Dura-Ace spd-sl maintenance

Hi all,

what kind of maintenance do dura-ace spd-sl pedals require?
I'm using a pair of them since about 18 months, I notice that the black
plastic insert is worn, but what about bearings?

Thanks,
Francesco

Francesco Devittori said:

Hi all,

what kind of maintenance do dura-ace spd-sl pedals require?
I'm using a pair of them since about 18 months, I notice that the black
plastic insert is worn, but what about bearings?

Thanks,
Francesco

Here is an article on SPD pedal maintenance:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/fix/?id=shimano_pedals

SPD and SPD-SL types are pretty much the same as each other as far as
the axle and bearing mechanism. This article shows you how to
disassemble them and just add new grease. Personally, I take them
apart completely and clean everything completely. This takes a lot
of patience as there are 24 3/32" loose balls in each pedal (two sets
of 12). It takes me about 45 minutes to completely disassemble,
clean, grease, and re-assemble one pedal. It's a good winter or
rainy day project. I do mine about once a year. The one
special tool you need is the Shimano TL-40. There are a couple of
other flat open end wrenches you need and you can use a small socket
for the lock nut on the end. You service these just like any other
loose ball bearing set. I also find that an axle vise makes life
much easier to hold the whole thing. Set up over a big rag or in
some kind of a box, as you are guaranteed to drop at least a couple of
those tiny little balls. The last thing you do is to make sure
the tiny rubber seal (it's not an o-ring, but similar) is seated down
in the plastic housing as far as you can get it.
This is what keeps the dirt out of the bearings and it tends to float
away from the plastic housing. Hold the pedal in your hand and
rotate it around the axle, and, at the same time, push that little seal
down into the plastic housing with a fingernail. Once I figured
out what this did and started keeping it pushed in, my bearings stay a
lot cleaner. As with all bearings, if you submerge them in water,
they are going to need a more aggressive maintenance schedule.

I know this sounds like a lot of work, but for most of us DuraAce
pedals are pretty expensive and once you learn how to do this job it's
pretty easy. It just takes time and a lot of patience. A
steady hand and a good pair of tweezers help, too.

Francesco Devittori said:

Hi all,

what kind of maintenance do dura-ace spd-sl pedals require?
I'm using a pair of them since about 18 months, I notice that the black
plastic insert is worn, but what about bearings?

Thanks,
Francesco

Here is an article on SPD pedal maintenance:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/fix/?id=shimano_pedals

SPD and SPD-SL types are pretty much the same as each other as far as
the axle and bearing mechanism. This article shows you how to
disassemble them and just add new grease. Personally, I take them
apart completely and clean everything completely. This takes a lot
of patience as there are 24 3/32" loose balls in each pedal (two sets
of 12). It takes me about 45 minutes to completely disassemble,
clean, grease, and re-assemble one pedal. It's a good winter or
rainy day project. I do mine about once a year. The one
special tool you need is the Shimano TL-40. There are a couple of
other flat open end wrenches you need and you can use a small socket
for the lock nut on the end. You service these just like any other
loose ball bearing set. I also find that an axle vise makes life
much easier to hold the whole thing. Set up over a big rag or in
some kind of a box, as you are guaranteed to drop at least a couple of
those tiny little balls. The last thing you do is to make sure
the tiny rubber seal (it's not an o-ring, but similar) is seated down
in the plastic housing as far as you can get it.
This is what keeps the dirt out of the bearings and it tends to float
away from the plastic housing. Hold the pedal in your hand and
rotate it around the axle, and, at the same time, push that little seal
down into the plastic housing with a fingernail. Once I figured
out what this did and started keeping it pushed in, my bearings stay a
lot cleaner. As with all bearings, if you submerge them in water,
they are going to need a more aggressive maintenance schedule.

