Recently, we have been consistently visiting the factories where SimWorks products are manufactured. There, various machines of an array of sizes and generation perform a symphony of modern manufacturing; but many processes are carried out by people utilizing their capable hands.

It often goes unspoken, but it is deeply moving to see something being made exactly as specified in a blueprint, not just in some far flung mecca of industry, but by human hands, eyes, experience, and a variety of time tested techniques, surprisingly close to our homes.

The other day, we visited the factory of Mr. Mikashima, who is working with us as SimWorks by MKS to produce our various pedal models. We produced a short movie of our visit that we’d be pleased to have you check out.

Pedals that require human hands

Inspired by the craftsmen infusing our products with their experience, we decided to update the Taco Pedal. It’s a minor update that can’t be seen from the outside, but it’s an important change. The bearing part of the pedal axle is now a high polish specification.

The Taco Pedal rotates on a cup and cone type bearing. The bearing and the cup that receives the bearing are polished to a shiny high polish. (The following photos compare the high polish with the conventional product. The left side of all the photos is the new polished Taco Pedal, and you can see that it is more polished providing a surface for greater precision to your bearing adjustment.)

And while up until now, the ball bearings were all screwed in uniformly by machine, the high polish adds an additional process where the adjustment is made by hand.

These two processes improve the rotational performance. This is the same specification as the NJS pedals for Keirin racers.

Even in the manufacturing of automobiles, the final quality check is done by touching the parts with the hands of experienced inspectors. It seems that no machine can match the precision and speed of the various sensory mechanisms that humans possess and the brain that processes them. The senses of each individual craftsman are also put to good use in the manufacturing of pedals.

Bearing load adjustment

Compared to the Bubbly Pedal, which has three sealed bearings pressed into it, the Cup and Cone Taco Pedal has slightly lower rotational performance, but because of it’s cup and cone construction, the pedals can be disassembled for maintenance. (Bubbly Pedals cannot be disassembled for maintenance.)

Not only can you disassemble and clean the assembly if rain or dust gets in and it becomes sluggish, but you can also adjust the ball contact and amount of grease to suit your preferences.

To adjust the ball contact, use a dedicated tool (that we offer) for removing MKS pedal caps, along with a 6mm Allen key, a 12mm wrench, and a 15mm socket wrench.

Whether it’s the highly precise assembly by the skilled workers at our Mikashima factory in Saitama, assembly by a professional mechanic, or the more DIY assembly approach where you take it apart and adjust it yourself- the more you familiarize yourself with the process of adjusting and maintaining your pedals, the more you will appreciate their serviceability and longevity.