Can anyone give me some clues as to why my new Dynafit bindings are given me trouble.

I have a new touring set up using dynafit bindings for the first time. Manaslus with TLT Radical ST bindings. I took them last week to La Plagne so I could get used to them for when I tour in the Lyngham Alps in March.
I used them off on and off piste for a day and a half with no problems. In the afternoon I was on a ‘Deep and Steep’ session where I took one tumble and the right hand ski released as it should. To get on my homeward run I had to walk a little way before getting back on to my skis when, at the bottom of an easy blue the right hand ski released, and in spite of my efforts repeatedly released. After much close checking where everything looked OK I assumed it must have been ice build up in the locating hole of my boot which prevented the jaws from clamping properly.
Following day was a whole day of Deep & Steep. With the guide we took in a fun park as a warm up. Went over 3 jumps and hurtled down a race track. Skied over to a chair lift and then my right hand ski fell off just after we left the bottom station. For the rest of the days skiing I put the toe releases to locked, something I was reluctant to do.
So what’s going on? Have I got a duff binding? They look all right to me, or do seasoned dynafit owners ski with em locked as well in walk mode.
I will go back the shop where the rig was made up but Im wondering if this is a known problem.
The guide said that he will always ski with a Dynafit binding locked. As for the ski falling off on the chair he said that the binding is designed for taking the normal skiing loads but a knock coming from a non skiing angle is often enough for the jaws to spring open. 

Bruce

bruce - 20 January 2013 02:39 PM

Can anyone give me some clues as to why my new Dynafit bindings are given me trouble.

I have a new touring set up using dynafit bindings for the first time. Manaslus with TLT Radical ST bindings. I took them last week to La Plagne so I could get used to them for when I tour in the Lyngham Alps in March.
I used them off on and off piste for a day and a half with no problems. In the afternoon I was on a ‘Deep and Steep’ session where I took one tumble and the right hand ski released as it should. To get on my homeward run I had to walk a little way before getting back on to my skis when, at the bottom of an easy blue the right hand ski released, and in spite of my efforts repeatedly released. After much close checking where everything looked OK I assumed it must have been ice build up in the locating hole of my boot which prevented the jaws from clamping properly.

That seems like a logical conclusion, it is frequently the case

bruce - 20 January 2013 02:39 PM

Following day was a whole day of Deep & Steep. With the guide we took in a fun park as a warm up. Went over 3 jumps and hurtled down a race track. Skied over to a chair lift and then my right hand ski fell off just after we left the bottom station. For the rest of the days skiing I put the toe releases to locked, something I was reluctant to do.
So what’s going on? Have I got a duff binding? They look all right to me, or do seasoned dynafit owners ski with em locked as well in walk mode.
I will go back the shop where the rig was made up but Im wondering if this is a known problem.
The guide said that he will always ski with a Dynafit binding locked. As for the ski falling off on the chair he said that the binding is designed for taking the normal skiing loads but a knock coming from a non skiing angle is often enough for the jaws to spring open. 
Bruce

Sounds a bit odd. I don’t normally ski with the toe pieces locked, it is a good way to blow a knee if you have a fall. I would start by checking the gap between the boot and the binding. It should be something like 6mm. If the ski flexes and the boot touches the heel it can release, even at the tow. However this wouldn’t explain the problem at the lift station. The bindings will release at the toe but normally only after releasing at the heel. I would check them carefully yourself to see if you can spot any difference between the two skis and try some releases by hand.

Maybe someone else has some ideas? It could be a binding problem, there is not much to adjust beyond the DIN.

Make sure you don’t have a hairline fracture in the toe piece as in this photo:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151657999643662&set=a.10151632762168662.611768.646558661&type=3&theater

I have now broken two toe pieces and always ski with the toes locked on anything steep or serious.

Apologies if this appears twice, I seem to be having a problem with my internet connection.

That kind of thing could cause the prereleases. I seem to recall someone getting Dyna’s with a twist in the front binding so the pins were not aligned. It was a manufacturing defect.

Scary photo!
No, I dont think it is anything like that. I can appreciate some people locking the skis on a steep & deep. Its a bummer if a ski gets loose.
Ill get them over to the ski shop where they fitted them out. They specialise in ski touring kit and are v experienced.
Future touring I hope will be a little more stately than tackling wild drop ins, and away from any chair lifts....
B

I’ve had a day like that with my TLT speeds. Nothing obviously in the insert but I was stepping out the ski all the time on ascent with it locked. I locked it downhill and had no issue. Never happened since and I can only assume there was something in the insert or in the spring stopping it closing. Out of interest, what boot is that?

Having switched to dynafit boots last season I can say the whole dynafit on dynafit is better.

Skiing with bindings that don’t release sounds like a singularly bad idea, unless you’re in a place where losing a ski would be preferable to a serious knee-injury.

pierre - 21 January 2013 01:53 PM

Skiing with bindings that don’t release sounds like a singularly bad idea, unless you’re in a place where losing a ski would be preferable to a serious knee-injury.

yes for sure but don’t count on the dynafit for reliable releases anyways. otherwise switch to something else. i have always skied them locked - i don’t want to lose a ski in deep powder or on something steep

blondin - 21 January 2013 08:15 PM

pierre - 21 January 2013 01:53 PM

Skiing with bindings that don’t release sounds like a singularly bad idea, unless you’re in a place where losing a ski would be preferable to a serious knee-injury.

yes for sure but don’t count on the dynafit for reliable releases anyways. otherwise switch to something else. i have always skied them locked - i don’t want to lose a ski in deep powder or on something steep

I’d rather haul an extra kilogram on both feet than be forced to quit skiing forever due to a nasty knee-injury.

Seems like I started an argument as to wether or not it is better to go for a lock down on the descent....
Up until a few years ago all I ever skied was teles and suffered the tangles my skis and boots got into whenever I wiped out. So Im inclined to go to the locked down approach..but then again if you hit a rock and fall awkwardly.....

Bruce

I have a v comfy pair of Dynafit Zero boots to sit on top of my Manaslus......