[Vitamin G]

Should there be a washer between the pedal and crank arm? I have a washer in this position on my mtn bike (from factory that way) but not on my road bike.

The reason I ask is I installed a new crankset on my road bike. Old FSA crank did not have washers. New crank is Shimano. Pedals are Shimano.

What is the consensus on a washer between the pedal and the crankarm?

Thanks,

G.

 

[tihsepa]

Nah, especially if the pedal has a flange that acts like a washer.

I have one crank with pedal washers. Its carbon though, and I cant really tell you why there are washers there.

 

[Eyorerox]

Only if you want to increase Q factor, or for adjusting for knee problems

 

[ziscwg]

My Force (carbon) cranks came with washers, so I use them.

Now oddly enough, my mtb cranks (Al) from RaceFace came with them too.

 

[mann2]

+1 for no washers... q factor settings aside.

 

[kbwh]

Some pedals come with clear instructions that washers shall never be used since the threaded part of the axle already is as short as safely possible.

 

[PlatyPius]

The washers are for pedals that don't have a flange. Non-flanged pedals tend to act like dull milling machines - they can tear the crap out of crank arms. The washers protect the crank arms; that's their only function.