Bicycle Mechanics - SPD cleat stuck to shoe

I just got some new shoes about a month ago so I was testing out cleat placement. They needed to be moved forward a bit. All but one of the hex head bolts came out. It is totally rounded and stripped at this point. I hammered a flat head screw driver into it making a real nice slot and the head broke off in the damn thing when trying to unscrew it! I thought about drilling it out but that may ruin the piece that it screws into and it appears that the insoles to these shoes are glued in so I cannot add another femail conector in through the shoe like I could on all my other shoes. Any suggestions on how to get this sucker out? I did actually grease the threads and it's only been in there for about 3 weeks. It's totally rounded and beat to hell.

If you broke the head off the bolt, shouldn't you be able to pull the cleat off the broken bolt stud? Then add some penetrant and break out the vise grips.

Maybe the bolt was cross threaded during cleat installation?

I did not explain that well enough. I broke the head of the screw driver off. The bolt did not budge.

Maybe try a flat head socket on a ratchet and put your weight on it. An easy-out extractor is another approach too.

If you keep breaking tools trying to remove it, you may have no choice but to drill the head off and attack the stud with vice grips.

If the stud won't budge maybe you can contact the manufacturer of the shoe and find out what options you have for replacing the receiver plate beneath the insole.

Good luck with it.

I would cut the cleat off with a dremel tool, then you will have the bolt exposed and be able to better assess what is going on.

As a last resort, I would cut the bolt off and reattach a cleat with only 2 bolts and see if it holds.

Small easy outs should grab it.

Drill the center of the bolt head with a 5mm (or 13/64" which is close enough) drill bit just deep enough until the bolt head pops off and rotates with the bit. You can then take the cleat off and remove the bolt stub with pliers or a Vice Grip. This will save both the cleat and the retainer plate inside the shoe. I've done this a couple of times and it really works.

Next time grease the bolts before installation.

I like Hillrider's recommendation. And would add that the retainer plate probably has 4 threaded holes, if needed you can use the other 2 holes and still adjust the cleat wherever.

Al

Thanks. I think I will try the drill out method. The retainer clip does have 4 holes but I don't think it will slide up to where I need it. At any rate I will give it a go thanks again...