Thread: bomber bishop main pin problems

Anyone have experience with main pins snapping on bomber bishops? I cracked a short pin last weekend and broke a long main pin this weekend. Both happened ion extemely cold temps. I currently have 2nd ski kits on 3 pairs of skis but now am worried that if these binding can not withstand cold temps I have to abandon them and rebuild my entire tele quiver. What do I do? Just replace the long main pin and keep fingers crossed this doesn't continue to happen? Not happy.

I have snapped them before. I just ordered new ones. It is good to have spares just in case. My issue did not happen in cold temps. They are nice and quick getting them out.

In some ways I think they should just use a straight pin with a sleeve overlaid. Less stress risers than with the extra machining that they do on the step down part.

The only issue I had with the cold was water freezing in the tube and the slide jamming open when flexed. Almost had a runaway ski. THis wasa user error issue though.

Originally Posted by Doremite

Anyone have experience with main pins snapping on bomber bishops? I cracked a short pin last weekend and broke a long main pin this weekend. Both happened ion extemely cold temps. I currently have 2nd ski kits on 3 pairs of skis but now am worried that if these binding can not withstand cold temps I have to abandon them and rebuild my entire tele quiver. What do I do? Just replace the long main pin and keep fingers crossed this doesn't continue to happen? Not happy.

might as well just go back to alpine

Originally Posted by Oarhead

I have snapped them before. I just ordered new ones. It is good to have spares just in case. My issue did not happen in cold temps. They are nice and quick getting them out.

Two different pins, back to back weekends coincidentally in extremely cold temps? Just seems odd since I skied them 15+ days without any issues and now they just completely break down. Anyone know how common a problem this is? Also, Bomber is out of short pins and didn't seem overly confident they'd be ordering more. Luckily I'm out a long one this time so can get 'em back functioning but next time a short one goes I'm screwed... along with anyone else without short main pins lying around. I think running two long main pins will cause some lateral play.

Originally Posted by criscam

might as well just go back to alpine

I'm a multidisciplinary athlete.

I have never broken pins, but I have gone through 2 spring tubes. I recently purchased a 2nd complete binding to use as a backup for my first pair. Sucky though. I might be going NTN if I bust another tube.

Got a little more action on this topic over on TTips - not surprising - and sounds like it could be a combination of problems.

1. I have to check but one of the heel cradles might be slightly skewed (I believe one is due to personal mount sloppyness and guessing its the same ski that I had problems with the main pins on - both breaks occured on the right ski a/k/a dominant turn).
2. The slight skewing when resting in the heel cradle led to lateral pressure on the main pins causing the pins on that ski to lossen from time to time leading to me excessively tightening them putting more and more torque on the screw (which can weaken it over time). And...
3. Extremely cold temps combined with overly torqued screws combined with a mount error that puts lateral strain on the pistons and viola.... chaos ensues.....

This is my theory as of now. Won't be able to get back up to my skis in VT until later this week to confirm my right ski in fact has a skewed heel cradle but I'm willing to bet this is my problem.

New long main pivot, toe box and adjusting my heel cradle will hopefully equal no further pivot problems.

Still open to other suggestions and certainly open to people shooting holes in my theory. Need to get to the bottom of this before I break any more of these things... especially considering Bomber is out of short main pins.

Anyone know why they are not making the Bishops again for next season?

Originally Posted by Sasquatch 83025

Anyone know why they are not making the Bishops again for next season?

It's a punishment, 'cause ya don't know how to use ze SEARCH function.

You are damn right. Thanks for the help.