adjusting bindings on 20+ yr old skis

[sparkletarte.]

I found some sweet old flourescent pink Atomic Arc skis that I want to set up for retro day. They have Marker M16 bindings on them, I'll assume they're equally as old. Also some great rear entry boots. The bindings are too big by about 1" so I have to move them. I've never done this before.

The thing is that under the toe pieces, the lower plastic part is cracked at the front on both of them. The upper part that holds the boot in is solid (it has a solid main part and two detached parts on either side). I put some force on them and they still seem solidly attached. I'm thinking it would be better to leave the toe pieces alone and move the heel part... ? Do I need to find a drill template and where would I get one for old bindings like this? I checked out the template threads but I'm figuring that patterns change (maybe not?).

I did find other boots that are a bit too big that pretty much fit the bindings but they aren't quite as awesome as the rear entry boots. If it would be safer to not touch the bindings I can work with them.

I'm not sure about how to do this and the stupid/danger level. I'm probably just going to be skiing casual groomers on them.

[farmer]

they have markers on them, so safety is all relative. (aka non-existent)

some older solly's should be easy enough to find, would still be retro and are less likely to fall apart.

[Prodigy]

OR... you could get some newer bindings professionally mounted and not trust your physical wellbeing to some (as far as you know) unmaintained, untested, visually broken 20 year old hardware that you clearly have no experience with and no idea how to manipulate because you can't even identify potential problems with relevant terminology besides "part". Seriously, make better decisions here.

[PhilM]

Agree with Farmer. 2010 Markers are scary enough, let alone broken 20 + years old...Search for salomon 900 / 997 / 977 / 957 on craigslist and you might even get them for free on some old trashy skis. I scored some minty 997 14 DIN bindings from craigslist for free a couple of months ago, then ditched the crappy skis.

[spicoli424]

Be real safe, Drill the old boots directly to the skis! no shitty markers needed!

[Tunco]

Sounds like you've got some kids stuff.

[sparkletarte.]

not kids stuff, they are 170's which is my length (longer than what I have now, 164). pretty much all the others were over 190.

there were some skis that had all metal bindings and some might have been sollys so I'll check them out.

the other big choice is rear entry munaris or regular something else. they both look good with the skis but the rear entry boots have a certain extra something. although I have stretchy navy blue race pants so probably regular. but rear entry boots, so great.

[Tunco]

Sounds more like kids stuff.

[1000-oaks]

Thinking back to my Marker MR turntable from 1988, I can't say I have any more faith in today's bindings than I would those.

I realize someone 20 years old might think binding technology has changed a lot since then, but when you look at how they work today's stuff is pretty much the same as the top-end bindings from 1990.

Now, would I go back as far as 1980? Hell no, there was a lot of improvement between 1980 and 1990.

[sparkletarte.]

heh, yeah, the last time I skied before a couple years ago they were long and straight. I was pretty surprised when I first got back on skis again a couple years ago at how well I did but I'm sure some portion of that was the shape.

I wouldn't go back to safety straps. that's too far for me. once was enough.