Brompton folding pedal bearing - can I clean it?

[benjy_a]

So this crappy weather has finally taken it's toll on my poor little Brompton. Even with regular cleaning the bearing in the folding pedal sounds like it's got 10 tonnes of grit inside it. Today it was seized totally until I jetted half a can of WD40 into it!

Question - is there any way to dismantle and clean out the bearing or do I need a whole new pedal?

Ben

 

[Old_Dave]

What man put together ... man can take apart

However... the parts / tools / time / equipment and skills required may mean that the cost of repairing could be 10 times the expense of just replacing.

 

[benjy_a]

Yes but....Replacement Brompton folding left hand aluminium pedal

£28.50 for a bloomin pedal! Ouch....may just go with a non folding and put up with it digging into people on the train

 

[Old_Dave]

Yes but ... very pretty

Maybe this ..

FOLDING CYCLE BIKE PEDALS DAHON BROMPTON ETC | eBay

 

[benjy_a]

Yes but ... very pretty

Maybe this ..

FOLDING CYCLE BIKE PEDALS DAHON BROMPTON ETC | eBay

Thanks for that Dave, something to consider. What I don't really get is why Brompton have used such a poorly sealed bearing. It's not particularly worn as far as I can tell, it has just let in a load of road gunk. Really think Brompton have failed on this one.

 

[Old_Dave]

What I don't really get is why Brompton have used such a poorly sealed bearing

All bearings are equal.... but some are more equal than others, lol

 

[RobF]

WD40 contains solvent and is not a very good lubricant.

Now the bearing is spinning freely it's worth lightly lubing it with a thin oil.

 

[benjy_a]

WD40 contains solvent and is not a very good lubricant.

Now the bearing is spinning freely it's worth lightly lubing it with a thin oil.

Cheers Rob, yes after the WD40 I soaked in in teflon bike lube...it'll do for now but I can't see it lasting much longer :-(

 

[RobF]

Cheers Rob, yes after the WD40 I soaked in in teflon bike lube...it'll do for now but I can't see it lasting much longer :-(

You can't do a lot more.

I have a Brommie and they are good, sturdy bikes, but some of the finishing kit is not the best quality.

Spares, as you have discovered, are the same as the bike in one respect - expensive.

 

[shemozzle999]

Remove the pedal from the bike, carefully break off the tip of a craft knife blade and dull the edge of the remaining blade, ease the broken tip under the rubber seal on the inner race and then run it around like a tyre lever until the seal is free.
Re-grease the bearing and re-fit the old seal.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Is this any help? Look at the last post:
Brompton folding pedal bearings | Cycle Chat Cycling Forums