I know this sounds like a lot of work, but for most of us DuraAce
pedals are pretty expensive and once you learn how to do this job it's
pretty easy. It just takes time and a lot of patience. A
steady hand and a good pair of tweezers help, too.

spin156 said:

Francesco Devittori said:

Hi all,

what kind of maintenance do dura-ace spd-sl pedals require?
I'm using a pair of them since about 18 months, I notice that the black
plastic insert is worn, but what about bearings?

Thanks,
Francesco

Here is an article on SPD pedal maintenance:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/fix/?id=shimano_pedals

SPD and SPD-SL types are pretty much the same as each other as far as
the axle and bearing mechanism. This article shows you how to
disassemble them and just add new grease. Personally, I take them
apart completely and clean everything completely. This takes a lot
of patience as there are 24 3/32" loose balls in each pedal (two sets
of 12). It takes me about 45 minutes to completely disassemble,
clean, grease, and re-assemble one pedal. It's a good winter or
rainy day project. I do mine about once a year. The one
special tool you need is the Shimano TL-40. There are a couple of
other flat open end wrenches you need and you can use a small socket
for the lock nut on the end. You service these just like any other
loose ball bearing set. I also find that an axle vise makes life
much easier to hold the whole thing. Set up over a big rag or in
some kind of a box, as you are guaranteed to drop at least a couple of
those tiny little balls. The last thing you do is to make sure
the tiny rubber seal (it's not an o-ring, but similar) is seated down
in the plastic housing as far as you can get it.
This is what keeps the dirt out of the bearings and it tends to float
away from the plastic housing. Hold the pedal in your hand and
rotate it around the axle, and, at the same time, push that little seal
down into the plastic housing with a fingernail. Once I figured
out what this did and started keeping it pushed in, my bearings stay a
lot cleaner. As with all bearings, if you submerge them in water,
they are going to need a more aggressive maintenance schedule.

I know this sounds like a lot of work, but for most of us DuraAce
pedals are pretty expensive and once you learn how to do this job it's
pretty easy. It just takes time and a lot of patience. A
steady hand and a good pair of tweezers help, too.

WOW! That's exactly what I was looking for!
Thanks!

Francesco

spin156 said:

Francesco Devittori said:

Hi all,

what kind of maintenance do dura-ace spd-sl pedals require?
I'm using a pair of them since about 18 months, I notice that the black
plastic insert is worn, but what about bearings?

Thanks,
Francesco

Here is an article on SPD pedal maintenance:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/fix/?id=shimano_pedals

SPD and SPD-SL types are pretty much the same as each other as far as
the axle and bearing mechanism. This article shows you how to
disassemble them and just add new grease. Personally, I take them
apart completely and clean everything completely. This takes a lot
of patience as there are 24 3/32" loose balls in each pedal (two sets
of 12). It takes me about 45 minutes to completely disassemble,
clean, grease, and re-assemble one pedal. It's a good winter or
rainy day project. I do mine about once a year. The one
special tool you need is the Shimano TL-40. There are a couple of
other flat open end wrenches you need and you can use a small socket
for the lock nut on the end. You service these just like any other
loose ball bearing set. I also find that an axle vise makes life
much easier to hold the whole thing. Set up over a big rag or in
some kind of a box, as you are guaranteed to drop at least a couple of
those tiny little balls. The last thing you do is to make sure
the tiny rubber seal (it's not an o-ring, but similar) is seated down
in the plastic housing as far as you can get it.
This is what keeps the dirt out of the bearings and it tends to float
away from the plastic housing. Hold the pedal in your hand and
rotate it around the axle, and, at the same time, push that little seal
down into the plastic housing with a fingernail. Once I figured
out what this did and started keeping it pushed in, my bearings stay a
lot cleaner. As with all bearings, if you submerge them in water,
they are going to need a more aggressive maintenance schedule.

I know this sounds like a lot of work, but for most of us DuraAce
pedals are pretty expensive and once you learn how to do this job it's
pretty easy. It just takes time and a lot of patience. A
steady hand and a good pair of tweezers help, too.

WOW! That's exactly what I was looking for!
Thanks!

Francesco