Quoted message said:"John Rees" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:I have a pair of CX-7 pedals that are making some scraping
noises. I took them off, opened them up and cleaned and
re-greased the bearings. I could not figure out how to
remove the needle bearings in the end of the spindle.
Alas, still making the noises, so I'd like to try to
replace the bearings. Where can I get parts for these
pedals, and more importantly, where can I get service
information. I have the original paperwork for the pedals,
but
Quoted message said:they are not detailed enough. I am looking for the kind of
diagrams Shimano makes for their parts.
Tom Schmitz said:I'm currently "down" on Look pedals. I have three pair
of them.
The oldest are the first pair of clipless pedals I ever
had and are some 10 or 12 years old; and the newest are
A3.1 Looks. I really like riding them, but servicing them
seems an excersize in futility.
First off, how did you get them apart? I cannot find a
tool to fit the retainer that holds the spindle in. I was
able to get one A3.1 pedal disassembled using a PVC
connector that fit snugly over the retainer. The retainer
was not in so tight that it would not come out by hand.
The other pedal just wouldn't budge. My complaint was that
the pedal was making a scraping/clicking noise as yours
was. Wouldn't you know it? The pedal I could get apart was
not the one making noise.
Once I got the spindle out I found that I could neither
get the needle bearings out, nor could I get the sealed
bearing off of the spindle. It is pressed in place.
There is a soft clip that prevents that bearing from
coming off should it work loose, but it does not retain
the bearing per se.
This led me to try and dissasemble my other pedals. My
oldest pair have a cap at the opposite end which, when
removed, shows a nylock nut on the end of the spindle.
Fine, just remove that and service the pedal. Wrong, it's
heavily staked in place. Something would surely get
wrecked trying to remove
it.
On the newer pedals it looked to me like you would need to
have a specific bearing puller to grab the far side of the
needle bearing cage and pull it out. I did not try
modestly heating the pedal body and attempting to draw it
out with any of the tools that I have that might have been
pressed into such service. I merely filled the pedal body
with grease and put it back together.
My impression, looking at the three pedal sets that I
have, is that Look has a "not user serviceable" approach
to their products. Seems a pity for pedals that sell for
as much as Looks do. Shimano gives you a tool with your
pedals so that you can take them appart and service them.
At least they used to - haven't bought any Shimano pedals
in a few years. Next time I'm in need of road pedals I'll
likely be looking at Shimanos....
Look sells a complete spindle with bearings that's not too
expensive as a drop-in service piece.
On some models there is a bearing assembly with a series of
rollers in a sleeve pressed into the dead end of the pedal
body. It's called a Bremen Cup, bearing houses sell them.
You need to destroy the old one to get a grasp on it.
A thorough cleaning with new lube occasionally, as any
bearing, is good practice if your bearings are picking up
dirt or have a rough feel. Looks are quick in that regard.
Clean often and you won't need parts, as in everything else.
The early model with a staked Nylok nut is reverse threaded
on one side. Note you can't get reverse 6mm Nylok nuts
easily and also note you will likely melt the nylon when you
grind the stake off. The whole spindle assembly is the
preferred replacement there.
Look pedals remain a very good value and used ones are
plentiful (even Shimano, Mavic and Campagnolo badged).
Standard road cleat format (not CX-7) interchanges over
twenty years of minor model changes (except for the single
year 1990 Pro )with fixed or rotating cleats.
Last, the nylon collar which keeps the spindle assembly in
the body wants a dot of locktite or a dab of mastic cement.
Looks are not perfect but they are pretty good for
bike parts.
--
Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1
April, 1971
