big wheel pedal fix?

[ashman]

I bought my son a big wheel for christmas and I can't get one of the pedals to stay on.

They use these crappy little washers to hold it on:

Basically you insert the washer into the pedal then slide it over the pedal axle and tap it on tight with a hammer. The washer is supposed to allow the pedal to spin but keep it from sliding back off the axle but it doesn't grip tight enough to hold.

Anyone got any bright ideas on a solution?

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

Not sure on the size of the pedal shaft but collars are a great way to go.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#shaft-collars/=10lhddt

 

[nvrenuf]

What about burring up the shaft? Vise grips or something?

 

[ashman]

hmmm, that does look like a good solution. I'll have to see if there is any place local I could pick some up.

 

[ashman]

What about burring up the shaft? Vise grips or something?

I thought about trying to cut a groove around the shaft that the washer could "lock" into. similar concept I guess.

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

is there a way to tack weld washers on instead?

 

[ashman]

is there a way to tack weld washers on instead?

not really. The washer has to go in the middle of the pedal and the pedal has to be able to spin freely around it. Whatever solution I come up with has to be reasonably smooth or the pedal will get hung up on it.

The pedal covers the end of the shaft so no way to put something out there.

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

Ah so technically 1 washer goes on, slide pedal on,washer now inside of pedal and the other washer must be pushed inside the pedal to lock in?

 

[ashman]

Ah so technically 1 washer goes on, slide pedal on,washer now inside of pedal and the other washer must be pushed inside the pedal to lock in?

Not quite, but close. The washer in the pic in the original post goes into a slot in the pedal so when you slide the pedal over the shaft it tries to go through the washer. When you force the shaft through the washer it pushes the teeth of the washer out and they are supposed to hold tight to the shaft. When you put pressure on the pedal and it tries to push off of the shaft the teeth are supposed to dig in and hold, but in practice they don't hold well enough.

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

Oh jeebus. Why do they make this stuff so complicated? I had to open a bunch of presents for my little cousins on christmas and it was like building a satelite for nasa.

Do you have a pic of the pedal shaft/ pedal?

 

[ashman]

Not on me. I'll try to remember when I go home.

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

Yeah thatd be cool, then we can really brainstorm!

 

[big dan]

Cut the shaft off of the big wheel. Turn, polish and thread a new shaft on a lathe and tig weld it on. Cut new pedals out of billet aluminum on a cnc machine and bore them for tapered roller bearings. Attach them to the shaft with locking spindle nuts and chrome caps.

Probly more time and money than what youve got in the big wheel but your kid would have the smoothest and sweetest pedals on the block.

 

[ashman]

The washer goes into that slot in the middle of the pedal, then the shaft gets pushed through the pedal and the washer.

 

[ashman]

Cut the shaft off of the big wheel. Turn, polish and thread a new shaft on a lathe and tig weld it on. Cut new pedals out of billet aluminum on a cnc machine and bore them for tapered roller bearings. Attach them to the shaft with locking spindle nuts and chrome caps.

Probly more time and money than what youve got in the big wheel but your kid would have the smoothest and sweetest pedals on the block.

Sounds badass. Maybe I'll hold off on that until after he gets tires that aren't made out of plastic.

 

[rebelgregory]

^Lol.

I was also going to say shaft collars. But if you don't have a store locally that would carry them, go to lowes or HD and get a set of drill bit stops. Same thing. Way cheap.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/General-Tools-Drill-Stop-Set-7-Piece-S838/100176201

 

[rebelgregory]

Well, the pics aren't what I was expecting. I thought the lock washer was on the end. I still thing shaft collar, but you might have to clearance the pedal with a dremel or something.

 

[ashman]

Yeah, the hole is narrow, but I might be able to find a collar that would work. I think the bit stops will be too thick.
Gonna try cutting a groove first I think. Won't keep me from trying something else if it doesn't work

 

[ktmoutfront]

Cut a groove where needed to the correct size of an E clip. Slide pedal on, insert E clip. Enjoy. Then it needs and engine mounted on the back.

 

[blazinzuk]

Can you flatten the washer some. If it's too loose cutting a groove will make it worse.