Stupid cleat bolt things

lost_in_thought

My stupid cleat bolt things keep undoing themselves as I'm riding along. The allen bolt things that attach the clippy bit to the bottom of my shoe.

It's getting a bit tiresome as it makes it more tricky to unclip.

And it's only the right shoe.

Why? What's going on? I keep tightening them up and they keep undoing.

Grumble grumble...

Jen J

lost_in_thought wrote:

My stupid cleat bolt things

The allen bolt things

the clippy bit.

Are you me?

Feltup

If there is a hardware store near you it might be worth while getting some loctite and putting a drop on the threads of the bolts. That should stop them backing out.

It could be just a tolerance issue on the threads in your right shoe but loctite should sort it.

cjcp

The name escapes me, but there's a paste you can use to keep allen bolts in place. It as used to keep my stem bolts tight. You could try that.

Feltup

Forgot to say loctite comes in different strengths. A weak or medium one should do it, the strong stuff is bordering on superglue.

lost_in_thought

Thanks! I will try to obtain some loctite.

don_don

I'd be a bit concerned that the bolt or shoe plate threads are damaged. I don't think Loctite should be necessary, I've certainly never needed it in years of SPD use. Might be worth taking the cleat off to check just in case.

always_tyred

lost_in_thought wrote:

My stupid cleat bolt things keep undoing themselves as I'm riding along. The allen bolt things that attach the clippy bit to the bottom of my shoe.

It's getting a bit tiresome as it makes it more tricky to unclip.

And it's only the right shoe.

Why? What's going on? I keep tightening them up and they keep undoing.

Grumble grumble...

You have to tighten the allen bolt thingies with the allen key do dah until the cleaty things really bite into the plasticy sole of your footie covery pedally things so that the elasticity of the plasticy stuff of your soley bits of your footie covery padally things keeps the allen bolt things tight.

Be cautious about loctite- in winter weather, it doesn't take long before annoying cleat bolts become one with the shoe, thereby writing off your shoes should you ever need to change the cleats. Undo them regularly.

don_don

Forgot to say I actually use copper-slip on mine to stop the bolts siezing. Since this acts like a lubricant, and I've still never had a problem with loosening, it makes me think you are more likely to have some damage to the bolts. Hope that helps

ride_whenever

I've lost a cleat bolt, any ideas on getting a replacement?

always_tyred

ride_whenever wrote:

I've lost a cleat bolt, any ideas on getting a replacement?

Try the "limping into your LBS" tactic. They may take pity on you and find a compatible bolt kicking around.

Alternatively, buy new cleats from them.

itboffin

LIT's you're just applying to much force for the tiny little bolts

symo

http://www.loctiteproducts.com/products ... 0&SubID=48

Most of these are used on our shopfloor to secure bolts on gas turbines. Personally I think red is the stuff to go for.

nicklouse

loctite
243 in liquid form or 248 in a pritt stick like applicator.

lost_in_thought

Always Tyred wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

My stupid cleat bolt things keep undoing themselves as I'm riding along. The allen bolt things that attach the clippy bit to the bottom of my shoe.

It's getting a bit tiresome as it makes it more tricky to unclip.

And it's only the right shoe.

Why? What's going on? I keep tightening them up and they keep undoing.

Grumble grumble...

You have to tighten the allen bolt thingies with the allen key do dah until the cleaty things really bite into the plasticy sole of your footie covery pedally things so that the elasticity of the plasticy stuff of your soley bits of your footie covery padally things keeps the allen bolt things tight.

Be cautious about loctite- in winter weather, it doesn't take long before annoying cleat bolts become one with the shoe, thereby writing off your shoes should you ever need to change the cleats. Undo them regularly.

Cheeky!

My footie cover pedally thingies are recessed MTB ones, so I don't clunk around when walking, and the holes in the sole don't seem to offer the possibility to bite into the elasticity of the surrounding plastic. They are lined with something - metal I think. Nonetheless, I really do tighten them up as much as I can.

But what could possibly have happened to the shoe that only has the effect of one cleat bolt coming undone?

I will look into this loctite, but why would it matter if the cleat were stuck into the shoe for ever and ever? I don't think I'd be able to use different cleats with those shoes...

always_tyred

When I first started using clipless I found that my preferred cleat position changed.

