Service footpegs and foot pedals

Home mechanic (basic tools) · Time: 20 to 45 min (estimate) (estimate)

Footpegs carry your weight and the brake pedal stops the rear wheel. A stiff brake pedal that does not return can keep the brake dragging and the brake light on. A loose peg can twist under your foot. This job cleans, greases and tightens pegs and the brake pedal pivot, and checks for bends and cracks.

Safety

• After any brake pedal work, the rear brake must work and the brake light must go off when you release the pedal.
• Do not straighten a bent brake pedal or gear lever: fit a new one. Bent metal can crack and snap later.

You need

• Spanners, a torque wrench, grease, new split pins.
• Bolt values for your bike. K-Light 125: footrest bolt M10 × 1.25: 45 to 50 N·m; pedal bolt M8 × 25: 22 to 29 N·m; M6 × 25 bolts: 10 to 12 N·m. Identify each bolt by size before using a value.

Steps: footpegs

1. Try to twist each rider and passenger peg. Movement means a loose mounting bolt.
2. Folding pegs: they should fold up and spring back down. Check the hinge pin and its split pin or clip. Grease the pin; fit a new split pin.
3. Check the rubbers are in place and the peg is not bent or cracked at the mounting.
4. Tighten mounting bolts to the bike's value.

Steps: brake pedal

1. Press the pedal and let go. It must return fully and quickly against its stop.
2. Disconnect the return spring and the brake rod or master cylinder pushrod (note the pin and split pin).
3. Remove the pivot bolt. Clean the bolt and the pedal bore. Look for wear (an oval hole).
4. Grease and refit. Fit the spring and the rod with a new split pin.
5. Set pedal height and free play: Adjust the rear brake pedal or Adjust a drum brake. K-Light 125 rear pedal free play: 20 to 30 mm.
6. Check the rear brake light switch: light on with a light press, off when released (Test and adjust the brake light switches).

Steps: gear lever and kickstart lever

• Gear lever: check the clamp bolt on the shaft and the linkage joints. See Check the gear lever and shift linkage.
• Kickstart lever: it should fold and return. Internal faults: Check the kickstart mechanism.

Check your work

• Pegs tight and folding correctly. Pedal returns fully, brake works, light goes off.

If it did not fix the problem

• Pedal still travels too far: Rear brake pedal travels too far.
• Cracked bracket: Crack in the frame or a bracket.

Reference values (K-Light 125)