Carver Extraordinaire
I used to ride Sims plates on my old Damian Dagger @ Big White. Seemed like every time I'd launch with it,I'd land and carve the next two turns one-footed.+1 for Step-ins!!!Never have I had one open up,and I air all my boards when possible.Nothing better than grabbing a slow Method-air on a 180+ alpine board in the park.
"The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit....:p"
Hardboot Wizard
I take that back, I know why, the bail blocks move when I case landings.. I have since gotten a big ass handle on my hex wrench, but haven't cased any booters since getting the extra leverage. Stepins wouldn't really fix that problem for me.Originally Posted by Puddy Tat
Alpine Ace
At least in the case of intec/fintec actually they would. If you visually ensure the pins are engaged, the binding is basically fail-safe. The only way out is to pull the cable, or physically depress the pins. That is to say short of your toe or heel block moving the centimetre to allow the toe bail to clear the toe ledge of your boot, your toe can't come out of the binding. And even in the unlikely event of that failure your heel is still held captive by the pins.
In the case of Fintecs specifically the shell of the heel, or the steel heel receiver would have to physically break to allow the pins to break free, or you'd have to rip all four screws of the heel retaining screws out of the t-nuts in your boot. If any of these occurred I think the violence of the wipe out would ensure that you had other more serious injuries to worry about.
In fact the fintec/intec heel mechanism is fail safe in that the pins in the heel are spring-loaded such that additional pressure has to be put on them to make them retract. Therefore a failure of the internal heel mechanism leaves you locked into the binding, requiring the use of ski poles to depress the pins and get out (happened to me once). I suspect an internal spring could break and this could cause a release, but I have yet to hear of this failure mode occuring. Anyways the springs aren't cycled excessively so metal fatigue isn't likely to occur on this sub-component.
I bolded if above because it is quite possible with TD3s and Fintecs (or other step-ins) to have snow build up under the heel of your boot, or on the toe block of the binding, which prevents the pins from fully engaging, this can result in "premature ejectulation" as you load the binding up in a turn. As this has happened to me twice now I visually make sure the pins are engaged every time I step-in. I really wish Fin would anodize the Fintec heel pins in red or some other colour so they easily stood out from the heel receiver once engaged.
Since I've started visually checking the pins after stepping in I have yet to have a binding release.
Cheers,
Dave
Last edited by Puddy Tat; January 24th, 2012 at 08:54 AM.
"At one point I was seeing my bootfitter so much my wife was begining to think I was having an affair with him."
Hardboot Wizard
Point taken.
Well, to preserve the future of the sport (me) I guess you should pass on those Fintecs and stepin receivers.. It would be a shame for me to destroy my knee at 18..
Alpine Ace
Hey if Fin ever gets the SI Sidewinders out you can have first dibs on a pair of TD3 SI cheap.
This is getting way OT but speaking of the Sidewinders, I wonder if the fact that the toe and heel blocks roll laterally with the boot actually might help prevent the type of releases you guys are mentioning. Because of this lateral roll the toe ledge of your boot would put even pressure across the toe lever as the boot canted over. This action actually might help prevent releases.
Considering a standard binding, with 5mm or 6mm bails as the boot cants/twists in the binding, you load one corner of the toe lever perhaps making a release more likely?
Would be interesting to see somebody more mechanically inclined than me chime in on this.
"At one point I was seeing my bootfitter so much my wife was begining to think I was having an affair with him."
Skidder
Only happened once, and it was a silly big air where I overshot the tranny. I just can't ride up off of the deck from all my years of surfing, it just feels too weird, so I'll stick to the ground and my race plates. Unless there is a low profile step in I'm unaware of?
Hardboot Wizard
If i was breaking bails I would assume the sw would help.. chucklebeast, f2 intecs are plenty low
Skidder
Sweet thanks, I will check them out. I do like a flexible binding between a stiff board and boot, but that inherently brings risk of breakage, with my carbon-fiber ones as back ups and more of a show piece as I know they are bound to explode one cold day. Thanks for the tip. Aluminum flexs, right?
Moderator
Somebody break something please. Just not YOU!!
Photos of bent or broken stuff??
Last edited by www.oldsnowboards.com; January 24th, 2012 at 11:26 AM.
