Rounded cleat screw - ARGHH

rokkala
rokkala Posts: 649
edited March 2010 in Workshop
Ok, how the *@!% do i get off a rounded cleat screw if i have no drill available? Been twisting and turning away for over an hour with a variety of allan keys, star drive things and screwdrivers to no avail!

Comments

  • skyd0g
    skyd0g Posts: 2,540
    Use a Dremmel to make a slot & use a screwdriver plus a soak with WD40.
    Cycling weakly
  • Ollieda
    Ollieda Posts: 1,010
    are you getting any movement from it at all? You could try soaking the screw in WD40 or similar (the thread of the screw preferbably but it'll be hard to avoid getting the head aswell) and that might losen it up so it moves with the less force needed.

    Can always try getting an allen key/screw driver/any turning implament and hammering that into the screw to effectively bite a new head into it.....although prepare for a totally ruined screw and possibly allen key/screw driver!
  • davis
    davis Posts: 2,506
    I'd soak the thread in WD-40/GT85, then using some ScrewGrab (random link) on the head and an Allen key in very good condition (i.e. as new) push down really, really hard while unscrewing.

    If you haven't got the Screwgrab, then bashing a flat-head screwdriver into the head with a mallet *can* cut enough of a slot to give you purchase. Make sure everything's held securely in a vice or similar because missing really won't help.
    Edit: I don't recommend the latter option though.
    Sometimes parts break. Sometimes you crash. Sometimes it’s your fault.
  • andyrr
    andyrr Posts: 1,827
    Can you access the bolt from inside the shoe ? ie the insole comes out to leave it exposed ? If so then that gives access to give the hreads a good soak in WD40. Trun to turn the bolt both ways fractionally, ie tighten and loosen. Ideally you don't want the bolt-head to shear off so go easy.
    Localised heat on the bolt - soldering iron directly onto it ?You got the other bolts off so that the cleat (plastic ?) can be broken/cut off to give access to the bolt and it's threads ?
  • easyboy
    easyboy Posts: 33
    impact driver
    a specialist tool for getting slack very tight screws/allen bolts etc,and it comes with a large range of bits
    2009 Stumpy Elite
    2009 Cube Ltd Race
    Its the little people in my head that told me to do it....
  • JohnnyAllez
    JohnnyAllez Posts: 785
    Drill the head off it, the threaded bit that`s left shouldn`t be to tight once the presure is off it. Use a drill bit of around 5.5 / 6 mm and just take the head off it.
    Jens says "Shut up legs !! "

    Specialized S-Works SaxoBank SL4 Tarmac Di2
  • craker
    craker Posts: 1,739
    Angle grinder 'll whip the head off in no time. New cleats, new bolts sorted.
  • rokkala
    rokkala Posts: 649
    Cheers all. Have first race today and decided to change cleats last night, big mistake ha!

    Soaked them in GT85 and left for a while and that got 2 out after some more wrenching away, last one still did not want to budge. Ended up clamping the cleat in a vice and just turning the shoe! Stress.
  • tiny_pens
    tiny_pens Posts: 293
    From experience of same thing quite recently. WD40 probably won't work. Impact driver doesn't work because there is too much flex in the shoe to transfer the power. I like the angle grinder idea :-) Probably not good if the shoe is flammable though.

    I had to use my set of stud extractors (impulse buy from Aldi). Cost about £5 for a set of 4. Basically they are reverse threaded drill bits. Put them into an electric screwdriver and set in reverse (or unscrew). They screw themselves into the bolt until they start to bite and at that point start to unscrew the bolt. Took about 15 seconds per bolt for me to do mine.

    You will need new bolts though although the cleats should be undamaged.


    HTH
  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    Bit late now but I always advcise to grease screws before you fit new cleats, it saves all this hassle.
  • rokkala
    rokkala Posts: 649
    Duly noted for future!

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