Dynafit binding field repair?

[Bronco]

About halfway to Colchuck Lake I managed to take a good twisting fall with my binding locked in touring mode. Fortunatly, the base plate blew into several pieces instead of my ACL. I continued to slog along with the binding effectively in ski mode. It only released when traversing a tree well or making an akward traverse or whenever you really don't want your binding to release, but, anywho, it occurred to me (today sitting at my desk) that this may have been field repaired with the bit of ductape left over from "field repairing" the loop that holds the skin to the tip of my ski. That fix worked ok and had I done it sooner, I would have avoided breaking the base plate. The loops that came with the skins were a tad too big and the skins would work down my skis to form a big wrinkle of skin, glue, snow and little bits of lichen and branches (a big brake pad) that caused a couple of intense faceplants, including the one where I busted the base plate.

 

Anyway, the fix on the binding would entail some rolled up ductape (maybe the size of a cigarette butt) placed under the prongs that "lock" the tour mode with a bigger piece of tape carfully slapped across the top of the ski from edge to edge to secure the "rolls" under the prongs. It may not have been perfect but, it might have prevented several inopportune releases and survied five or six switches between tour and skiing. Now I'm thinking I might just try the ductape fix and give it at field test (NOT!)

 

Here's my question for the seasoned skiers. Obviously, there's a lot of moving parts that could break and turn your tour into a sufferfest. A repair kit would be handy but, what (besides ductape, duh) do you need specifically for a two - three day ski tour? I took an allenwrench that fit my length adjustment and a leatherman tool. Does anyone carry quick set epoxy? A little baling wire for broken boot buckles? Wax? Zip ties? Slide ruler? Jumper cables?

Edited February 2, 2004 by Bronco

[snoboy]

From the incomparable Dynafit Binding FAQ on Lou Dawson's Wildsnow.com:

 

I'm going on a week-long trip and am putting together a binding repair kit. Normally I carry screws, glue, steel wool, some wooden matchsticks, a multi-tool, some wire, and the binding diagram. Is there anything else I should add to the repair kit specific to the standard Dynafit binding?

Mainly, be sure your binding screws are inserted with epoxy when you mount the bindings, and you set your release tension at a reasonable level. If so, it is highly unlikely they will loosen or pull out during normal use (the event the above repair kit is biased towards). I receive hundreds of emails about the TLT and Tri-Step bindings, and rarely hear of any breakage. Nonetheless, things happen. To prevent catastrophic problems, inspect your bindings carefully every morning before you use them. Look for press-pins that may be working loose (especially in the brakes), bent or cracked parts, etc. Work the heel piece with your hand, feel for smooth action and thimble bushing wear (see thimble bushing info above). Check that the toe locks correctly into touring mode. If you've left your skis outside, check for ice in the pocket under the TLT toe wings.

 

If the unlikely happens and the binding actually breaks, most conceivable problems would be difficult to repair in the field (as they would be for other rando bindings, and most telemark bindings). The beauty of the Dynafit is that you can carry spare parts at very little weight penalty. Thus, on a big trip you can carry a spare toe and heel unit and some thimble bushings. For shorter trips perhaps carry a spare TLT toe and correct screw driver bit to remove screws. (Remember to heat epoxied screws with a hot screw driver, small heated metal rod, soldering iron, or butane lighter before attempting removal.) All that said, I've found the TLT to be so reliable that I don't carry spare parts unless I'm more than a hard day's travel from civilization. But I do carry enough duct tape, wire, etc., to attach a boot to a ski well enough to plod through snow in the event of catastrophic binding failure.

 

Looking in my repair kit I see:

 

*pole basket

*wire

*mini needlenose ViseGrips

*T-handle driver w/assorted bits incl PosiDrive and a drill bit w/ a hex shank for field re-mounting of bindings

*hoseclamps for pole and binding repair

*zip ties (free at many ski resorts )

*couple of binding screws

*1/3 of a hacksaw blade (clamp it in the Vise Grips to use)

*various small spare parts that apply to my bindings/boots.

[JoshK]

Holy crap! I've used my dynafits a lot over the past two years and I have never seen anything like that happen! I actually ski with my skis in touring mode because I know I will release anyway. My bindings seem to release easily enough that they would open up long before something like that could happen. They didn't start making the base plates with a new type of plastic, I wonder?

[Bronco]

What can I say? I'm a really ungraceful wiperouter.

 

I also snapped the red plastic heel elevator thingy on the other binding. Durrable does not necesarily equate to indestructable.

 

I wonder if the idiot who installed them did something wrong?

[b-rock]

I also snapped the red plastic heel elevator thingy on the other binding.

 

I just did the same thing a couple of weeks ago

 

Thanks for the cool info Snoboy

[snoboy]

Thanks for the cool info Snoboy

 

No problem.

 

Make sure to go and read the whole FAQ. Lots more good info in there.