scuzzo

just got back from a spin.. and thinking... "naw, im good those things never loosen up" well they did... and i was locked in... lucky i was able to bail, to some soft grass.. but when i checked them... yep.. things had LOTS of float... just loose slop and death traps... so mid ride i had to stop and clear all the dirt from the hex bolts.. important... if you dont get these cleat bolts clear of any and all dirt and stuff.. you are just asking for a stripped hex bolt face.. but got it sorted.. click, zing!! but its a bad feeling when you are rolling at 25+ mph and realize .. im stuck with this deal.. just,, check those cleats folks.. if they get too sloppy loose... your going to have a bad time..

FeltF2Tarmac

Been there, it was the end of the ride and I was able to lean on my car and get loose check them regularly although that was in my first month of riding clippless.

t595

Two words: Loctite Blue

melloveloyellow

Four words:

Loctite blue
Torque wrench

Psimet2001 

Annually:

Replace cleats
Replace chain
Replace cables and housings
Replace bar tape

rmfnla

Thread locking compound is always a good idea for small fasteners.

In 25 years of riding clipless pedals I have never used a torque wrench on cleat screws...

noodle soup

Annually?

Not much time to ride these days?

Psimet2001 

HAHAHAHA.......aaaaaaa......yeah.
That's supposed to be a minimum and yes with modern chains it should be more than 1x a year if you are riding a decent amount....Alas I am not.

motorthings

could not agree more....when i first switched to speedplays, I had not used enough blue loctite (on longer non-speedplay-pre-loctited screws), and had my cleat fall off mid-ride.
"no problem", i think..."the pieces just fell off, and i'll collect them and re-fasten".....
NOOOOOOOO a semi comes by before I can scurry back into the road, and drives right over the cleat bits, demolishing them to smithereens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
result: one-legged ride home and new understanding of the gospel of loctite.

don't be like the old me.

rmfnla

topslop1

****, I gotta loctite my stuff now? MORE MONEY GONE. It's a cruel world out there.

Zef

Melt some candle wax into the hex key socket of the bolts that hold the cleats to the shoe. When time to change the cleats or adjust their position just hold the flame of a lighter upto the bolt head to melt the wax....this will keep dirt from clogging up the hex socket and help avoid stripping the bolt head.

-j

Psimet2001 

I'm sooooo doing this for now on. Not because I need help cleaning out the bolt heads but I simply just love melting wax....I mean I DO twist nipples all day

(building wheels you pervs).

scuzzo

thats an interesting idea.. sure could have saved me some drill out time when i stripped the head off some bolts.. i will give the locktite a go too...
thanks for the suggestions folks.