I did not intend for that to rhyme, but it did so here we are
Any ideas on how I can get the screw on the right out? It seems to be pretty badly stripped. I just got these new cycling shoes for gravel and I think the mechanic at the shop might have stripped it a little bit when he was putting the cleats on. This is the first time I’m trying to adjust the cleat so I at least don’t think I’m the one who stripped it?
My shoe touches my tire when I turn my handlebars, so I just want to adjust the cleat on the bottom to the forefront of the issue. Right now it’s sitting right in the middle.
Any thoughts/advice is appreciated!
by nalgene23
14 Comments
Get a torx/star bit that is slightly larger then the bolt and tap it in gently with a mallet then use pressure and patience to extract – you can always spray some solvent or something like wd-40 in there and let it sit to help loosen too.
Also get a new bolt when you do remove it obviously
Also toe overlap with your tire is usually a sign of too small of a bike and less clear placement but unrelated to your original question
There is a product called speed out / easy out where you can drill out the tool interface and then put this wedged bit in in hopes to grip it and remove it as if you were using a tool.
Once you get it out, you can flip the metal piece in the shoe around if the mechanic also stripped the threads of that. Pretty easy to strip those to be honest.
I also use loctite 242 for these. Keeps them from backing out and also prevents water ingress on the threads. Still easily removable (as long as you don’t over torque them in the first place of course).
Besides the issue, great shoe choice!
Just go to the hardware store and buy a cheap set of screw extractors. They are spiraled kind of like a drill bit but directionally reversed so they grip in the counter-clockwise direction. They will have flats on top for wrench or socket interface.
Should be easy-schmeezy. Good luck!
This probably happened because you used an imperial hex wrench, but the head is metric. The closest fit is therefore too small and stripped the head.
It doesn’t even look too badly stripped. Get a metric set – the right size Allen key will probably work.
This video is about removing stripped screws from knives, but I feel like the advice would probably apply here too https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVEcUaNJpOU
Dremel a slot in the screw. Use a conventional screwdriver to get it out
Put a rubber band between the screw and your bit
Get a screw remover like this one
C100AE Screw Extractor Set 4 Pcs Damaged Screw Remover for Removing Damaged Screws 3-12 mm High Speed Steel 4341# 62-63HRC https://amzn.eu/d/0gTIYMaf
I’m surprised no one has mentioned to try and use an impact driver rather than a drill or your hands. The specific way impact drivers apply torque can often save close situations like this because the high torque is applied over a very short distance for each impact.
As an aerospace worker it has bailed me out many times. As soon as a bolt starts stripping I attempt an impact driver instead.
One last thing…once you get that screw out, and replace it after adjusting the cleat position, fill the recess with silicone caulk. This prevents damage to the recess from Itty bitty stones getting jammed in there. It’s easier to take a dental pick and dig the caulk out than to pry a stone or two out.