How Do I Remove Bike Pedals? Step-by-Step Guide

Knowing how to remove bike pedals is a useful skill for any cyclist or e-bike rider. Whether you are upgrading your setup, packing your bike for travel, or replacing a worn bicycle pedal, understanding how to take pedals off a bike makes maintenance quick and stress free. This guide covers the tools, the correct technique for both sides of the crank, and the details that stop beginners from stripping threads.

Tools You Need to Remove Bike Pedals

Removing bike pedals or changing a bicycle pedal starts with using the right tools. Forcing a pedal with the wrong wrench is a common way to damage a crank or pedal thread. Before you begin, gather the following.

15mm Spanner or Adjustable Wrench: ideal for most standard flat pedal spindles. Choose a thin, well fitted wrench, since a thick one can slip off the flats.
8mm or 6mm Hex (Allen) Key: needed for pedals with a hex socket, common on modern platform and clipless designs. A long handled or T shaped key gives better leverage.
Grease or Anti Seize Lubricant: prevents pedals from seizing in the crank. Chain lube and general oils are too thin to do this job.
Penetrating Oil: worth keeping on hand if a pedal has not been removed for a long time or shows rust. Apply it to the thread junction and let it soak for fifteen minutes before applying force.
Optional Extras: a pedal washer if required, a cloth to protect the floor, and a length of pipe for stubborn pedals.

If you need a replacement part for an isinwheel model, you can browse replacement parts. This applies whether you are servicing a road bike, a mountain bike, or an e-bike.

Understand Left and Right Bike Pedals

Before you learn how to take pedals off a bike, it helps to understand why left and right pedals are not interchangeable. Each side uses different threading to stay tight while you ride, and fitting a pedal on the wrong side can damage the threads within seconds.

Right (Driveside) Pedal

The right pedal sits on the driveside, the side with the chain and gears. It uses standard threading, so it tightens clockwise and loosens counterclockwise, working with the motion of pedaling to keep it tight rather than against it.

Tightens: clockwise, by hand first, then with a spanner or hex key.
Loosens: counterclockwise, with the spindle turning toward the rear of the bike.
Common mistake: forcing the pedal in with tools before it is hand tight, which cross threads the crank.

Left (Non Driveside) Pedal

The left pedal sits opposite the chain and uses reverse threading, tightening counterclockwise and loosening clockwise. This exists specifically to stop the left pedal from working loose during normal pedaling.

Tightens: counterclockwise, by hand first, then with a spanner or hex key.
Loosens: clockwise, with the spindle turning toward the front of the bike.
Common mistake: skipping the hand threading step, which usually ends in a stripped thread.

How to Identify Left and Right Pedals

Most pedals are clearly marked, and there are three reliable ways to check which side you are holding.

Stamped Letters: look for an L for left or R for right, usually on the spindle end or the pedal body.
Textured or Coloured Markings: some brands use a raised texture or a coloured ring near the wrench flats so you can identify the side by touch.
Thread Direction: a right hand thread slopes upward to the right, a left hand thread slopes upward to the left, which works even if stamped markings have worn smooth.

How to Take Pedals Off a Bike: Step by Step

Once you have the right tools and know which side is which, removing bike pedals is a five minute job. Follow these steps for both the right and left pedal.

Step 1: Protect Your Hands and Steady the Bike

Shift the chain onto the largest chainring to keep the teeth out of the way. Rest the bike on a repair stand if you have one, or lean it securely against a wall.

Step 2: Position the Crank

For the right pedal, rotate the crank forward to the three o'clock position. For the left pedal, rotate it to nine o'clock. This gives you the most leverage without slipping off the tool.

Step 3: Fit Your Tool

Select a 15mm spanner for flat wrench pedals, or an 8mm or 6mm hex key for a socket style spindle, and seat it fully before you push. A half seated tool is the main cause of rounded spindles and skinned knuckles.

Step 4: Loosen the Pedal

Apply steady, even pressure rather than a sudden jerk.

