How to remove cleats without much force?

Hi.

I was wondering if anyone has a way to remove the cleats without much force. I was trying to remove my FJ cleats yesterday night but some of them was just impossible to remove... The cleats has never been removed before since I first brought my dryjoy a year ago.

So far, I have only managed to remove 5 from one side and 2 from the other; and my hand could not take it any more.. sored till now...

Is there any easier ways to remove these cleats? I tried putting some oil to it but still cant simply get them out.

Cheers!
RC

I did write some thread before... hm... let me find it...

Hi Mc,

Thanks, I tried searching but got nothing from this forum.

Read abit here and there and was thinking of spraying some WD40 onto the cleats screw, hoping it will lossen some of the dry dirt and drilling the cleat holes to increase the depth so that could hold on better with the tools...

i also tried finding it in vain.... i am giving this one more shot before retyping everything again...

ok, my personal experience from my Tour 360, i nearly lost my palm changing the cleats, even with the cleat remover from Adidias, my wrist nearly broke...dam sore man

I ended up using a letter opener (a really strong one) to physcially dig out the cleat, in hokkien means "kiao" it out.... it was a little easier and i manage to rid all the old cleats without spoiling the shoe cleat groove, then can fix on new cleats...

But its the last time i be changing cleats, dam pain, so i also wait to hear advice from MC on a better way to remove....

MC - quick leh...type lah, dont bother finding....

MC, the thread u started i believe is in toonshouse...

the cleats is stuck because of the dirt... maybe put it in water for a while??

i use a sharp knife to clean the durt then after is very easy .....

Hi,

After reading here n there, I decided to try the drill method and it works perfectly. Very simple and easy to remove the cleats.

For those who face similar problem, you may want to consider this. You will be surprised...

Tools needed:
battery drill with a small drill bits (1mm)
a long nose piler
wd-40 (I think not necessary though I use them)

First, I use the drill to drill on the holes in the cleat, then use the long nose piler to turn the cleat, turning clock and anti-clockwise to lossen the screw, and finally a full anti-clockwise turn and it just came out without much force. I think it becos I have depthen holes, and with the piler, it make it easier for me to turn the cleat...

Hope this helps...

Cheers!
Rc

wah. that is alot of damage and potential injury to the shoe!

anyway, argh. i think wessern might be right. was in the good ol' days. i still remember a certain friend of mine was laughing at me for writing thesis instead of concentrating on my day job.


so i was in a similar situation as bro rc311. i was trying to change the cleats of my shoes but I found many difficulties. One thing that I find good is 'preventive maintenance'. Maybe on a monthly basis, take out the cleats and clean out the dirt in the threads of the shoe/cleats. It is the accumulation of dirt that makes the removal of the cleats a PITA.

Others gave the advice of changing the whole damn shoe instead of changing the cleats. They say it is more worth it?? I don't know man. whatever floats your boats. "Honey, I need to get new shoes lah. The cleats are worn out." "Yes. They still look very new but the cleats are worn out." "Change cleats? Is the possible?"



Not forgetting that the fact that the accumulation of dirt is what makes the removal of the cleats difficult, I do not think WD40 or Singer oil will help. Soaking it in water like wessern said is sound advice. Maybe with pliers, try to expose abit of the thread to the water and it might help. After that firm but gradual rocking of the cleats will slowly but eventually get the cleat out. Turning in and out, in and out, clockwise and anti-clockwise, clockwise and anti-clockwise. It should not be too strenuous but it is a long process. Thus back to my first point:

Preventive Maintenance.

Soaking the sole of the shoe in water may help. I'm having a nightmare trying to remove the cleats off my FJs too

Which brand of cleats you prefer??

Removing stubborn cleats is much like removing stubborn or rusted screws. You need the best possible grip on the screwhead (in this case the cleat) and in your first twisting attempt, you should remove the cleat. Otherwise, you run the risk of screwing up the two little holes or whatever else your tool is trying to get a grip on. That makes it much, much worse. My advice is as follows;

1. soak the base or sole of the shoe in water, then brush and rinse off as much dirt as you can with a stiff bristled brush. Remove as much dirt as you possibly can from the little holes that your cleat wrench goes into. Do this with a toothpick or a nail or a paper clip. Be very thorough. The cleaner you get it the easier to remove the cleat.
2. Get a good tool. A good tool does a good job. Those flimpsy stamped metal ones, they are useless. You should at least get the ones that come with Puma golf shoes or the "Champ" ones that have a good plastic body.
3. Technique is the most important thing when removing screws or cleats. Postion the shoe on a firm, flat surface. If you worry you'll crush the shoe, insert shoe trees. Standing over the shoe, with your shoulders directly over your arms and the cleat tool, you'll be able to exert maximum torque and grip on the cleat. You don't want it to slip when you start twisting. In my line of work, if we slip up while tightening screws, we look damned stupid and we just throw away the screw.
4. Ensure and double ensure that the cleat tool is sitted flat and flush with the cleat. When you are sure you have the shoe propped so it won't move or give in any way and the cleat tool is sitted completely flush on the cleat, give it a good torque. Most people tend to let the cleat tool slip out when they are twisting because they are unable to keep the cleat tool flush.

It sounds a lot more complicated than it is. The key is getting a good grip and getting the shoe propped up firmly. Holding the shoe in one hand and the cleat tool in the other is ok if your cleats are not stubborn. If they are, better prop it on a table.

Regards,
Dan

i actually used a hammer to knock the dirt loose, sometime it works....

Dan's Advise: WIN!

Hi,

For me, I have golf shoes that comes with metal screw type and Tri-Lok type :-

http://www.golfspikes.com/stinger.html

I normally coat the threaded area with anti-seize lubricant like I use to for my football boots :-

http://www.permatex.com/products/Automotive/lubricants/specialty_lubricants/Permatex_Anti-Seize_Lubricant_a.htm

Cannot use WD 40 or other lubricant like grease; the spikes will not get jammed in the threaded area but they will loosen by themselves and lost on the course.

To remove stubborn cleats/spikes, I try to spray water-based cleaner between the very small gap of the spikes and shoe and then let it pentrate overnight and then try to take them out the next day.

It will not get loosen a lot like you can just use your hands to take them out but it is much easier to take trhem out with the wrench.

break a few cleats, show to wife, buy new shoe.....

Some of the cleat removing tools are hopeless (My Callaway ones only break the spikes). Used the tool provided when i bough some scorpion stingers and its a lot better...the tool use the two holes instead of the spikes.

Maybe this tool will help

http://www.golfspikes.com/maxpro.html