Removing worn SPD cleats

[fossyant]

Its a common issue. Always worth regular backing off and tightening.. reminds me both my mtb shoes have stones in the bolt heads.

 

[Tim Hall]

Its a common issue. Always worth regular backing off and tightening.. reminds me both my mtb shoes have stones in the bolt heads.

Fill the heads with silicone sealant or hot melt glue to stop foreign objects getting in. Pick it out with a suitable sharp thing when you want to undo them.

 

[Maz]

Update : I picked out all the compressed grit using a jeweller's screwdriver and there was enough purchase with the Allen key to unscrew the bolts. Not bad considering the cleats were 10 years old. New cleats greased and fitted. Silicone sealant applied in the heads to stop grit getting in in future.
Many thanks all!

 

[cyberknight]

thats a good idea , i would think you need to keep checking it to make sure it doesnt wear off ?

 

[mrandmrspoves]

thats a good idea , i would think you need to keep checking it to make sure it doesnt wear off ?

Not particularly because it is inset. I tend to pick it out once a year. Undo the bolts, reapply Copperease (I have about 3 tins to use up!) and then reapply silicone.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Put grease on the threads of the new cleats when you attach them.

I tend to pick it out once a year. Undo the bolts, reapply Copperease (I have about 3 tins to use up!) and then reapply silicone.

I advocate the use of light or medium lockthread on cleat bolts. You really don't want them coming undone except when you need to replace. What would one put grease on for? The cleats are there for (their) life. I routinely clean my cleats (at the same time as the shoes), including picking out any mud or other from the bolt heads/surround plates as necessary, rather than leaving it till Christmas.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I advocate the use of light or medium lockthread on cleat bolts. You really don't want them coming undone except when you need to replace. What would one put grease on for? The cleats are there for (their) life. I routinely clean my cleats (at the same time as the shoes), including picking out any mud or other from the bolt heads/surround plates as necessary, rather than leaving it till Christmas.

Because you will replace the cleats several times on one pair of shoes. So you want to be able to undo the bolts at a future point, not have them sieze.