Pedal Service

On the 1958 Hercules every moving part was seized from old grease. I started off the restoration with the pedals.

For this you will need:
- crescent wrench set
- tweezers
- screwdriver set
- degreaser (like Simple Green)
- bicycle grease (like Finish Line)

Remove the pedal from the crank typically with a 15mm wrench. Then remove the dust cap. Some dust caps just pry off, some are held on with screws, others are threaded, and some just don't come off at all. Once the cap is off you will have access to the nut that holds the spindle in place. Remove this nut and remove the spindle.

From this stage you should be able to dismantle the rest of the pedal. For the Hercules it was 33 pieces in all. Inspect and replace any deformed ball bearings. Clean them in a degreasing solution and dry immediately to prevent rust. At this stage I clean up all the components. I polish any rusted or stained chrome with a bit of aluminum foil coated in dish soap.

Repack the cups (housings for the ball bearings) with fresh grease. Then insert the ball bearings into the cups with the tweezers. The grease should hold them in place while you fill the other side too.

When re-assembling the pedal, the correct amount of tension on the spindle against the ball bearings is crucial. Do not over or under tighten. It should be able to spin freely without any vibration or wobbling. Re-assemble the remaining parts and re-attach to the cranks. Note the threads are usually reversed on one side. Some are marked clearly on the pedal "L" & "R".

Make sure the pedals are tightly threaded onto the cranks and enjoy the smoother ride with less resistance.