Fitting Wire Bails to welts

[TrogdortheBurninator]

So I finally returned my recalled montrail crampons and got some new Bionics from them. The problem is the welt doesnt match the boot well. I tried hammering on it, but the thing is stiff. Is there a trick to this?

[Dru]

Sometimes they make multiple bails for the same crampon - and you need the right one. The parts department at the MEC warranty desk, for instance, can fit you with the right one. I suggest taking your boots and crampons to wherever you bought the crampons and asking for some help.

[genepires]

I found it pretty challenging to fit BD crampons to koflach boots. That bail is very strong and it took a LONG time of bashing with a hammer to make it yield and conform. Even after lots of bashing, it never had a satisfying fit. (This summer on the south side of baker) We ended up taking the bail off the campon and wailing away some more. Make it submit to your will.

 

Or sell it on ebay and get a better european model.

[TrogdortheBurninator]

They actually gave me a choice of most any crampon I wanted, but the BDs were the only ones they had on site so I took em. They also said it was the one they recommend most. Kinda sucks that it fits so poorly. Didnt want to wait and order now that it is so cold outside.

[treknclime]

Dru is right; they make more than one toe bail for many crampons. Call BD and tell them what kind of clearance/fit issues you have, and maybe they can send you some more narrow or wider bails.

 

Let us know what you end up doing.

 

I have some Montrail Lhotse, and ended up taking the dremel to the heel to get the snug fit I was looking for. Have done that before with a number of boots, in order to get that custom non-wiggle fit.

[Don_Serl]

did u have the bails gripped in a vise? if so, u can usually apply enuf force to bend 'em - go easy, bit by bit, and section by section. and the vise jaws themselves do a good job, if u need to "ease" the curve...

and treknclimb points out another useful trick - sometimes the boots need a bit of persuasion too, especially to get a good, deep, solid fit at the toe. a thin, coarse rat-tail file works, altho a dremel wld be much faster. i'm size 11 1/2 or 12, and i find i usually have to attack the sides of the heels to allow the heel-bails to flip up unimpeded.

good luck, cheers,

[TrogdortheBurninator]

I put the boots on my feet and then put the crampons on and beat the bail with a hammer. They seem to fit pretty flush now. The heel adjuster also is at its tightest limit and I woulnt mind if it was tighter.