Time cleat bolts - thread size?

clanton

Trying to buy spare cleat bolts without buying cleats with them. Have found suitable looking bolts on the 'net but unsure re thread size - are they M3? Anyone happen to know how long they are?

Yes I COULD measure them but don't fancy trying to get one out just to do that if possible.

Chunkers1980

Cleat bolts are made out of stern stuff.

A normal bolt of the correct size most probably wont.

I've got a couple if you pm me your addy

Don't get why you dont want to take one out and measure - you will need to if you replace - dig out the crap from the head and have a look

clanton

Chunkers1980 wrote:

Cleat bolts are made out of stern stuff.

A normal bolt of the correct size most probably wont.

I've got a couple if you pm me your addy

Don't get why you dont want to take one out and measure - you will need to if you replace - dig out the crap from the head and have a look

]

Thanks for the offer - pm on the way. I have in the past lost a cleat bolt, and my wife lost one last week (replaced with a rotor bolt) so what I'm after is a spare to carry, especially whilst touring. When they aren't falling out I usually find the bolts are welded in and difficult (not impossible) to remove.

BG2000

Hi Clanton,

I hope I can help, as I have both Time Atac XS pedals and also various Shimano SPD pedals.

Firstly, the thread size is determined by the threaded plate that fits inside your shoe sole. I'm fairly sure this is an M5 thread for nearly all clipless pedal shoes/cleats, but I may be wrong.

If you're having problems with the bolts coming loose, perhaps the threads are worn on the shoe plates, therefore you should replace the latter. You get one with a Shimano SH-51 cleat set, which will do for Time Atac MTB pedas (but not older Time touring pedals as the bolt spacing is wider).

What's more important to the fit is the dish of the bolt head, so that it fits into the double-hole washer that sits onto the cleat. And also the bolt length.

I think I've swapped bolts round between Shimano and Time cleats, but sometimes you find the bolts can be too short or too long. I've not had a problem with the shape of the bolt head fitting into the cleat washers.

I think you can by replacement Shimano bolts, but not Time bolts, e.g.

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Shim ... -15564.htm

clanton

BG2000 wrote:

Hi Clanton,

I hope I can help, as I have both Time Atac XS pedals and also various Shimano SPD pedals.

Firstly, the thread size is determined by the threaded plate that fits inside your shoe sole. I'm fairly sure this is an M5 thread for nearly all clipless pedal shoes/cleats, but I may be wrong.

If you're having problems with the bolts coming loose, perhaps the threads are worn on the shoe plates, therefore you should replace the latter. You get one with a Shimano SH-51 cleat set, which will do for Time Atac MTB pedas (but not older Time touring pedals as the bolt spacing is wider).

What's more important to the fit is the dish of the bolt head, so that it fits into the double-hole washer that sits onto the cleat. And also the bolt length.

I think I've swapped bolts round between Shimano and Time cleats, but sometimes you find the bolts can be too short or too long. I've not had a problem with the shape of the bolt head fitting into the cleat washers.

I think you can by replacement Shimano bolts, but not Time bolts, e.g.

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Shim ... -15564.htm

Thanks very much for that. I am fairly sure the shoe plate threads are ok - I think we neglected to tighten up the bolt and it worked loose. Interestingly in the case of my wife's shoe this happened after a lot of use - those shoes have done three months of cycle touring in South America and a week of mountain bike racing on the Trans Wales - and the bolt fell out a week after the Trans during an easy tour of Holland!

That said the disc rotor bolt I replaced it with threaded in nicely and has remained secure. The only trouble is it is slightly long and she can feel it (just, its not particualrly uncomfortable) when she is walking, but not cycling. Although the rotor bolt does not have a flat, countersunk head it clips in ok to Time cleats.

On a general note - does anyone use loctite on cleat bolt threads?

BG2000

Yep, I've had to shorten bolts before, otherwise they poke up into the innersole.

I've not used threadlock, as I've not had problems with the bolts coming loose. I've had the opposite problem in fact, where the bolts have seized in place and end up with rounded off hex sockets when I try to remove them ! So I actually put grease on the threads now to prevent this.

njee20

Yep, cleat bolts are M5, length c12mm.