Fixed a stripped pedal thread with a piece of a soda can

A customer brought in a steel frame with the left pedal thread totally stripped, and we were out of helicoil kits. I cut a small strip from an aluminum can, wrapped it around the pedal spindle, and cranked it in with a ton of grease. It held tight enough for a test ride around the block, and the guy hasn't been back in three months. Has anyone else tried this, or is it just a ticking time bomb?

2 comments

2 Comments

bettykim9d ago

That aluminum can trick has saved my shop a dozen times.

mia_park9d ago

My buddy runs a small bike repair spot and his floor drain kept clogging with grease and metal bits. He was about to call a plumber, which would have cost him a whole day's profit. Then he remembered the can trick, cut one up into strips, and fished out a huge wad of gunk in like ten minutes. He said it was the most satisfying and cheap fix he ever did.