Cleats wear out.

Pedals wear out and you might want to try another system next time.

You will probably find that you unclip on one side habitually when stopping at lights and so forth. If you clip and unclip the other side all through lunch, you might be able to get that one to be loose as well.

STEFANOS4784

ride_whenever wrote:

I've lost a cleat bolt, any ideas on getting a replacement?

i got some sppare ones if ya need 'em

don_don

Have you got carbon fibre soles on your shoes? Even so, the little spikes on the bottom of the cleat should dig into the sole properly. I am sure you have a damaged cleat bolt.

Trouble with allowing the cleats to sieze is that they do wear out and become sloppy. Shimano SPD ones seem to jam in the pedal when they get badly worn. If your shoes are still in good nick then you are left having to drill through the bolt heads, which is a pain in the proverbial, especially with expensive shoes.

lost_in_thought

Always Tyred wrote:

You will probably find that you unclip on one side habitually when stopping at lights and so forth. If you clip and unclip the other side all through lunch, you might be able to get that one to be loose as well.

It's actually the one I always leave clipped in at lights etc. Maybe I'll swap. Or just replace the bolt. I think these shoes are pretty SPD specific - all the other systems seem to have bigger bits on the shoes which wouldn't fit in the recess.

don_don wrote:

Shimano SPD ones seem to jam in the pedal when they get badly worn.

That's exactly what's happening, but I thought it was because of the bolt... hmmm... I'll try getting a new bolt and see. Doubt I've worn them out - only had them about 18 months.

don_don

Doubt I've worn them out - only had them about 18 months.

Its possible, you are obviously using them a lot. Maybe some new cleats is all you need

toshmund

Think the trade name for the Loctite variation is "Thread-lock". You must be applying some amazing torque there mate!

always_tyred

lost_in_thought wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

You will probably find that you unclip on one side habitually when stopping at lights and so forth. If you clip and unclip the other side all through lunch, you might be able to get that one to be loose as well.

It's actually the one I always leave clipped in at lights etc. Maybe I'll swap. Or just replace the bolt. I think these shoes are pretty SPD specific - all the other systems seem to have bigger bits on the shoes which wouldn't fit in the recess.

don_don wrote:

Shimano SPD ones seem to jam in the pedal when they get badly worn.

That's exactly what's happening, but I thought it was because of the bolt... hmmm... I'll try getting a new bolt and see. Doubt I've worn them out - only had them about 18 months.

Tends to break down into mtb (2 bolt) and road bike (3 bolt) systems. There are options for each. You'll never NEED to change, obviously, but its bound to happen - I mean, how long can you resist the urge to shop?

lost_in_thought

Always Tyred wrote:

Tends to break down into mtb (2 bolt) and road bike (3 bolt) systems. There are options for each. You'll never NEED to change, obviously, but its bound to happen - I mean, how long can you resist the urge to shop?

Not long... I am a girl, after all. despite swearing off buying things I was looking at a discounted castelli jacket earlier.

I did resist the temptation though. Well done me.

rhext

I think the 'why does it happen to one shoe and not the other' question is probably down to the way your feet move when you pedal. I suspect that the movement will tend to tighten one set of bolts and loosen the other - similar to the problem we would all have with pedals if they didn't put opposing threads on them.

I had a similar problem when I first went clipless. I simply screwed the things in as hard as I possibly could and the problem has not returned. You need a friendly weightlifter...!

Littigator

lost_in_thought wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

My stupid cleat bolt things keep undoing themselves as I'm riding along. The allen bolt things that attach the clippy bit to the bottom of my shoe.

It's getting a bit tiresome as it makes it more tricky to unclip.

And it's only the right shoe.

Why? What's going on? I keep tightening them up and they keep undoing.

Grumble grumble...

You have to tighten the allen bolt thingies with the allen key do dah until the cleaty things really bite into the plasticy sole of your footie covery pedally things so that the elasticity of the plasticy stuff of your soley bits of your footie covery padally things keeps the allen bolt things tight.

Be cautious about loctite- in winter weather, it doesn't take long before annoying cleat bolts become one with the shoe, thereby writing off your shoes should you ever need to change the cleats. Undo them regularly.

