture I posted above, I just mean that slot key like opening). I don't know if you mean actually taking something off first and then seeing the "hole" you're referring to. But that bike shop is closed until Tuesday anyway, so I'll need to visit the other local bike shop tomorrow after work and see what they say.
10-04-21, 08:15 AM
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I'm not sure what you mean exactly. I held a flashlight up to the other side of the crank arm and I can't see the flashlight through the small hole (which from the picture I posted above, I just mean that slot key like opening). I don't know if you mean actually taking something off first and then seeing the "hole" you're referring to. But that bike shop is closed until Tuesday anyway, so I'll need to visit the other local bike shop tomorrow after work and see what they say.
10-04-21, 08:17 AM
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maybe just ride w/ the pedals you have & fuggetaboutit?
10-04-21, 10:07 AM
#43
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You can start with the left side pedal. That's the one that loosens the "usual" way.
Last edited by atnyc; 10-04-21 at 10:12 AM.
10-04-21, 10:07 AM
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I tend to ride in shoes that don't have a large heel or base or whatever you would call it, so I feel the pedals through my shoes, and the rat cage pedals are not working well with this setup. The MKS Lambda pedals work great for me so I'll get those put on one way or another.
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10-04-21, 10:42 AM
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How about this?
Measure the hole that the pedal screws into, on the backside, as suggested by Rumrunn6,
and measure the same on the other bike that has the pedals that you like.
If the size is the same, then the whole 1/2" sidetrack can be left behind.
Measure the hole that the pedal screws into, on the backside, as suggested by Rumrunn6,
and measure the same on the other bike that has the pedals that you like.
If the size is the same, then the whole 1/2" sidetrack can be left behind.
10-04-21, 10:45 AM
#46
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That's a very good idea!
10-04-21, 01:27 PM
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I contacted the bike shop (I sent the mechanic a link to this thread) and he said he was mistaken as he said he assumed most vintage Schwinns take 1/2" pedals, and he confirmed you guys are correct that the Le Tour actually takes 9/16" pedals instead of 1/2". So that's good news that I don't need an adapter or replacement crank arms. Thanks for everyone's help in figuring this out!
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10-04-21, 01:50 PM
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I contacted the bike shop (I sent the mechanic a link to this thread) and he said he was mistaken as he said he assumed most vintage Schwinns take 1/2" pedals, and he confirmed you guys are correct that the Le Tour actually takes 9/16" pedals instead of 1/2". So that's good news that I don't need an adapter or replacement crank arms. Thanks for everyone's help in figuring this out!
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10-04-21, 02:15 PM
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I contacted the bike shop (I sent the mechanic a link to this thread) and he said he was mistaken as he said he assumed most vintage Schwinns take 1/2" pedals, and he confirmed you guys are correct that the Le Tour actually takes 9/16" pedals instead of 1/2". So that's good news that I don't need an adapter or replacement crank arms. Thanks for everyone's help in figuring this out!
Almost all others = 9/16”
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