converting slotted cleat shoe to work with look 3 bolt

[pavel]

I'm hoping I can get some 80s cycling shoes to work with Look Keo cleats.
I recently bought some nice NOS shoes, which came with slotted cleats, but also with a lot of holes in the pattern shown here:

http://prollyisnotprobably.com/assets_c/2011/01/IMG_2035-thumb-500x333-7271.jpg

You can see the look pattern with the bottom 2 bolts somewhat obscured by the yellow cleat. Unlike this picture, however, the 3 holes in my shoes dont have threads. I am thinking that there must be some kind of insert that can thread into these holes to accomodated the screws from a look cleat.

Any ideas?

[harryschwartzma]

Pavel,

unfortunantly the screws on those Adidas Merckx are waaaay thinner than standard look bolts (Speedplay may work).

However, you can drill your soles to make it work. If you REAAALLY want it to work.

[R2D2]

I'm hoping I can get some 80s cycling shoes to work with Look Keo cleats.
I recently bought some nice NOS shoes, which came with slotted cleats, but also with a lot of holes in the pattern shown here:

http://prollyisnotprobably.com/assets_c/2011/01/IMG_2035-thumb-500x333-7271.jpg

You can see the look pattern with the bottom 2 bolts somewhat obscured by the yellow cleat. Unlike this picture, however, the 3 holes in my shoes dont have threads. I am thinking that there must be some kind of insert that can thread into these holes to accomodated the screws from a look cleat.

Any ideas?

Perhaps a t-nut might work.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#tee-nuts/=g5btqp

[Jaq]

Perhaps a t-nut might work.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#tee-nuts/=g5btqp

+1 for the T-nut (or blind nut). I have a set of Detto Woods I use on occasional club/group rides like those below; drilled the pattern for Speedplay cleats, then used t-nuts on the inside. The thing to remember with T-nuts is that the outside diameter of the threaded barrel is larger than the diameter of the shank of the bolt/machine screw, requiring a slightly larger drill bit.

The only problem I had with the Dettos was that there's actually a thin steel plate between the sole and the leather. The workaround was simply flattening the teeth of the T and setting them with a bit of epoxy.


http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5221/5850919201_91284ee0e0_m.jpg

[pavel]

Thanks guys, I think the t-nut is going to be exactly the trick. Since it's going into plastic, do you think I should prep the area with epoxy or superglue just before inserting them?

[pavel]

You know, the other option I was considering was to get a headless allen screw... something like this:

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/public/4JVtvrHe_2zILgWvE0C224yDgaJ2B8tZsrLGsq6ZnxPUlvd59r rzSfwA1n0VvoQAoBs4TgjDRTDOxrWp1Y6D5VL-qR_3EwFhRmQRjAty9NMvbkGt2-glz53tQLYPuCl5dvzFt_SU2SL-mqhvRznzaCMZpKw3b46_RQ

The way I would go about this is to drill the very center of the bolt, and tap it to take a look bolt. The length of the headless bolt would have to be fairly precise to go all the way into the sole, and have all of the recessed hex driver on the outside. Then, with the bolts in the shoe, I would take a dremmel and machine off everything that is still exposed, clean it all up, and attach the cleat that way.

I think that this method might be more secure than t-nuts, but probably also more difficult. What do you guys think? Would t-nuts be secure enough?

[R2D2]

I would be worried the threads would pull out of the sole.
If you are determined to go that route take a look at RivNuts. The hard work has been done for you.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-rivet-nuts/=g5dmbn

[pavel]

I think you are right, and whatever I do should probably be installed from the inside. I need to keep in mind that I am pulling on these constantly so there does need to be a plate on the inside of the shoe.

Thanks all for your input, I'll update this thread when I have it figured out!

[pavel]

Finally got around to this - I ended up drilling the sole through and installing m5 t-nuts from the inside.

Now I need to find some nice insoles :D


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LsPjSyGkCio/TzBGu3dKdCI/AAAAAAAABYQ/DE9BnaRzkiw/s640/IMG_20120206_133011.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-s4GiS01mojQ/T26LAJ-zOzI/AAAAAAAABt4/oi7ElOv-T_I/s640/IMG_20120324_200212.jpg


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6VVcjbAzJqI/T26LE6XR1zI/AAAAAAAABuA/C5MiOmaa2UI/s512/IMG_20120324_200228.jpg

[benitosan1972]

Thats cool = classy & modern