Cheeky!

My footie cover pedally thingies are recessed MTB ones, so I don't clunk around when walking, and the holes in the sole don't seem to offer the possibility to bite into the elasticity of the surrounding plastic. They are lined with something - metal I think. Nonetheless, I really do tighten them up as much as I can.

But what could possibly have happened to the shoe that only has the effect of one cleat bolt coming undone?

I will look into this loctite, but why would it matter if the cleat were stuck into the shoe for ever and ever? I don't think I'd be able to use different cleats with those shoes...

I've long had my suspiscions about LiT but I think she's a secret pervert, she's one of them mountain bikery types I tell you! Look up there the evidence is clear. AAAAAAAND she goes to Essex every weekend (that World renowned mountain bikerying centre and home to the 2012 MTBeekling Olympics (WTF!)

See!!!! folds arms in a huffy self important manner

Jen J

lost_in_thought wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

Tends to break down into mtb (2 bolt) and road bike (3 bolt) systems. There are options for each. You'll never NEED to change, obviously, but its bound to happen - I mean, how long can you resist the urge to shop?

Not long... I am a girl, after all. despite swearing off buying things I was looking at a discounted castelli jacket earlier.

I did resist the temptation though. Well done me.

Well done indeed. I think you should treat yourself to a little reward for being so restrained. A Castelli jacket maybe. Oh, hang on...

lost_in_thought

Littigator wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

My stupid cleat bolt things keep undoing themselves as I'm riding along. The allen bolt things that attach the clippy bit to the bottom of my shoe.

It's getting a bit tiresome as it makes it more tricky to unclip.

And it's only the right shoe.

Why? What's going on? I keep tightening them up and they keep undoing.

Grumble grumble...

You have to tighten the allen bolt thingies with the allen key do dah until the cleaty things really bite into the plasticy sole of your footie covery pedally things so that the elasticity of the plasticy stuff of your soley bits of your footie covery padally things keeps the allen bolt things tight.

Be cautious about loctite- in winter weather, it doesn't take long before annoying cleat bolts become one with the shoe, thereby writing off your shoes should you ever need to change the cleats. Undo them regularly.

Cheeky!

My footie cover pedally thingies are recessed MTB ones, so I don't clunk around when walking, and the holes in the sole don't seem to offer the possibility to bite into the elasticity of the surrounding plastic. They are lined with something - metal I think. Nonetheless, I really do tighten them up as much as I can.

But what could possibly have happened to the shoe that only has the effect of one cleat bolt coming undone?

I will look into this loctite, but why would it matter if the cleat were stuck into the shoe for ever and ever? I don't think I'd be able to use different cleats with those shoes...

I've long had my suspiscions about LiT but I think she's a secret pervert, she's one of them mountain bikery types I tell you! Look up there the evidence is clear. AAAAAAAND she goes to Essex every weekend (that World renowned mountain bikerying centre and home to the 2012 MTBeekling Olympics (WTF!)

See!!!! folds arms in a huffy self important manner

But but but....!!!

Oh sod it. Yes I am an MTB-er. The road bike is an optical illusion.

lost_in_thought

Jen J wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

Tends to break down into mtb (2 bolt) and road bike (3 bolt) systems. There are options for each. You'll never NEED to change, obviously, but its bound to happen - I mean, how long can you resist the urge to shop?

Not long... I am a girl, after all. despite swearing off buying things I was looking at a discounted castelli jacket earlier.

I did resist the temptation though. Well done me.

Well done indeed. I think you should treat yourself to a little reward for being so restrained. A Castelli jacket maybe. Oh, hang on...

attica

If you want to get the job done but don't have the time/money/inclination to get loctite, why not try a dab of nail varnish on the thread of the bolt.

Works well for the screws holding in the arms of glasses too

Kieran_Burns

You're looking for a product called thread lock and as said above: the loctite stuff is the daddy.

http://www.bearingboys.co.uk/?catid=107 ... 1QodQHx83g

I used it on my gun to stop the air escaping out the velocity adjuster.

lost_in_thought

OK, so I went home and found another set of cleats kicking around, and replaced the offending bolt. Ha!, I thought, that'll do it.

Got to work, the other bolt on the same foot is now undoing itself.

WTF??