New Raleigh Motus Grand Tour delivered but I cannot put the pedals on - help!

[HarryHunt]

New Raleigh Motus Grand Tour delivered but I cannot put the pedals on as I cannot see any L or R on them and they do not seem to want to gently scre onto either crank!!!!! Am I being an idiot??

 

[soundwave]

they should screw on easy with no force required sounds like they have been cross threaded so check the thread on the cranks for any damage

 

[HarryHunt]

they should screw on easy with no force required sounds like they have been cross threaded so check the thread on the cranks for any damage

Thanks I have not put any pressure on but there is no indication of left or right? is that normal?

 

[soundwave]

they will be just cheap pedals so should not matter as had no l-r on the cheap ones i have had.

 

[Nev]

Thanks I have not put any pressure on but there is no indication of left or right? is that normal?

If you tried one of them and it did not seem to want to screw in, did you swop it for the other one and try that? They each have different threads which is why they are usually labelled L and R, but as SW says the cheaper ones often don't.

 

[HarryHunt]

Thanks yes tried that as well - but good point about the cheap ones - thanks folks!

 

[Andy-Mat]

New Raleigh Motus Grand Tour delivered but I cannot put the pedals on as I cannot see any L or R on them and they do not seem to want to gently scre onto either crank!!!!! Am I being an idiot??

The LH pedal has a Left hand thread. That is the opposite to a normal screw.
The RH pedal has a normal RH thread, "Righty tighty".
They should not require any unusual force to screw in, provided you have the correct pedal in the correct hole and you have not caused damage already.
Do not over tighten!
Check both threads on the pedals, by lying one pedal on the other and observing both the threads carefully, just to make sure they are opposite to each other and you have not got a set with two the same.

Or simply put a clear photo here and many will tell you which is which. Check the photos below, the second one is for repairing damaged threads.
The worst thing you can do is to over tighten, especially as they tighten in use.
You are not the first here to have that problem.
regards
Andy

 

[HarryHunt]

Thanks Andy much appreciated.
Tom

 

[RobF]

Some pedals are marked by having knurls on the shaft of one, but not the other.

The left non-drive side pedal is the one with knurls, the other pedal has a smooth shaft.

 

[Stumac62]

Hi. I had the same issue with cheap pedals (no indication of left or right). Much time and patience, with a light touch trying to 'get them going' on the thread eventually achieved success. But if not wanting to risk damage - get to a bike shop. Hope you get out on your new bike soon. Let us know what you think of it please.

Stu.

 

[Phil Dryden]

The trick is to turn the pedal screw BACKWARDS at first, (ie unscrewing), when fitting until you feel the pedal "give" - it will sort of click as the beginning of the screw on the pedal meets the beginning of the corresponding screw thread aperture in the crank arm. You know then that the threads are exactly ready to engage. Then keep it perfectly level and slowly turn it FORWARDS (ie to screw the pedal onto the crank). The threads should engage immediately unless they are damaged. Make all threads are clean and greased. A bit of patience, and fingers only until the pedal is well engaged. Good luck.