Cleat some help?

[Pipsqueak]

With Candy's the 1 and 2 series pedals use an outer ball-bearing and inner nylon bush. On the 3 series and top-of-range 11 series pedals they use the outer ball-bearing and an inner needle-roller. My LBS warned me that these needle roller bearings often spew bits of roller around the inside of the pedal when they fail and this damages other parts.

I was advised to go with the 2 series pedals - stronger materials of construction and with the more reliable bearing system seems to give best value if you go with CB pedals.

This is exactly right. Sometimes a simple bush does a better job than a needle bearing. This is exactly what bushes are designed for. My needle bearings actually pitted the axle in little strips.

[JXV]

My needle bearings actually pitted the axle in little strips.

I suspect you had water/mud in your pedals for a while. The spindle and needle rollers are different metals so could have initiated some galvanic corrosion. one thing I have learned about CB pedals is REGULAR GREASING.

 

I use a little grease gun with an injector nozzle. CB makes a greasing adapter. You take the end cap off the pedal, fit the adapter, inject grease till the old stuff is flushed out thru the seal at the spindle, then refit the end cap and good to go for a while.

Also, do not overtighten the little nylock nut when fitting new bearings. It is only to locate them on the shaft. The pedal body may still feel loose at this stage. Preload and alignment is supplied by the dustcap. Their manual that comes with the rebuild kit does not explain this very well....and I suspect this is the cause of a lot of bearing failures and bad rep.