Maybe the problem is the quality of certain pedals and washers. To use one
common example, I'm looking at an old Campy pedal right now. The keyed washer is pretty thick (1.5 mm.) and actually fits into a recess in the bac k of the cone. I've never had these lock up together and the washer is definitel y too thick to ride up into the very fine threads. However, Campy components
were always very carefully machined. They were also often copied by other
manufacturers. And maybe this is where the problems come in - not in the b asic design.
To use another example, on a set of Lyotard pedals the keyed washer is even
thicker (2.0 mm.). These are not nearly as nicely machined pedal parts as Campy, and in my experience the steel was always softer. Still, I've never had a problem with any Lyotard pedals either and I've used many of them over th e years.
Bob Hanson, Albuquerque, NM USA
____________________________________
George Jones wrote:
Has anyone considered the shapes of the washer tooth and keyway in the success of this design? While servicing pedals, where itâs difficul t to hold the cone while removing the retaining nut, Iâve found the cone, washer, and retaining nut frozen together. With enough force the washer tooth rides over the threads with all three backing off the axle together, damaging the threads in the process. On examining the washer it appeared to be punch pressed of soft metal with the tooth too short and edges rounded. The keyway was cut very shallow. I havenât had t his problem where two good wrenches can be applied, with a liberal use of penetrating oil and heat. With my limited experience, Iâm not qualified to opine which is the best design, with or without keyways and washer teeth. Iâll leave that to the engineers and those whoâ ve worked on hundreds more bikes than I have. It does seem to me that poorly cut keyways and washer teeth are worse than none. My $0.02
George Jones Dallas, TX