Pedal Washers ?

[!TREK4ME!]

Hey Guys,
Was just wandering...
Some of my bikes came with pedal washers and some do not have pedal washers. What I'm talking about is the washer that fits between the crank and where the pedal threads on.
Are they needed? or not?
Thanks

[DaveM]

I think I have only ever seen washers between the pedals and cranks on a few very low end bikes. Generally they would seem to be a bad idea as the worst thing you can have at that joint is any movement between the two parts. Having a washer just adds more pieces and places for play to occur. The only reason I can think of to have them is if the crank material is particularly soft or the flange on the pedal is particularly small so you get the pedal grinding up the surface of the crank arm excessively.

In general, no you do not want washers here. Though if they came from the factory on a particular bike, there may be a good reason for it and I would not take them out. Which bikes have the washers?

[!TREK4ME!]

I can only recall a Trek 4900 MTB cranks(3 piece) having the pedal washers. Everything else is washerless. Of course, I haven't seen any one piece cranks with washers... just 3 piece. Was just wandering...
Thanks Dave