PD-M324 Pedals - Are they shot?

[zenitb]

Right hand pedal running rough. Dismantled. See axle and cone below.
Put new balls in and pack them with grease?
Or chuck them in the bin?

[rjb]

Bin, but before you do chuck them up in an electric drill and using Emery paper grind out the worst of the pits. Rebuild and they will still be rough but you may get some more milage before you bin em and it doesn't cost you.

[Brucey]

they will work with new 3/32" balls (if necessary) and fresh grease. I have used worse (a lot worse) than that in that exact model of pedal. They won't be super smooth or anything but I doubt very much that they will fail suddenly and catastrophically either.

FWIW that damage was likely caused by

a) water ingress and/or
b) the bearings running slack or
c) with too much preload

obviously working out which it was ought to help avoid a recurrence.

The damage looks to have been there a while; the edges of the pits etc appear to rounded rather than sharp edged.

cheers

[zenitb]

Bin, but before you do chuck them up in an electric drill and using Emery paper grind out the worst of the pits. Rebuild and they will still be rough but you may get some more milage before you bin em and it doesn't cost you.

Ah ok rjb thanks .. glad I didnt chuck them then

[zenitb]

they will work with new 3/32" balls (if necessary) and fresh grease. I have used worse (a lot worse) than that in that exact model of pedal. They won't be super smooth or anything but I doubt very much that they will fail suddenly and catastrophically either.

FWIW that damage was likely caused by

a) water ingress and/or
b) the bearings running slack or
c) with too much preload

obviously working out which it was ought to help avoid a recurrence.

The damage looks to have been there a while; the edges of the pits etc appear to rounded rather than sharp edged.

cheers

Grease seemed ok with no signs of water ingress,pedal did seem a bit loose though. Because I have quite a few of these M324 pedals bought over the years its hard to work out when I bought this particular pair. However they have been on my "ride to work through the mud" bike for 3 winters, my tandem before that and probably my Galaxy tourer and or Cannondale mtb/tourer before that so its possible I have had them for 10-15 years. Because these M324s never seem to fail (until now) maybe I have got a bit blase.. I should really check/service all of them more often.

I have some new balls so I will build them back up again .. maybe marking the pedal in some way (sticker ?) so I can track the dodgey one..

[Brucey]

FWIW there is a manufacturing date mark on the pedals. If there is a different mark on every pair of pedals you will not only be able to work out which are the oldest but you will also be able to keep track of them. All you need to do is keep a note of which set is on which bike at which time.

One way you can do this is to send an email to yourself with key words in it (such as 'PD-M324') so that you will be able to find these notes by searching for the keyword later. Others might use a notebook; whatever suits.

BTW PD-M324 are odd inside; IIRC the number of balls required is different in each side of the pedal, 14 inboard, 17 outboard or something like that. If you ever forget the illustration in the EV techdoc is accurate and shows the correct number of balls in each bearing.

cheers

[Marcus Aurelius]

Re ball ‘em, re pack ‘em, I’ve seen worse.

[hoogerbooger]

Brucey is correct 17 on the outside, 14 inside.

[zenitb]

FWIW there is a manufacturing date mark on the pedals. If there is a different mark on every pair of pedals you will not only be able to work out which are the oldest but you will also be able to keep track of them. All you need to do is keep a note of which set is on which bike at which time.

One way you can do this is to send an email to yourself with key words in it (such as 'PD-M324') so that you will be able to find these notes by searching for the keyword later. Others might use a notebook; whatever suits.

BTW PD-M324 are odd inside; IIRC the number of balls required is different in each side of the pedal, 14 inboard, 17 outboard or something like that. If you ever forget the illustration in the EV techdoc is accurate and shows the correct number of balls in each bearing.

cheers

Genius!!! I never realised they were date coded...until now. Mystery solved..FE=May 2007 so almost 13 years old....lack of servicing over this time probably explains the worn state. In fact they have lasted pretty well given the above.

Good advice on pedal tracking...maybe a sheet of paper logging them by date code in my pedal/cleat box.

I just bought yet another pair in Decathlon and they are RI..so Sep 2019 by my reckoning...I am going to have to date all my pedals now!!

https://www.pedalpedlar.co.uk/blogs/blo ... date-codes

[zenitb]

Re ball ‘em, re pack ‘em, I’ve seen worse.

ok Marcus thanks for that..I was about to bin them...I am glad I posted the query now..

[zenitb]

Brucey is correct 17 on the outside, 14 inside.

thanks for the confirmation HoogerB..I have a pack from SJSC with exacly 62 balls..which is worrying since I cant afford to loose even one!!!!