Speedplay Zero Cleat Fault

harringtonp

Got these October just gone, as you can see from the photo the screws ripped through the base plate. Seems like a flimsy design, you are allowed to pull up on pedals while cycling aren't you

This happen to anybody else ?

Brian?

harringtonp wrote: »

Got these October just gone, as you can see from the photo the screws ripped through the base plate. Seems like a flimsy design, you are allowed to pull up on pedals while cycling aren't you

This happen to anybody else ?

I've had the same cleats for over a year now with no problems. I know people who've had them on longer.

Is there a chance you over tightened the screws and cracked the base plate?

doozerie

I've been using Speedplays for a few years with no such problems, one set of cleats even lasting me a couple of years (at a stretch, mind you) with no issues. You could just be very unlucky and have ended up with dodgy cleat, but there are a couple of things from the photo that make me wonder whether other factors played a part.

For one thing, it looks like the heads of two of the bolts that held on the (black) adaptor gouged the underside of the yellow piece. I don't recall having seen that with my cleats, though it has been a while since I've looked at a used pair, but it would make me wonder whether the yellow piece was not lying flush on the adaptor, i.e. the yellow piece was raised at that point, and if that is the case then the bolts seated in the adaptor might have been placing undue pressure on the ends of ends of the adaptor and therefore contributing to it breaking. It's important with Speedplays to ensure that the adpator provides a flat surface for the yellow part to attach too - if you don't have that then it usually causes issues when clipping in and out but it might also stress the adaptor which is perhaps what happened to yours.

Also, is that rust where the bolts had been seated in the adaptor? If so, that's a surprise for cleats that have been installed for only 3 or 4 months. Conditions that cause rust that quickly might also prove a bit harsh on the plastic of the adaptor too - not to the extent of making the adaptor snap, mind you, but again it might have been a factor.

doozerie

Oh, and in case you were not aware of it, Speedplay also stress that you should not overtighten the 4 small bolts seated in the adaptor. Again this is usually because it can make it difficult to clip in and out. If you overtightened them by a lot then you might have overly stressed the immediate areas of the adaptor around the bolts, so another source of weakness. The advice is usually to tighten the screws to the point where there is resistance, and then rotate each screw by only 90 degrees more and you are done. I've tightened mine more than that out of necessity, maybe by a full revolution, without problems but these cleats are relatively fussy when it comes to how much you tighten their bolts.

AmberGold

Hasn't happend to me 8k on one set of cleats and going strong.

Popoutman

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/speedplay-a-warning

I'll advise anyone against buying speedplay pedals, when they treat their customers like that..

harringtonp

Lots of good advice there and things to look out for when installing the replacement base plate. That is some rust you see, screws had a little rust on them too. Had a lot of difficulty clipping in initially and after some adjustments and a lot of trying (and me getting the knack) it became easier. I thought it was a flush fit but cannot be sure.

Gather from feedback that it probably was something to do with how they were fitted.

Thanks guys.