nOOb question: cleats

Usually cranking them down hard works for me. What you could try is use a split ring washer between the sole and the cleat. That should help keep the screw from backing out.

thebeatcatcher said:

can anyone give some tips on attaching the cleats to cycling shoes? i have SPD's (shimano MTB shoes). i got the cleats attached and am familiar (now) with clipping in and out, but it seems the cleats will start to rotate (loosen up) after a short while (3-4 clip outs) making clipping out very hard.

do you use lock-tite? are they just not screwed in tight enough (i really tried to screw them in pretty good)?

Don't use lock-tite, but do put grease on the threads of the screws, then tighten them down quite tight.

thebeatcatcher said:

can anyone give some tips on attaching the cleats to cycling shoes? i have SPD's (shimano MTB shoes). i got the cleats attached and am familiar (now) with clipping in and out, but it seems the cleats will start to rotate (loosen up) after a short while (3-4 clip outs) making clipping out very hard.

do you use lock-tite? are they just not screwed in tight enough (i really tried to screw them in pretty good)?

I've never had to use loc-tite, but it's not out of the question. My first guess would be you aren't tightening them enough, but only you can determine that. Second, the screws aren't long enough to fully engage the cleat plate.

thanks, i'll definitely first try some grease and then retighten.

thebeatcatcher said:

can anyone give some tips on attaching the cleats to cycling shoes? i have SPD's (shimano MTB shoes). i got the cleats attached and am familiar (now) with clipping in and out, but it seems the cleats will start to rotate (loosen up) after a short while (3-4 clip outs) making clipping out very hard.

do you use lock-tite? are they just not screwed in tight enough (i really tried to screw them in pretty good)?

As others have said, use grease, not locktite. What I was taught (and I believe true, based on experience) is that grease grease not only prevents corrosion, but also makes it possible to tighten them up better. Spread the grease throughout the screw's threads, don't just dab it on. Any grease will do.

Another issue could be (happened to me!) that the T-nuts that the bolts screw into could be stripped. I had to replace mine. I think repeated cycles of loosening/tightening can strip them. If the screws loosen just a little, then the cleat starts moving around, this will wear and strip the threads in the T-nut. You might just go ahead and replace the T-nuts also. Any LBS will have replacement T-nuts for shoes; if you can't figure out how to replace them, repost and you'll get step-by-step I'm sure.

It's a bear when you can't unclip because the cleat is loose!