Solly Z12 Pre-Releasing (maybe a JONG question)

**taynton** · 04-14-2007, 10:09 PM

I got a pair of Armada ANTs at the end of December, and wanted to eventually run them with Trekkers, so mounted them with Solly z12's. I've been having some pretty bad problems with them releasing on me.

Shop set DIN to 8, I later raised it on another shop's suggestion to 9.5. I'm 5'10", probably 175ish pounds. I used to race, and am thinking about doing some big mtn comps next year. Boots seem to fit fine, and I believe the second shop checked this.

What happens is when I slip/ speed check a little on rutted hardpacked with a bit of speed, the weighted ski feels like it rolls off. This usually happens on steep, tracked out drop-ins. In all cases, the heal stays down (meaning toe/ lateral release?).

When the DIN was at 8, this seemed like a daily occurance. After I upped the DIN it definately got better, but still happened twice today, both resulting in long, nasty tumbles. Right now, it seems that I am at more of a risk of injury from these pre-releases than a failled release. In fact, I don't think these skis have ever released as a result of a fall.

My old skis were 178 Line Skogan Sprangs, look p12's at DIN at 7, had very few releases and no problems. The second shop I talked to suggested that my problems were probably due to the fact that I was skiing the Armada's harder and they are wider causing more torque- makes sense.

Any suggestions? Is this the mark of a failling binding, or am I just a JONG that needs to up his DIN some more?

I once heard that you shouldn't turn your DIN past the "dark zone" (10 in the case of the Z12). Is this true?

**summit** · 04-14-2007, 10:47 PM

hmmm dunno!

certain that thhe forward pressure is right? mabe it is a lemon that had Z10 springs slipped into it?

**Singel** · 04-14-2007, 11:25 PM

Have them torque tested and if they check out turn the din to 10.5/11ish? I dunno about that whole dark zone thing, seems like that's an issue that is constantly debated between a lot of people who don't know anything about bindings. I don't know anything about bindings, but I wouldn't be too worried about riding on 11 out of 12, but might not go all the way to 12...

I had a few releases set at 9ish on Mojo 15's, turned them to 11 and haven't had any problems since (1-2 good releases since I think...)

**jerr** · 04-15-2007, 06:04 AM

Originally Posted by Singel

I dunno about that whole dark zone thing,

I agree. I can understand the thought process that says it's no good but I don't think it's right. If you look at a spring and it's housing it's not as-though the spring is closed up at the end of it's range, nor is it released at the opposite end. The spring is always under pressure, in the same manner, and is free to respond whether it's in the middle or at the ends of the din travel.

Having said that I never use the first or last setting... just in case I'm wrong.

I'm such a pussy/hypocrite.

Sorry t - no idea about the binding release. Sounds ugly though.

**Tyrone Shoelaces** · 04-15-2007, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by taynton

I used to race, and am thinking about doing some big mtn comps next year.

I rocked Z12's on a wide ski (144-115-133) for a few days at DIN 11 to 12 and had zero problems with pre-releases (5'10" 180 lbs)....of course at that DIN and my weight, I shouldn't ibe f the binding is functioning properly. However, IMVHO, I would NOT enter big mountain comps on these things. In a recent 3 day comp, i competed the first 2 days on the Z12's with no problems, but during the inspection run on the 3rd day, both plastic heel tracks broke/cracked, ejected me, and the bindings were totally thrashed. Do a search here and you'll find another recent Z12 thread were this has happened to others as well.

Like others above have said, your pre-release problem could possibly be a forward pressure thing and you should have them torque tested at a shop for good measure, but also keep an eye out for any cracks on the heel tracks (down near the heel mounting screws) that might develop over time.

EDIT: here's the other Z12 thread I mentioned with more info http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=81205

**taynton** · 04-15-2007, 02:56 PM

Yes, there are some cracks around one of the mounting screws, but they appeared to be cosmetic. All four rear screws have a crack on the inside of the binding, making me think this is not a crack but something manufactured into the binding.

Also, I think that both skis are having releasing problems, but I'll have to confirm this with the people I ski with. All of the ejections I can think of have been left turns, but it is the left binding that has cracking. Both ejections yesterday were of the right ski.

I noticed the cracking a while ago, before I took them to the second shop. I assumed that the shop would have noticed this had they looked at them, and would have told me if they were something to worry about.

I took it easy on them for a while after I adjusted the DIN, and they seemed to be not as bad so I assumed this wasn't a problem. Maybe the shop just assumed it was a DIN problem and didn't bother to check them like I asked.

Tyrone: thanks for the link, I saw it already when I searched before posting this.

Unfortunately the store I bought them from is ten hours away. Looks like I'm taking them into another shop here and riding the park skis for the time being...

**Phill** · 04-15-2007, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by taynton

What happens is when I slip/ speed check a little on rutted hardpacked with a bit of speed, the weighted ski feels like it rolls off. This usually happens on steep, tracked out drop-ins. In all cases, the heal stays down (meaning toe/ lateral release?).

Had this happen to me right above some rocks today, very sketch. I weigh the same as you but am on tyrolias. The release happend at a din of 12.5. The fact that I just had a simmilar prerelease to you on a different kind of binings makes me think that maybe you just need to crank them a little more.

**powder4breakfast** · 04-15-2007, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by taynton

I once heard that you shouldn't turn your DIN past the "dark zone" (10 in the case of the Z12). Is this true?

While this has been debated before, I contacted the Salomon factory and was assured that there is no problem with running a 12 din binding at 12. For saftey, bindings must perform properly at each available din setting. Even though I usually run 14 din bindings set at 12... right now, I have my Prophet 130s mounted with 12 din 900s set at 12. No problems.