Over-tightening cleats?! (Dominator SPDs)

*"After you have determined the best cleat position, **firmly tighten **the cleat mounting bolts with a 4mm Allen key to a torque of 5-6Nm (43-52in.-lbs)."
*
I don't know what the torque units mean, but it seems my puny arms are capable of splitting the screw threads on the bottom of Sidi Dominators. TWICE. (I don't know why I tried a second time, I guess I just couldn't believe I could over-tighten an allen nut with a multitool so I shifted the plate up to try the other pair of cleat holes).
The threaded cleat holes ended up with a vertical split down the shaft, if you know what I mean.
Does this sound like a product fault? Or should I have stopped when the bolt felt slightly binding? It wouldn't have felt tight enough. It certainly wasn't squeaking or making vibrations as if it was getting tight. Are the plates made of marzipan??
Sidis were meant to enhance my riding experience, not make me want to throw them out the window and get on a fucking bus.

5-6Nm is probably tighter than you tighten up your seatpost, if that helps. It is also tighter than I do my cleats, but I'm amazed you were able to damage the Sidis - I'd take 'em back.

Yeah it does seem highly unlikely. Sidi told me to email Wiggle (wish I'd bought them from a nearby shop now) so I'll see what happens.

It's as if I'm using the wrong size bolts or something, but I'm only using what came with my pedals. The only other thing I can think of (aside from product failure) is maybe too much grease making it easier to tighten too far? I don't know. This is so frustrating.

5-6 Nm is not a grea. Deal of force

It is fairly standard for ahead stems, seat post bolts etc

you can get up to at least 30 Nm by hand with a fairly normal Allen key it's surprisinlgy easy to over tighten and fuck things up

of course warranty is voided if you have overtightened

I had a similar problem but with cleat heads rounding, I used torx rotor bolts insted to solve the probelm, Hope this helps! (This presumes your using SPDs not SLs)

A old mechanic once told me 5Nm is like turning the handle to open a door.

I have no idea if the said door was old and rusty or new and flimsy (from Ikea) but you get the idea.

I always recommend that when tightening cleats once the plate has bitten the sole alternate tightening each bolt a 1/4 turn until tight.

Or use the correct tool for the job - a torque wrench

It also happened to the 1st Shimano's. Maybe it still happens, but after the 1st sets I haven't noticed it anymore.
Of course, you must follow the manufacturer's guidelines, but it's bullshit / a design fault if you have to tighten your cleats with a torque wrench.
Go back to the shop and be nice to the people. They either give you a new pair or they take an old pair of shoes and take the plates out of the soles.

If you bought them on-line: too bad. Your mistake.

OK thanks everyone. I guess it was my fault for thinking I couldn't over-tighten anything. Looks like I should be able to replace the cleat plates which is a great relief.

Jabba, that's cool, I had the same problem actually!