Took the pedals on a first ride today. Wattage seems accurate and smooth, and compared nicely to the G3 I was also running. The problem is that I noticed the pedals were really tight right out of the box. In other words, if you try to spin the pedal, it only rotates about a quarter turn. After a two hour ride it didn't seem any different. I spoke to Garmin and they sent me the manual which explained in detail how to take them apart. I dismantled each pedal and upon inspection of the spindle, it seemed like there is excessive friction against the internal bearing. I re-assembled them and torqued the left pedal to 6.5 instead of 7 pounds as recommended ...the right I had to estimate as it is reverse threaded. The whole process takes a little over 10 minutes a pedal. The end result is that they now rotate about a half a turn if I try to spin them. It is an improvement, but it really seems like they are too tight, and possibly a waste of watts. I have never ridden with a pedal that didn't spin like a top. ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1267681.png
Just to provide more user experience - after about 15hr riding. The pedals do have some resistance to rotation which differs between left and right. The right pedal will rotate under its own weight -slowly. The left will not. Can’t imagine any nominal wattage required to overcome this static friction is at all significant, just glad to find my pedals are behaving as they should (or at least the same as others seem to be). That said, I’m not sure why there should be a difference between right and left.
Mine are just like Ray's in the video. The first turn out of box was stiff but after a couple of turns they now gently self right over a half second or so. They don't spin as freely as some pedals, they certainly aren't worse than my Look Keo carbon pedals though, probably a bit better.
danygeller Thanks for posting the video. The seal resistance from one pedal to the other might be a bit different but the pedal drag will still be less than a ¼ watt total. There is no need to replace the set.
I'm really pleased with my Vector 3's, and the consistency and accuracy of the power output appears to be very good, but they seem really stiff; they don't freely spin at all and you can actually screw them into the crank by holing the pedal. They were like this out of the box. I had a Vector 2S before this, and it was loads freer. Anyone else got the same - I just want to see if it is normal...? (must lose a couple of watts just turning them!). Thanks.
I just want to see if it is normal...? (must lose a couple of watts just turning them!). Thanks.
Noel, I moved your post to an existing thread on this topic. You should see things loosen up but it will take some riding. You will also generally find that spinning the pedals a few times by hand will free up the seal stiction, but (as detailed in this thread) the power loss is negligible whether you do that, or not.
