Speedplay Zeros won't unclip!!

samfailed
samfailed Posts: 82
edited May 2017 in Road general
Ive done around 200 miles on my new set of speedplay zero cleats and pedals and all of a sudden they've become very hard to unclip! Previously I've loved them because they've been so easy to clip in and out of but suddenly it became almost impossible to unclip.

This lead to me having to aim for grassy verges when i needed to stop and now im pretty scared about getting back on the bike!

I havent greased them yet, i know youre meant to but will this make the difference?

Help!

Comments

  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    samfailed wrote:
    I havent greased them yet, i know youre meant to but will this make the difference?

    Try it. It's unlikely to make things worse.
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    It's not rocket science. Given a choice of falling over on a bike clipped in or trying a bit of grease and practicing before you go out to see if its improved - i know what I'd do....

    I use Dry Lube on my cleats https://www.evanscycles.com/finish-line ... oCtXPw_wcB

    And have never had a problem.
  • barongreenback
    barongreenback Posts: 229
    Have you over tightened the cleats? This can make it very difficult to make the spring work. It's tempting to go a little bit too tight if you've never used them before. Better using a bit of thread lock and if you want to be absolutely sure, use the proprietary torque key (you've blown enough on the pedals so it may be worth it). Definitely add a little dry lube to the springs as well.
  • kayakerchris
    kayakerchris Posts: 361
    speedplays are wonderful but do need maintenance.

    you need practise or a torque driver to do up the cleats. if you do them up too tight you will have trouble getting out.

    They also need regular lubrication to keep the spring moving. I agree it is fairly frightening when they become difficult to unclip! I use a PTFE chain lube on mine. A quick squirt around the nooks and crannys and then move the spring with a screwdriver will loosen them up again. Usually happens for me on the nearside where the foot is put down in mud, etc at traffic lights, junctions, etc.

    Also remember to grease the pedal. they should NOT spin easily. If they do they are dry and need greasing.
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  • stevewj
    stevewj Posts: 227
    as above - over-tightened screws most likely - only tighten to two 'clicks' which you can feel as you do the screws up. Second, not grease for the cleats - a dry lube only - I spray them every ride on outdoor rides and notice they get a lot tighter on the turbo where I use different shoes which I don't spray very often.
    I have unclipped to go for a 'natural break' and, if I have to walk on soil in a field, I ALWAYS immediately test the unclip as soon as I get back on the bike as the smallest grain of soil/sand will make unclipping very difficult and make it take two or three very vigorous twists of the shoe to get out as the particles block up the mechanism. I this case I look for a puddle or canal to wash the cleat which does the trick 'till I get home.
  • DavidJB
    DavidJB Posts: 2,019
    Switch to Look for maintenance free clipping.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I swapped From look to speedplay. Much prefer speedplay.
  • kingstonian
    kingstonian Posts: 2,847
    DavidJB wrote:
    Switch to Look for maintenance free clipping.


    Or Shimano........
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,821
    Speedplays tend to be a bit stiff at first. They'll soon loosen up with use. To help things along you can always do a few dozen clip ins and outs while you're leaning against a wall or something.

    Most of the maintenance and reliability issues are overstated. Just trickle a bit of chain lube into the cleats every now and then and try to avoid stepping in any cow pats when you go for a slash.
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    Sounds like a lot of bother. Never realised pedals needed maintenance.
  • stevewj
    stevewj Posts: 227
    re using other pedals, I tried Look, SPDs and Crank Bros before Speedplay. With all of the others I had knee pain which often lead to days off the bike (arthritis). Speedplay are the only pedals I can use which, due to the free float rather than the spring which tends to centre the foot in other pedal systems, allow me to do big miles and hard hill sessions in a big gear pain - free, so maintenance is not an issue.
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    You have arthritis, but you're doing hill repeats in a big gear...
  • stevewj
    stevewj Posts: 227
    edited May 2017
    Garry H wrote:
    You have arthritis, but you're doing hill repeats in a big gear...

    yes - surprisingly but, as I said, only when I use Speedplay. I do a 1.6 mile hill x 5 on 53/12 all the way and after a couple of sessions have no knee pain, I believe because of it strengthening the soft tissues so the kneecap tracks correctly (had a lateral release on right knee 24yrs ago). I know this goes against the usual advice but it works for me. I also do most of my group and solo rides on a minimum 72" single free.
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    Garry H wrote:
    Sounds like a lot of bother. Never realised pedals needed maintenance.

    Dab of lube on the cleats themselves. Easier than screwing a plastic look cleat on.

    You are meant to grease the speedplay pedals themselves but thats just injecting fresh grease - not done mine yet !
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    How long do the cleats normally last, compared to shimano or look? Don't you needa shoe with four bolt holes, or is there an adaptor?
  • pippi_langsamer-2
    pippi_langsamer-2 Posts: 1,470
    Garry H wrote:
    How long do the cleats normally last, compared to shimano or look? Don't you needa shoe with four bolt holes, or is there an adaptor?

    Adaptors. Although some shoe brands do SP specific versions (Lake being one- wish Specialised would also).

    I tend to get cpl seasons out of set of cleats
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    Hmm. If only my Shimano pedals would die.
  • barongreenback
    barongreenback Posts: 229
    Cleats last ages - I use the cafe covers when I'm off the bike as well. Never saw the maintenance as an issue - dab of lube when I do the chain. I've had my pedals for 10 years now and have only just replaced all the bearings (surprisingly easy and cheap to do if you buy the bearings back from a generic supplier).
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    Could be that the screws are too tight, but if they were fine before and have only just started to become difficult to clip out of (and you haven't tightened them) that's unlikely to be the main problem, especially if it's both feet.

    Lubrication makes them smoother and easier to unclip, but you should still be able to unclip if they need lubricating, it just takes more force.

    My guess is that they have some grit or dirt in them that's slightly clogging the mechanism, and if they are also completely dry (no lubrication) these two factors will act together to make unclipping difficult. Give them a really good clean (high pressure water under the tap and scrub with a stiff brush), dry thoroughly and lubricate. You should be able to push the springs in with your fingers (just about - it hurts a little.. ;-)) and they should move back smoothly and instantly with no friction.

    <<edit - and as mentioned above, use a dry spray-on lubricant - you don't want to attract more gunge! I have a can of Weldtite TF2 which I must have had for about 10 years, it just takes a couple of tiny squirts>>

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