Stuck cleats

[balloburn]

I think my spd mtb cleats are getting a bit worn down. But for the life of me, I can't loosen the buggers off my shoes. They have been on for about 2 years. Any tips?

 

[Archie]

Is the problem the bolts are on too tight or the bolt heads are misshapen/rounded?

 

[fossyant]

Soak them with WD40, or try and get some plus gas in.

This is a very common problem...I copper slip mine before fitting.

Be careful......you may be looking at new shoes.......

 

[mercurykev]

You might have to drill out the bolts. Use an 5mm drill bit and drill slowly.

 

[02GF74]

you dont't say what type bleats or bolts.

my mtb have countersunk hex heads that due to walking over rough terrrain, get mullered thus become impossible to undo. Also they have tndancy to rust solid - I have fitted stainless steel bolts and should really replace them as the heads are going off, maybe this weekend ...........................

 

[Chuffy]

What Fossyant said, plus (assuming you haven't rounded off the hex heads) you could use the old 'Allen key stuck in the end of a sturdy pipe' trick to get more leverage.

If you've rounded off the heads (easily done) then you'll have to drill them out, which is a painful job.

 

[balloburn]

I'll try the wd40 option first. Drilling? Who does that work??

 

[Muddyfox]

Oddly enough i've had the very same problem today

and we welded a nut to the allen bolt and used a spanner to remove them but it was'nt untill afterwards that we realised you can drill the head off and if you take the insole out of the shoe the whole plate will lift out allowing you to remove the shaft of the bolt with some molegrips and pop the plate back in

Simon

 

[andrew_s]

Drilling? Who does that work??

When the allen socket has been drilled out to the same size as the bolt, the head falls off and there's no longer anything to hold the old cleat on.
You are left with a threaded bolt end sticking about 5mm up above the bottom of the shoe. You should be able to clamp on a pair of mole grips tightly enough to just undo this.

 

[Chuffy]

When the allen socket has been drilled out to the same size as the bolt, the head falls off and there's no longer anything to hold the old cleat on.
You are left with a threaded bolt end sticking about 5mm up above the bottom of the shoe. You should be able to clamp on a pair of mole grips tightly enough to just undo this.

...which is no fun.

 

[andrew_s]

...which is no fun.

much better to have greased the bolts properly in the first place, but in the absence of a time machine, needs must...

 

[balloburn]

The bolts were greased before they went on. I'm very liberal with grease.

 

[fossyant]

Any progress ?

 

[balloburn]

After a liberal application of wd40 , and using a longer moment to loosen the bolts, there is only one of the four that will not shift. The hex head is starting to get worn with the effort.

 

[PpPete]

Slightly oversize Torx bit (hammered in).
If you've a socket set adapter that will take the other end of that - up to 1/2" square drive, then you can get some real leverage on it.