Right pedal: loosens counterclockwise, toward the rear of the bike.
Left pedal: loosens clockwise, toward the front of the bike.
Always push in the direction the crank naturally resists, so the leverage works with your body weight instead of against it.

Step 5: Add Leverage or Oil if the Pedal Will Not Move

Old grease, dirt, or light corrosion can lock a pedal in place. Try one of the following rather than forcing an awkward angle, which is what actually bends a spindle.

Slide a length of pipe over the spanner to extend your leverage.
Brace the tool with your foot while holding the opposite crank arm steady.
Apply penetrating oil to the thread junction and wait before trying again.

Step 6: Unscrew by Hand and Check the Threads

Once the pedal starts to turn freely, finish removing it by hand rather than with the tool. This protects the thread from cross threading in the final turns. Wipe the crank arm threads clean, check for dirt or grit, and apply a thin layer of grease or anti seize lubricant before fitting a new pedal.

How to Change or Fit New Bike Pedals

Fitting new pedals uses the same principles in reverse, with a little extra preparation to stop the new pedal from seizing later.

Step 1: Prepare the Pedals and Cranks

Clean the threads on both the pedal spindles and the crank arms before you start. Apply a thin layer of grease or anti seize lubricant, and fit a pedal washer first if your crankset calls for one.

Step 2: Fit the Right (Driveside) Pedal

Thread the right pedal in by hand, turning clockwise, until it stops against the crank face. Once hand tight, use a spanner or hex key to snug it further. If you have a torque wrench, most manufacturers recommend around 35 to 50 Nm, though you should check the figure for your specific pedal.

Step 3: Fit the Left (Non Driveside) Pedal

Thread the left pedal in by hand, turning counterclockwise, to avoid cross threading. Once hand tight, secure it and spin the pedal by hand. It should turn freely with no wobble, confirming it is seated correctly.

Removing Clipless Bike Pedals

Clipless pedals use the same left and right threading rules as flat pedals, but the tool differs by system.

Two bolt (SPD) mountain bike pedals: remove the pedal body with an 8mm hex key inserted into the back of the spindle.
Three bolt road pedals (Look, Shimano SPD-SL, Time): remove the same way as a standard flat pedal, using a 15mm spanner on the outer flats.
Because the hex socket sits recessed on most clipless designs, a long handled or T shaped key gives far better grip than a folding multi tool.

Tips and Common Mistakes When Changing Bike Pedals

A few habits separate a smooth pedal swap from a damaged crank.

Double check left and right before you thread anything in, since the wrong side will cross thread within a couple of turns.
Never skip the grease or anti seize step, as it is the easiest way to stop a future pedal from seizing.
Always hand thread the first few turns, letting tools take over only once the pedal is running true.
Use a pipe extension or penetrating oil for stuck pedals rather than forcing an awkward angle.
Working through your maintenance list? Pair this with our how to adjust bike brakes guide next.

FAQs

How do I remove pedals from my bike?

Fit a 15mm spanner or the correct hex key onto the spindle, hold the opposite crank arm steady, apply firm pressure in the loosening direction for that side, and unscrew the rest by hand once it starts to turn.

How do you take pedals off a bike without damaging the crank?

Always hand thread the last few turns in both directions, never force a pedal at an angle, and use penetrating oil rather than extra force if a pedal feels seized.

Which way should I turn pedals to remove?

The right, driveside pedal loosens counterclockwise. The left, non driveside pedal loosens clockwise, since it uses reverse threading to stop it working loose while you ride.

Are bike pedals righty tighty, lefty loosey?

Only on the right side. The left pedal is reverse threaded, so it tightens counterclockwise and loosens clockwise.

Are all bicycle pedals removable?

Yes, almost all pedals on modern bicycles and e-bikes are designed to be removed for servicing or upgrades. Most use a 15mm spanner or an 8mm hex key, though very old or unusual designs may need a specialist tool.