SPD pedals

[petehouk]

Hey everyone. I am trying to come up with a good option for SPD pedals on my Speedster. I would prefer to keep the one piece crank since (in my opinion) it's an important part of the look of the bike. But it appears that all SPD pedals have 9/16" spindles, which will not fit my crank. I tried the 9/16 to 1/2 adapters but they make the pedals stick out too far.

So. I was thinking about taking a 1/2" spindle from a platform pedal and transplanting it into an SPD pedal. But the trick would be to find two pedals with compatible spindles. They would need to have the same length between the bearing surfaces. And, ideally, the same size and shape for the bearing surfaces.

I was thinking about using one of these SPD pedals:
http://www.niagaracycle.com/categories/sunlite-bicycle-mountain-bike-clipless-pedals-1-pair
(this one is my preference)

http://www.niagaracycle.com/categories/sunlite-bicycle-clipless-i-pedals-1-pair
(this one would probably be OK too)

And maybe this platform pedal could donate the spindles:
http://www.niagaracycle.com/categories/sunlite-mtn-sport-ii-pedals-1-pair-1-2-black

I will say that Sunlite would not be my first choice for pedals. However, they are one of the few companies that offers an SPD pedal and many varieties of 1/2" platform pedals. Most companies that make SPD pedals offer either no 1/2" pedals or just one option. I was thinking that my best bet to get compatible spindles would be to get the donor from the same brand of pedal. Maybe that's not a valid assumption.

Any ideas on how to identify a compatible pedal and donor spindle combination? Any other thoughts on how to achieve this?

Thanks

Pete

 

[KJV]

Check out, Bell 505 pedals

 

[Bicycle808]

I'd take the 9/16" spd pedals to a machine shop, and ask them if they can make the 9/16" by 20tpi spindles down to 1/2" x 20tpi.

 

[RustySprockets]

I'd take the 9/16" spd pedals to a machine shop, and ask them if they can make the 9/16" by 20tpi spindles down to 1/2" x 20tpi.

You COULD do that. I have an idea that turning down those hardened spindles and re-threading them would be be no easy task. The world has no shortage of Schwinn one-piece cranks, so why not drill and tap to accept a regular 9/16" pedal? That's a process most could do at home.

Either way, you're probably weakening the parts, but I'm looking at a steel Conti crank right now, and there appears to be plenty of "meat" on them. I like your idea...can't say I've ever seen SPD installed on such a bike.

 

[Bicycle808]

Here's some other folks' thoughts on the matter, including Sheldon Brown:

http://www.cyclebanter.com/showthread.php?t=125083

 

[RustySprockets]

Here's some other folks' thoughts on the matter, including Sheldon Brown:

http://www.cyclebanter.com/showthread.php?t=125083

True...I didn't think that far ahead. An elusive left-hand tap or die would be needed, regardless of the route taken. I might poke around the co-op tomorrow night to see if there aren't a pair of 1/2" SPD pedals lying about.

 

[petehouk]

Interestingly, LHT dies are not that hard to find. Nor that expensive.

https://www.grainger.com/product/10N634?cm_mmc=display-_-mmath-_-display-_-723229-Grainger

So with that in mind, I have someone lined up to turn down a spindle for me. I haven't done a lot of work on pedals, but I gather that some have bearings that come out of the body on the spindle:
http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.imdserve.c...edals/1413215490938-198kmtgapp2ui-960-540.jpg

And some where you have to put the spindle through the body and tighten the cone and a lock nut on it. It sounds like those are hard to do unless you have a special tool since you have to hold the cone stationary while you turn the locknut. Like this:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/images/pedal-bearingIMG_5673.JPG

It looks like the first kind would be easier to take apart, machine, and then put back together. How do I tell which kind a particular pedal is? I'm thinking that the Shimano M324 has the cone and locknut since it has the dustcap on the outboard side. Then the Shimano A530 would come apart in one piece since it doesn't have a dustcap. Like in this video.


I don't happen to care for the looks of the A530. Are there any other good options out there that would be easy to take apart?

 

[petehouk]

I have it on good authority that the spindle will come out of this pedal by removing the nut on the outboard end.

http://www.vpcomponents.com/product/vp-x83/

I think I am going to get a set of these and get them turned down. Guess I'll order a tap while I am at it!

 

[RustySprockets]

I like those pedals, they're versatile. Better get dies instead of taps. And two of 'em...one right and one left. Let us know how it works out.

 

[user 135]

Axle swap seems pretty easy according to this thread. http://bmxmuseum.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=60951