MarkInNC said:
My left pedal is not holding my shoe tight enough and I went to adjust it today. It was not obvious just how to do this. I tried adj. the allen but that did not seem to do anything. I read the information on the Shimano web site. The information was not very clear. It said the adjuster was under the clip. I was to adj both side the same by looking at the red indicator. I looked at the pedal and guess they want me to remove the clip that fits around the clip on the shoe. I tried to remove these but two screws on each clip were so tight that I could not get them loose. I will get a new bit for my impact driver and try that.
Unless I am doing something way wrong it seems I am going to a whole lot of trouble for a common minor adjustment.
Mark
Hey Mark - The first hint is that if you have to use an impact wrench, you're working on the WRONG screws. Stop working on those screws, in my opinion you're dismantling the pedals with those screws.
I own two SPD pedals, a road pedal and a double sided MTB pedal. Neither are the model you're referring to, so I can't give you specific help. However, both sets of my pedals are dead simple to adjust and it's obvious how to adjust them - so I'm really thinking you're working on the wrong screws.
Look at the exploded view
http://media/techdocs/content/cycle/EV/actionsports/PD/EV-PD-M424-1953A_v1_m56577569830608610.pdfEV-PD-M424-1953A (NOT the adjustment instructions document) of your pedal on the Shimano website. i really think those four allen screws (two on each side) you're using the impact wrench on are not adjustment screws, but are the "body plate fixing screws".
My adjustment screws are on the ends of the pedals like the other allen head screws you're describing. Don't pay any attention to the indicator - it may or may not be accurate, but who cares? There's a better way to adjust and test adjustment:
Screw those adjustment screws all the way out, don't "caveman" them like you're doing on the other screws, just gently screw out to the limit. This is the "full loose" position. (I suspect they are close to full loose now - based on standard shipping adjusment and based on your release problem). Do this to all four of them (one on each end of each pedal, right?).
Then screw them all the way in, COUNTING THE NUMBER OF TURNS, again, no need to force anything. This will be the "full tight" position.
Now, screw all four back out an equal amount - say about 1/2 way, counting the turns since you know how many turns it took from "full loose" to "full tight". Ride the bike and clip in and out a couple of times and decide if you want them tighter or looser. BE A LITTLE CAREFUL BECAUSE YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TIGHT THEY ARE AT THIS POINT, THEY COULD BE TOO TIGHT (I doubt it though).
Then tighten all four adjustment screws in whichever way you need- clockwise to tighten, counter clockwise to loosen. Again, I always just count the rotations on the allen wrench rather than looking at the indicator. In fact, one of my pedal sets doesn't have any indicators.
As a future hint, if you study an SPD pedal, you can figure out which part needs to move when the cleat clips in or releases out. It will be obviously hinged or have a spring, or both. Your adjustment screw will be in close proximity to that part.
I'd be interested in knowing if that works.
Good luck.