Tighten those cleat bolts people

[earth]

1+ for greasing the threads.

Mine rusted into the nuts and refused to undo. I attempted it but only managed to loosen the nut in the sole of the shoe. But this allowed the cleat to move about while riding. By then it was impossible to tighten it back up again.

I have just had a month of emailing Specialized in an effort to get new nuts (t-nuts) for the shoe. Specialized said if I were in the US they would post me some but as I am in the UK I had to ask the LBS who had to contact the supplier, who only had 4 left!! I had to drill out the previous bolts before I could get the nuts out and fit new ones. Now I have to wait for more nuts to arrive at the supplier before I can fix the other shoe. When they arrive I am going to buy 2 sets.

Now you would think the supplier would keep a stock of these. Do they expect people to buy new shoes just because the bolts have rusted into the nuts???

 

[chris-s]

Do they expect people to buy new shoes just because the bolts have rusted into the nuts???

Of course, it's called 'repeat business'



Chris

 

[Scoosh]

Worst thing I have found is stones getting into the screw head. Great fun getting them out again

I use a little bit of silicone sealant in the head - stops the stones etc getting in there and easy to remove when checking/ tightening the bolts

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I use a little bit of silicone sealant in the head - stops the stones etc getting in there and easy to remove when checking/ tightening the bolts

Good idea. Will try and remember that when I next fit new cleats / get new shoes

 

[Fiona N]

I use a little bit of silicone sealant in the head - stops the stones etc getting in there and easy to remove when checking/ tightening the bolts

Indeed a good idea - I'll apply that tomorrow as I've just fit a new set of cleats to new shoes so may as well start as we mean to go on...

 

[Nebulous]

Hmmm

I only started with cleats in January - Shimano spd-sls on Specialized shoes. I've hardly looked at them in the interim - but have just changed them due to wear on the cleats. The bolts have never moved in that 8 months or so, came out fairly readily and the new ones screwed in with no problem. The old bolts and small metal fitting plates were black, and the new ones appear to be stainless steel.

It appears I still have a lot to learn. Bikes take more maintenance than I had imagined. My old one rarely needed anything, but then it did about 250 miles a year. I'm now doing that in a fortnight!

 

[martint235]

Hmmm

I only started with cleats in January - Shimano spd-sls on Specialized shoes. I've hardly looked at them in the interim - but have just changed them due to wear on the cleats. The bolts have never moved in that 8 months or so, came out fairly readily and the new ones screwed in with no problem. The old bolts and small metal fitting plates were black, and the new ones appear to be stainless steel.

It appears I still have a lot to learn. Bikes take more maintenance than I had imagined. My old one rarely needed anything, but then it did about 250 miles a year. I'm now doing that in a fortnight!

You got 8 months wear out of SPD-SLs???? I used to use Look Keo and was lucky if I got two months out of a set, more often than not I'd change them every month rather than risk a worn set on a FNRttC.