Searching for hex nut for spindle pedal

Question

2 months ago I bought a pair pedals of VP Components VP-007. They stared squeaking when rotating. I've opened them to see what going inside, a lot of grease was accumulated at one place and spread it across the spindle fixed first pedal. The second have problems with the hex nut holding the spindle. It's a reverse threads and they were damaged (It was rotating at one place). After carefully pushing and pulling the spindle the hex nut comes out. I went to local bike shops, services, hardware stores, but they didn't find exact the same hex nut.

I've contacted the local shop where I bought the pedals showing photos and explaining the situation - they didn't help. Also the manufacturer VP Components told me that they never had such model VP-007 and it's possible to be a fake product (I also showed them pictures of the pedals).

Why I'm writing this whole story, because one hex nut with price not more than a dollar fu*ked up a pedal with price around $80 (which is quite expensive for me).

And I'm searching for that da*n hex nut. I can't provide the exact specifics for the hex nut, but it seems to respond on M6 (size here is a chart https://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/server300/9376c/products/14718/images/14557/692824__37617.1489405294.1280.1280.jpg?c=2)

So far I found:

• Spindle from AliExpress, but they didn't sell the nut separatly
  • A lot of results comes out for M6 nut, but can anyone fit ¯\(ツ)/¯
• https://chromagbikes.com/products/pedal-axle-kit
• not sure whether they sell only the hexagons (maybe I could ask them, but the delivery will be something like $20 )

Here are some images

Answer 1

So you need a left-hand thread nut, and possibly a locknut to suit the thread pitch on your spindle, whatever that may be.

Buying nuts and bolts at a retail shop is expensive, and they generally have only standard sizes. Since you need a reverse/left hand thread you're already out of their league.

I've had excellent results using a specialist nut/bolt supplier. Downside is they tend to deal in wholesale quantities, and one-off are often "beneath" them. The trick is to do as much pre-work as possible, and present it as a "challenge"

Google up "how to measure a thread" and use a micrometer or at least calipers to get exact measurements. You'll need to figure out the thread pitch too, which means a thread gauge in metric and imperial, or some very careful counting to get a "Turns Per Inch" or metric equivalent.

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If the bolt shop can't help, you might need to get one made. Downside, the commercial rate on hand-made parts could exceed the replacement cost of the pedal.

So try for a hobbiest machinist. Making a nut is straight forward especially if the right size of hex-stock is available. The problem comes in finding a left-handed tap of exactly the specs you need.

Or your machinist might choose to single-point cut the thread, which needs a thread-cutting lathe and a particularly small boring bar.

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There may be a bike cooperative who has spare pedals and parts etc in bins. Ask around and see if there's anything like that in your area.

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Ultimately your worst case is a replacement pedal.