Spikes

[gunning4u]

I have some Nikes that I want to replace the spikes but I can't get them off. Does anyone have any tricks to get them off. I take it you need some kind of tool but it didn't look like the new spikes came with a wrench.

[West Coast Duffer]

The cheap little wrench that come with most spikes are crap and useless, your better off buying a real spike wrench but even those can be a pain, I soked the bottom half of my shoes in water first to try and loosen up some of the dirt and crap in there.

[Eracer]

I've had to use a pair of vise-grips before. When you install spikes (the ones with screws, and not quik-loks) dab a little vaseline on the threads. Makes getting them off the next time much easier.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by West Coast Duffer

The cheap little wrench that come with most spikes are crap and useless, your better off buying a real spike wrench but even those can be a pain, I soked the bottom half of my shoes in water first to try and loosen up some of the dirt and crap in there.

The water is a good idea, and will loosen the soil. Also if it is cold (below freezing) in your area, and you keep them in the cold, the condensation inside the thread can freeze. So use hot water, just enough to cover the bottom. I ruined a pair last year, then realized they had frozen. I have also use needle nose pliers or vise grips.

Also depend on the type. When I switch to Champion Stingers, they are easier IMO. I used to kill myself trying to get Black Widows out. Then when I got the Champion spike wrench, they became very, very easy. Even though the old wrench I had was similar, it has a different bit. The old one I would have to press so hard I would about break my wrist. In that case, usually the two prongs was the best. You can also heat the prongs with a lighter slightly and it will melt into the spike and work better, but if you have a cheap wrench you can also ruin the wrench.

edit 1 - Yeah, I know entirely to much about this. That is why I now use the Stingers.

[Rockford35]

Spray the thread area of the stuck cleats with WD40.

Wait about 10 minutes, then twist them off with a pair of pliers or vice grips.

Then, put your new ones in with some grease on the threads. Vaseline works just fine.

I always do this with my new shoes. One pair of Nikes I had I ended up throwing in the garbage because they were such a PITA.

R35

[Pa Jayhawk]

You guys don't have problems with the cleats coming out on the course when you use vaseline? I may have to start doing that.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by Pa Jayhawk

You guys don't have problems with the cleats coming out on the course when you use vaseline? I may have to start doing that.

I've never had a problem with it.

[MGP]

Be careful with petroleum based lubricants, they can soften some plastic or make other plastic brittle over time. It would really suck to break a plastic spike and leave the thread in the shoe. Might not matter over a relatively short time if you change your spikes fairly often. If you have metal threaded spikes then it really won't matter at all.

I do a lot of work on medical pumps with plastic gears, hinges and other assorted plastic moving parts and we've found that petroleum based lubricants and plastic parts are generally a very bad combination. We use silicone or teflon (PTFE) based greases as they don't break down the plastic over time.

Here is the stuff I really like -- Super Lube -- great general purpose grease and is safe on almost any material. It's cheap and you can get it at most hardware stores and home centers (Home Depot, Lowes). Oh, I use a little dab of this on my spikes when I replace them too.

"SUPER LUBE" SYNTHETIC GREASE 3 oz 21030 SYNCO CHEMICAL CORP

Super Lube: Synthetic Grease

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by MGP

Be careful with petroleum based lubricants...

Truer words were never spoken.

[MGP]

Ya know, when I was writing that post that same thought crossed my mind.

[Topflite_D2]

I use the Adidas quick twist or whatever it is called and I haven't had a problem with them getting stuck or falling off.

[warbirdlover]

And be sure to replace them with Scorpion Stingers!!

[Topflite_D2]

While on the subject of spikes. My favorite is soft spikes blackwidow. I'm using the Soft Spike Pulsar's right now and I don't like that if get low to read a putt they leave huge marks in the green where the Blackwidow's didn't.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by MGP

Be careful with petroleum based lubricants, they can soften some plastic or make other plastic brittle over time. It would really suck to break a plastic spike and leave the thread in the shoe.

Thanks for the info. It may suck even worse as most of mine have plastic thread in the shoe itself. It would suck even more to break or soften the threads in the shoe itself and not be able to put Cleats in at all or snap the threads out when I tighten them.

Then again, I'm not sure I keep shoes long enough for that to happen, but as easy as the Stingers are to get out with the Champ wrench I will probably skip the Lube job for now

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by Topflite_D2

While on the subject of spikes. My favorite is soft spikes blackwidow. I'm using the Soft Spike Pulsar's right now and I don't like that if get low to read a putt they leave huge marks in the green where the Blackwidow's didn't.

You obviously haven't tried the Stingers, see below.

Originally Posted by warbirdlover

And be sure to replace them with Scorpion Stingers!!

...although Scorpions and Stingers are two different models, Champ is the brand. I haven't tried the scorpions but the stingers last forever.
CHAMP - The World Leader in Sport Cleat Technology®