gapertimmy Posted January 29, 2004 Posted January 29, 2004 so i bought a bd guidelite skin tail attachment kit, this thing has longer instructions then the last computer i got. any hints from those who have put em on a pair of skins before... I really don't wanna fahq it up as this shizzy is spensive. tia timmy Quote
snoboy Posted January 29, 2004 Posted January 29, 2004 RTFM It's really not to hard. Make sure you have something solid to hammer the rivets on. Measure three times before you cut. Quote
cj001f Posted January 29, 2004 Posted January 29, 2004 Make sure you have something solid to hammer the rivets on. Measure three times before you cut. Size 'em so you have plenty of adjustment range. I cut mine too long at first, and they stretched too much in the warmth of spring. Mine were pre-riveted. If they weren't I'd juse a vise & hammer. Quote
nonanon Posted January 29, 2004 Posted January 29, 2004 First, have a beer handy. Then, with a utility knife, cut the skins 2" or 3" shorter than your skis. Stick both skins together for the cutting and drilling ops. Cut out the paper template and use it to trim and punch or drill the rivet holes thru both skins at one time. After that the only tricky part is making sure you have the tail buckle oriented correctly* before slamming home the rivets. *With the tail stretched out behind the skin, think: glue down, tab up. (I'd hold off on the 'til this part is done.) Quote
gapertimmy Posted January 29, 2004 Author Posted January 29, 2004 excellent, thanks... i just have a bad feeling about this little task (visions of failed home improvement projects in my head) Quote
cracked Posted January 29, 2004 Posted January 29, 2004 BD has an instructional vid on their site. Quote
catbirdseat Posted January 29, 2004 Posted January 29, 2004 Forgive a newbie, but what are the advantages, disadvantages to tail clips? I used a borrowed pair of skins once and it seemed like it was a little easier to get the skins off with the clips. The skins I own do not have the tail clips and they stay on just fine. I suppose if your glue is getting weak, the clips could be an asset. Quote
Rodchester Posted January 29, 2004 Posted January 29, 2004 I previously had the type with tail clips and having only used them, thought they were fine. I now have ones that have only a front clip and stay affixed by the glue...and I think they work fine. I now prefer the ones without the tailclip. 2 cents Quote
cracked Posted January 29, 2004 Posted January 29, 2004 I have never used skins without tail clips, I see it as extra insurance. But I don't have a huge amount of experience, either. Quote
Dave_Schuldt Posted January 29, 2004 Posted January 29, 2004 Tail clips, if they are too tight, will make the skin peel. I have never used them. Put your skins down yor shirt while skiing down. Quote
E-rock Posted January 29, 2004 Posted January 29, 2004 Forgive a newbie, but what are the advantages, disadvantages to tail clips? I used a borrowed pair of skins once and it seemed like it was a little easier to get the skins off with the clips. The skins I own do not have the tail clips and they stay on just fine. I suppose if your glue is getting weak, the clips could be an asset. If you are a slob with your skins like me, you're constantly dipping the ends in the snow, sticking them to your self, and otherwise abusing them. If your skins get snowy in the middle it's not such a problem, but if they get snow at the back end and you don't have a tail clip, you are F-U-C-K-E-D. I have friends who never use tail clips and never lose their skins. I am not as disciplined. Also as you say, they are easier to remove. Especially if you use a Euro-kit (as I always do) where the stretchy thing is on the tip. You just bend over (I'm good at that!) grab the tip, and pull (sounds kinky!). Then you just lift your foot up, peel real fast, and take your buddy's eye out behind you. Simple. Quote
snoboy Posted January 29, 2004 Posted January 29, 2004 They are already on the yay or nay question over here at telemarktips.com. Quote
cracked Posted January 29, 2004 Posted January 29, 2004 Tail clips, if they are too tight, will make the skin peel. I have never used them. Put your skins down yor shirt while skiing down. Bullshit. Just make sure you attach the clip, then stick the skin to the ski, so the glue isn't stressed. I don't know about you, but my 110mm skins are a bit bulky to put down my shirt. Quote
nonanon Posted January 29, 2004 Posted January 29, 2004 IME, tailclips come into their own on longer multi-day tours in the soggy Spingtime when your glue is already a coupla seasons old and you haven't gotten around to re-gluing because you've been too busy skiing. Also, having something to grab onto when you're stripping is just plain faster. Anything to avoid the extra step of having to take your gloves or skis off. YMCV Quote
snoboy Posted January 29, 2004 Posted January 29, 2004 cracked said:But I don't have a huge amount of experience, either. Then cracked said: Dave S. said:Tail clips, if they are too tight, will make the skin peel. Bullshit. Just make sure you attach the clip, then stick the skin to the ski, so the glue isn't stressed. Dave's right, young 'un. Been there, done that. Quote
cracked Posted January 29, 2004 Posted January 29, 2004 How would it 'make the skin peel'? It's a shear force, which is perpendicular to the direction that the skin peels. So how would it do that? Quote
nonanon Posted January 29, 2004 Posted January 29, 2004 Oooo this is gonna be good! A between Dave's "I have never used them" and Cracked's "I don't have a huge amount of experience." We want charts! And graphs!!! Quote
snoboy Posted January 30, 2004 Posted January 30, 2004 How would it 'make the skin peel'? It's a shear force, which is perpendicular to the direction that the skin peels. So how would it do that? I don't know how, but I do know it happens. The ski is not flat remember, so if you pull the skin tight, the n you are trying to pull it off so it can follow the chord from tip to tail, creating some perpindicularish force... Quote
cracked Posted January 30, 2004 Posted January 30, 2004 Then either the tension in the skin must be HUGE, or the glue must be very poor. Or maybe it results from the skin peeling up at the edges when the middle is stretched? Weird. Either way, the rat tail rules! Though I have used the euro tip thing without problems, too. Quote
Dave_Schuldt Posted January 30, 2004 Posted January 30, 2004 I have also given up on those strechy green rubber things on the tips. I've seen them rip and they get stuck when you try to go over dips or get through tree wells in the spring. And no mater how big your skins are it's well worth stuffing them down your shirt, it melts any ice or snow. This is very true when it's realy cold. If it's above freezing I don't bother. Quote
gapertimmy Posted January 30, 2004 Author Posted January 30, 2004 skins are installed, looks like i started a telemarktips-esque debate here. ummm, clips on the tails are very necessary... yeah, i'm working on the charts... though the rat tail increases drag, which of course means more energy loss on the skin up. What would extremo do? Quote
cracked Posted January 30, 2004 Posted January 30, 2004 The rat tail doesn't increase drag, that's the nice part of the system. RIP IT UP! LOL! Quote
nonanon Posted January 30, 2004 Posted January 30, 2004 The rat tail doesn't increase drag, that's the nice part of the system. RIP IT UP! LOL! And I quote: "Bullshit" Studies have shown that the rat tail does increase drag. Significantly less so than the stretchy weird green things of course, (but those're sooo '02 anyway.) Also, having to cut the skins off short decreases the overall fur surface area, negating some of the "wall to wall" effect. But still, less than the stretchy weird green things... Quote
gapertimmy Posted January 30, 2004 Author Posted January 30, 2004 dude it so does. skin up behind someone with rat tail and you'll see HUGE drag. plus the added weight.... i think it might be the least inefficient tail clip system out there. JIBBER Quote
snoboy Posted January 30, 2004 Posted January 30, 2004 The drag is made up for by the increased spring in your step from overtightened skins though. More than compensates. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.