Dynafit Radical ST - both heel pieces broken

[freeryan]

Skinning up the other day on mostly unbroken slopes both bindings on my Radical STs started counter-clockwise rotating me into ski mode. Very annoying during a climb! They ski'd down fine but when I investigated looks like the sheer pin in both heel pieces has cracked away the housings.

I've emailed Salewa in hopes that they'll replace these under warranty. Has anyone had experience like this, and will Dynafit make good? If not, can anyone suggest any workarounds to keep the bindings from locking my heel in while climbing?

PS: I don't have a dealer in my town.

pics:

[reukk]

You'll need to get some of these from Salewa:

http://www.wildsnow.com/7898/dynafit...-installation/

These anti twist contraptions are included when you buy radicals new. I'm guessing you bought yours last year? It's a pretty well known problem so hopefully dynafit/salewa will help you out...

[freeryan]

Yea last years model with the original pins. I was aware of an antitwist option from Maurelli (sp?) in Europe but pretty expensive to ship to me here in Alaska. So, thanks for sharing the link about the Dynafit version option! I'll wait for a reply to my email and hopefully Salewa can make it all good.

[adrenalated]

Dynafit/Salewa should take care of you. Known issue from last year that has been resolved with this year's bindings.

[moose pit]

Where are the gear wolves?

Hopefully you get shit working before real winter sets in. Vibes for your smashed dynafits.

[billyhoyle]

Did you ever get this resolved? I noticed one of my heel posts is cracked in a couple of spots (right before I started a climb last weekend...not exactly confidence inspiring). They seemed to ski all right, but the auto-rotate was annoying (happened 3 times during the day). I emailed salewa with pics, but no word yet.

Does anyone have any idea how unsafe it is to ski with a crack in the plastic like that? Seems like a bad idea to me, but if anyone else has experience, let me know. I want to minimize my downtime here.

[n0t1ap]

Sweet.

Saw thread. Checked mine.

One side is ok, no signs of cracks. The other side is on an independent weight savings scheme apparently. Thanks for the heads up on this.

[Vt-Freeheel]

Did you ever get this resolved? I noticed one of my heel posts is cracked in a couple of spots (right before I started a climb last weekend...not exactly confidence inspiring). They seemed to ski all right, but the auto-rotate was annoying (happened 3 times during the day). I emailed salewa with pics, but no word yet.

Does anyone have any idea how unsafe it is to ski with a crack in the plastic like that? Seems like a bad idea to me, but if anyone else has experience, let me know. I want to minimize my downtime here.

Will soon look like this...

[n0t1ap]

Update:

REI, excellent.

Bindings purchased in March of last year, emailed them, they said return them for a refund. They warraty their stuff.

Not sure if I want to dismount my bindings and send them back just yet though. Will wait for Salewa's reply.

In the meantime, other set rig is my goto. FT12's.

[1000-oaks]

Salewa will definitely warranty them, it's a known weakness in the first year Radical heel.

1st gen: anti-rotation pin in heel post is solid brass.
2nd gen: the brass pin has a deep groove so the pin will break before the housing.
3rd gen: the brass pin is eliminated and a new anti-rotate device is attached to the brake (heavier than pin, but no potential for housing breakage).

1st gen heels can be turned into 2nd or 3rd gen heels by updating to a newer anti-rotation feature.

[timmaio]

I had a similar problem with my Speed Radical on one side. Warrantee and they sent me a new plastic body, didn't have to have any downtime and I skied them just fine until the replacement came.

[GeezerSteve]

Correct chronology, 1000-oaks, but maybe that ought to be "first generation, second generation," etc., not by year. IICR, the relieved pin was introduced halfway through the debut year.

Anyway, are the new Radical Speeds with the (non-pin) notch anti-rotation design holding up? Just curious. I'm personally set with plenty o' Speed Classics, Comforts and Verts in my household.

[water-]

mine have started rotating, most specifically whatever is under my left side. looks like mine had the shear-pins in there and the pins have sheared off. a bit of a grind on the plastic housing but no damage to it.



side note, the lateral release springs, the one has a lot of corrosion and rust. this atypical? or just clean it off and put some more grease on it?

[GeezerSteve]

side note, the lateral release springs, the one has a lot of corrosion and rust. this atypical? or just clean it off and put some more grease on it?

Not unusual. I've seen way worse. Yup, clean it up and liberally grease it. I do it at least 2X per season.

[Johnny Deep]

^^^

Factory levels of lube is pretty thin. Don't be afraid to glop that stuff on. Too much is a good thing IMO.

[billyhoyle]

Salewa's customer service is pretty stellar. Took a few days, but they're sending me a new heel unit, no questions asked. Seems they're out of the updated pins at the moment though...

Any more info/link on the anti-rotate device that DOESN'T require brakes? That maurelli website is a daymare.

[XXX-er]

how about the known problem of the heel lifter peeling the top plate off the heel of the radicals ?

Nice design but I followed a big guy up the skin track and noticed those lifters flex a LOT have any big people had a warranty claim and have any big people had more than one warranty claim on this problem?

[n0t1ap]

Update: Salewa sending me a new heel piece no questions asked. +1 for excellent service.

[Prodigy]

how about the known problem of the heel lifter peeling the top plate off the heel of the radicals ?

Nice design but I followed a big guy up the skin track and noticed those lifters flex a LOT have any big people had a warranty claim and have any big people had more than one warranty claim on this problem?

That's not a known problem because it's not a problem. People were breaking the metal plate of the heel lifters (typically either at the screw holes or on the folded tabs which retain the axle pin that the lifters rotate on) because hydrogen got into the mix and made it too brittle. 2012-2013 bindings aren't having issues.

[XXX-er]

That's not a known problem because it's not a problem. People were breaking the metal plate of the heel lifters (typically either at the screw holes or on the folded tabs which retain the axle pin that the lifters rotate on) because hydrogen got into the mix and made it too brittle. 2012-2013 bindings aren't having issues.

It was a known problem in the 1st yr of the radical otherwise you wouldn't know what you know, unless there is feedback how do we know if they fixed it ?

[Lamothe]

So , Whats the deal on using the heels in the OP ? Just looked at mine and they are broken, can you still use them or should they be repaired?

[KIRinPNW]

Bump.. need to know same as Lamothe as my heel piece is cracked and I'm in the middle of a trip a long way from home.. seem to ski fine, so keep going until I get back stateside and can replace?

[XXX-er]

Lamothe if you are a guide there was an explanation of what to do on the infoex website which some missed and I'm not sure if the info is still current

I can't see Kir in pnw getting any kind of warranty over there so either buy a new one or hope for the best?[TGRVIDEO_REM][/TGRVIDEO_REM]

Personaly after blowing up a radical heelpiece I don't travel with a radical, I only travel with a vert and since I have 2 pair of verts I take an extra Vert heelpice with me even tho it isn't near as likely to blow up as a Rad but safety is safer eh?

edit: i forgot to mention you need to carry TWO of the longest ski straps to daisy chain together so they will be long enough to hold yer heel down in case the heel piece explodes, a gear nerd azn lawyer is handy to strap it all together but not necessary

[harpo-the-skier]

Yeah, I stocked up on Vert ST's while they were still available. I also like my Plum Guides. The Verts are going strong but aren't as heavily used as they are on my better half's skis. I beat up on the Plums and they have worn, but they are easy to fix and they haven't failed catastrophically yet. Being newly married, I am not spending as much time paying attention to the latest binding innovations.

[XXX-er]

Probably a good way TO stay married ... which is usually cheaper eh