Moderator
That is a cool big board!! With those monster plastic Sims plates? Cool. Photos? Did you end up breaking it?
Skidder
I dunno...I know I'm tripping, but they look thick to me. Not as far as bindings go, they look sleek, they do. But after 12 years of only riding plates I am scared to throw down $ on something I can't try. I have a bro with F2s and I will have to see if he will let me slice a few off on his board.
It's just from when I was a kid, I would take brand new surfboards and literally dent the hell out out the decks where my feet would go, so as to lower my center of gravity and be down in the ditch on my ride. Tough habits to break, especially when I can't afford to brake myself...
Moderator
Looks like I have managed to break or remove one of the pins from my Fintec heel?? THE GUIDE PIN, NOT one of the main pins. I have not heard of that to date. Need to email my dear friends at Bomber Industries.
Carver Extraordinaire
Probably one of the last Volant Excel 173 GS .
Great pity...
Moderator
"Good Boy". Hold down the tail flap while I get this photo for ebay. Stay, ok, now smile really big. PERFECT!!
Alpine Ace
Pulled this trick off a couple weeks ago (thankfully without injury).
Last edited by heroshmero; April 16th, 2012 at 01:51 PM.
Alpine Ace
Weird, image was there when I posted it.
Fixed it.
Trench Digger
ohh man was that one of the test doneks with da funky base?
Moderator
yep, that is pretty "BROKEN". You can save the stomp pad!!
Might be able to make a plate out of it? Looks like it is pretty close to the inserts.
Alpine Ace
It was. It rode great until I stuffed the nose in some soft snow a couple times in a row.
Alpine Ace
I did save the stomp pad! Put it on one of my wife's boards that needed it.
If anybody wants it for a plate project let me know. I would guess that it's workable.
Moderator
I would. I know I am not going to make it down to Bend again this year. Perhaps you are coming up to Portland??
Thanks, Bryan
Alpine Ace
I'm sure I will at some point. Not right away, though.
You still interested in this Burton M6 for $50?
http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulleti...-M6-Asym-Goofy
I could hold on to both for you.
Trench Digger
gutted, I knew there was another out there but not who had it.
Carver Extraordinaire
No, no it's not a smile for photo.
It's the joy of a new gift-board just is for her!
Joke, Volant will take place in the gallery of fame!
"Good Boy". Hold down the tail flap while I get this photo for ebay. Stay, ok, now smile really big. PERFECT!
Carver Extraordinaire
NoooooooooooProbably one of the last Volant Excel 173 GS .
Great pity...
You didnt tell me the damage was that bad
Tomek is right, that there was probably the last Volant 173s in existence
Moderator
No, I am certain there are other BOL members that own a Volant 173, Maybe the last one in Poland??
As a collector, I am often blown away with what is "Out there". Brand new boards from 1979? Yes.
Somewhere there is a stack of these waiting to be "Found".
Trench Digger
As a collector, I am often blown away with what is "Out there". Brand new boards from 1979? Yes.
Somewhere there is a stack of these waiting to be "Found".
Reminds of this recent story http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...ned-to-UK.html. I'm eagerly awaiting the discovery of the missing Spitfires in Burma. Can you imagine being able to fly a brand new original Spitfire?
Moderator
Bob, I had heard about this on the news. Great story. Hope they are successful in digging them up safely. Occasionally I watch the Mecum auctions. Once in a while they will have a brand new car that is 20 years old. I used to be involved with a Model A club here is town. A judge once told me that if you found a brand new perfect condition 30 Ford Coupe and entered it in a contest , it would not win. The cars we "restore" to be blue ribbon cars are far too perfect.
Alpine Ace
Well not a board, but definitely bent. It bent outwards, disengaging my fintec heel. I managed to kick it back into place using the heel of the boot, so I could get engage the heel and get down the mountain.
Guess I'll be packing a spare receiver from now on.
Moderator
Paul. Did you contact the manufacturer? Curious what came of this? Still plan to use them?Well not a board, but definitely bent. It bent outwards, disengaging my fintec heel. I managed to kick it back into place using the heel of the boot, so I could get engage the heel and get down the mountain.
Guess I'll be packing a spare receiver from now on.
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