7tms, some questions

Oldpinner · Joined: 14 Feb 2011 Posts: 245 Location: Massachusetts

I just spent the past two days on easy groomed slopes trying out my new K2 Backsides and 7tm bindings.

I've already encountered a couple of problems, which I'm sure have to do with my inexperience on this equipment (the bindings, not the skis--they're great).

1) Reassembling the binding after a release: My right ski came off twice for no apparent reason.

How do you put the binding together on the slope after it has released? Perhaps I'm not strong enough, but when I tried to snap the toe piece back into the cam, the ski just dug into the snow. I was able to engage it with my boot in the binding--but I ended up misaligning the toe.

After my second release in two days, I brought the skis and boots into the ski shop at the mountain, where they tightened the DIN, based on their criteria for alpine gear. I had no more unexpected releases.

2) Putting the skis on in the first place.
This is probably a very stupid question, but here goes.
For some reason, I can always snap the heel piece into the groove on one of my boots easily. But getting the second one on drives me crazy.

Once I get one ski on (and it doesn't matter which ski), it seems very difficult for me to contort myself to reach down and engage the second boot.

Is there something I'm missing here, aside from perhaps from my being out of shape?

Thanks, as always,

--Joe
_________________
Never too old!

GregSimon · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 572 Location: Seattle

I don't know about problem #2. But for #1 (stepping back in) - It's all about getting the indent at the front of the release plate in place under the round thingy on the release housing. I try to poke it in there before putting any weight on the ski. Once that's in, it snaps in easily when I bring my heel down.

XXX_er · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 7407 Location: Northwest B.C.

http://www.telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=616824#616824

here ^^^is the DIN chart

After a binding release I put the notch into the wheel and step down

My GF has trouble getting the heel latched so she gets someone to help her with the heel thro the 1st thing and then for the rest of the day she kicks out of the binding

dark energy! · Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Posts: 26

issue #2. Suspect that when you are straining to bend down, the bale is slightly to the side and is hitting the sole of your boot. On my 7tms' the bale barely clears the heel of my T2x's.

Oldpinner · Joined: 14 Feb 2011 Posts: 245 Location: Massachusetts

Question 1: I've been engaging the back end of the toe piece and trying to slide it laterally until the round cam engages. Obviously, I should just put the notch against that cam and snap it downward.

Question 2: Dark Energy, I'm sure you're right. It's easy for the heel piece to be slightly out of line, and I'll have to try to make sure that the heel piece is straight when I pull it up.

And XXX_er: Thanks for the DIN chart. Now I know why the guys at the shop wanted my height, weight and age, and why they were measuring my boot sole from the 3-pin line to the heel.

--Joe
_________________
Never too old!

gpp33 · Joined: 08 Mar 2010 Posts: 413 Location: Longmont, Co

Question 1: I tried the same thing as you at first. Doing it right really is much easier.

Question 2: The more you do it the easier it gets. I can almost do it without looking now.

Nick D · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 1035 Location: Vancouver, BC

For problem #2 you could upgrade to the step in heel attachment. It used to drive me mad trying to manually click the heel into place. Now I have the step in heel it's just like an alpine binding - but I still have to bend over to fasten the safety strap. Though I don't mind that too much as it gives the old back a stretch Smile

benny · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2867 Location: NY

Chamonix · Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 1952 Location: VT near Jay Peak

Oldpinner,
I agree with darkenergy. If the heel bale is slightly off center, when you step into the binding, and it hangs up on one side of your boot heel, it can be very hard to engage the heel throw.

Do you have the 7TM ski brakes? I might have an extra set if you are interested, then no safety strap hassles.

LouReed · Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 24 Location: Madison, WI

I use the step-in heel and brakes without a safety strap, and it's great, no problems at all, highly recommended. They recommend a strap from the bail around your ankle, but I've only had that release on me once so I wouldn't worry about that.

As far as getting the binding back in, if it's off my boot I kneel over the ski, hook the front notch in, then put the heels of both of my hands on the binding and put my weight into it. If it's on the boot, it's a little tricky with the brake, but once the toe notch is lined up you just step down and it'll click in. You get used to it, practice makes perfect!

deub · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 1331 Location: bezerkeley, CA

Get the STI system it works great, all my skis now have this STI system.

demo-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ovUviHQ6ws

When you want to get back into your ski after release, Keep the binding on your boot, line it up and just step back into the release mechanism.

Side note, reexamine your preload after first skiing 7tms. The boots need a initial break in period, after which preload needs to be readjusted.

XXX_er · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 7407 Location: Northwest B.C.

http://deuberhome.com/photohtmls/skiing/7tm/images/shaveHeel.1.JPG

the heel thro is easily reshaped with a piece of coarse sandpaper on a block of wood, I did this over 5 yrs ago and no problems

Notice I knocked off the pointy bits because I found they dug into the boot and so I reshaped them to look more like a G3 heel thro which I thot worked much better

deub · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 1331 Location: bezerkeley, CA

More info

http://deuberhome.com/photohtmls/skiing/7tm/7tm_tips.htm

Oldpinner · Joined: 14 Feb 2011 Posts: 245 Location: Massachusetts

Thanks everybody for the links and suggestions.

I've been thinking seriously about those step-in heels, but first I'm going to do the old Carnegie Hall routine ("practice, practice, practice")

And, I don't know why I didn't think of this while struggling on the snow: I could put the binding into "tour mode," kneel on the ski that's engaged properly, move the other ski forward a bit and I should be able to engage the heel piece while making sure that it is lined up.

It sounds good in theory, at least.

Should be out there today--it's 64, the snow is disappearing fast, and I stupidly bought a "rest-of-season" pass. Probably a bad investment here in central Mass. Evil or Very Mad

--Joe
_________________
Never too old!

Andinista · Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Posts: 611 Location: Chile

The standard heel piece just sucks, it's not a matter of practice. Do you a favor and get the STI, it's great.

Even if you have brakes, keep using the leashes, those that go through the heel piece (crampon style). I've seen too often the binding opening from the heel piece rather than releasing from the base. That means the ski is free to go down the slope. With the crampon leash this kind of release won't even happen because it keeps the heel lever in place.

You may think that using a leash may defeat the purpose of the STI, because you'll have to bend to attach the leashes anyway. It's partially true, but it's way less effort to just attach the leashes than also attach the heels, even if you had more decent levers.

Meanwhile, you may hava a pair of heel levers from other bindings, iit might be worth to try them