Candy pedals and allen wrench question

[Uncle Leo]

I just replaced my Shimano 520s with a set of Crank Bros Candy SLs.
The 520s had the nice squarish bolt on the spindle that I could latch onto with my pedal wrench.
But the Candys (Candies?) have a perfectly round spindle, so I have to use the 6mm allen wrench opening on the inside of the crank arm.
I put them on and they're fine for now, but I feel like I can't get a very good grip on the allen wrench connection. I've tried all 3 6mm wrenches I found at home, all of them seemed to slip pretty easily although the overall size is correct (my pedal instructions say 6mm, and it fits snug until I try to torque it). I'm sure my pedals are on tight enough but I don't see how I'd ever be able to get enough torque to get them off again without the pedal wrench option, after they tighten up from pedaling.

Am I missing something? Do I need a higher quality set of alllen wrenches or something?

By the way these pedals are brand new so there's no crud in the spindle.

Thanks for any help!

[Heuy]

I would lean towards better 6mm allen wrenches. I have the regular eggbeater version of that pedal and took them off to use on another bike this spring. Didn't slip the head although they do definetly tighten up after riding.

Plus its another excuse to have more tools.

[cheese4brains]

I can't explain your specific problem. I have no such problems with the 1 Candy and 3 beaters I have with the same configuration. I would, however, highly recommend getting a 6mm Allen wrench socket adapter. Assuming you already have a socket wrench set, it'll allow you to use a longer handled wrench and get better leverage putting them on and taking them off. I haven't ever had problems putting them on, but taking them off can be a bear even though I grease them beforehand. A cheap torque wrench can be had, too, at Harbor Freight and Tool. They have stores in the cities, and here's their website:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=807

[Uncle Leo]

A socket adapter is a great idea - thanks.

[steef]

It doesn't hurt to get a few other sizes of metric allen sockets, too. They're oh so useful for any bike wrenching.

[Uncle Leo]

So far I'm 0/2 at hardware stores finding an allen wrench socket converter.
I did pick up a 6mm "T" allen wrench which should be a lot better than what I have. I'll try it out later today.

[soupboy]

You really don't need pedals to be on all that tight. Shoot, hand snug should be sufficient...maybe plus an 1/8 of a turn with a wrench.

They will not back out - that's why they are threaded the way they are.

[steef]

The socket adapters I have are Craftsman from Sears.

[Don Youngdahl]

But the Candys (Candies?) have a perfectly round spindle, so I have to use the 6mm allen wrench opening on the inside of the crank arm.


Another example of a perfectly good product design, significantly compromised by an oversight or cost cutting measure on a small detail. How much extra would it have cost to machine the flats for a pedal wrench wrench?

Don Youngdahl

[jitterjepp]

Another example of a perfectly good product design, significantly compromised by an oversight or cost cutting measure on a small detail. How much extra would it have cost to machine the flats for a pedal wrench wrench?

Don YoungdahlMy tyme peddles need allen wrenches and they get so worked in that I only take them off for a special occasion because I end up busing two wrenches then taking it to the shop and they bust a wrench and I have to pay for that one too. Setting them up for a normal peddle wrench would have been nice.