G3 ION tech binding

[AlpiNord]

I guess it would be more secure but don't really see why it would be necessary. I'm happy using your glue unless I'm worried about the core.

Per G3 ION Mounting Instructions:

3. Mount Toe Assembly
a. Completely fill drilled holes with waterproof adhesive
Note:Using a slow cure epoxy significantly increases the mounting strength and it is recommended if you are an aggressive or heavy skier, if you commonly carry a loaded pack or if you use wide skis.

I had to tighten mine as well which was due to machine screws and inserts without threadlocker until the next swap.

[neck beard]

If you completely fill the holes with glue, then where does all that glue go when you force a screw in there?

[zeroforhire]

If you completely fill the holes with glue, then where does all that glue go when you force a screw in there?

I found it insanely difficult to fill the holes completely. I didn't have a syringe and the hardman epoxy kept sticking to the toothpick I was using to jam it in there. I got it mostly filled. I assume the adhesive soaks into the core a bit and some comes out the top.

[AlpiNord]

The intent is to create a thorough seal for the glue plus a bond with the epoxy. Using a toothpick or something similar to assure you have removed air bubbles and substantially coated around the sides and bottom of the holes is the main thing, not whether the hole is filled to the brim, IMO.

[neck beard]

This meant there was a gap between the aluminum frame and the plastic baseplate.

I just mounted a second pair and found the plastic base and metal frame fitted together ok, however it was not a loose fit. It required some pressure to keep them snug. I bit like tightening enough to take the 'push' out of a spring washer, but not that springy. There is zero un-tightened gap in the toes on this mount so I'll be interested to see if they loosen. Can't see why they would.

I also managed to get my IONs around a Dynafit Vertical drill pattern ok without moving the mount too much. New and old toe holes are probably 9mm apart, center to center. Perhaps only just enough. Next is replacing some Radicals....

Regarding the ION mount instructions, I'm not convinced that initially leaving the toe loose to micro-adjust the alignment really works. Just getting the boot back out of the toe piece after micro adjustment will void any micro adjustment. It is impossible to remove the boot without the toe moving.

[Jigarex is liberating].

[neck beard]

Thought of this on the skin track recently:

ION


Plum with forward-pointing toe mounted brakes is Boba Fett's odd looking spaceship that no one thought was cool.

Not sure what the Radical 2.0 would be other than... not yet operational.

/conditional bias

[rug wheelie]

Regarding the ION mount instructions, I'm not convinced that initially leaving the toe loose to micro-adjust the alignment really works. Just getting the boot back out of the toe piece after micro adjustment will void any micro adjustment. It is impossible to remove the boot without the toe moving.

A lot of shops mount tech bindings this way. Snug all the toe screws down about 80%. Install the boot and dial the boot alignment at the heel. Tighten the front screws on the toe all the way. Release the boot. Tighten the back toe screws. Done.

[neck beard]

A lot of shops mount tech bindings this way. Snug all the toe screws down about 80%. Install the boot and dial the boot alignment at the heel. Tighten the front screws on the toe all the way. Release the boot. Tighten the back toe screws. Done.

I should have worded differently. The ION instructions say to remove the boot after alignment, then tighten all the toe screws. See step 5.c
http://www.genuineguidegear.com/site...3-AT2-E001.pdf

[neck beard]

Not having so much luck mounting the ION over a Radical drill pattern. Has anyone else tried it?

Previous drill was on the line.

I think I'll have to mount the ION toe -1 and the heel -1.5, then adjust the heel piece in even further than normally required, to about ~5mm of the shortest threshold. I doubt I'll go down a BSL from my current Dynafit boot, so this is not so bad. But not great for future resale to small feet.

Vipec:



Too much plastic.

[XXX-er]

Regarding the ION mount instructions, I'm not convinced that initially leaving the toe loose to micro-adjust the alignment really works. Just getting the boot back out of the toe piece after micro adjustment will void any micro adjustment. It is impossible to remove the boot without the toe moving.

well ya you have already drilled all the screws with out knowing if they are in the right place

I know it may sound like heresey but why not get the heel piece screwed in solid dead center, get one screw solidly into the the toe piece, lock the boot into the heelpiece and let the binding pivot around that ONE screw so the toe finds its happy place and drill at least one more toe piece screw to locate the toe which you can usually do, take the boot out and drill the rest

[Pudge.]

Next year's brakeless Ion. $500 MSRP? Isn't that the MSRP of the Ion with the brake? Hopefully continued promising reports with first gen. so I can get on a pair of these

[el hefe]

Skied the shit out of these inbounds today. 40cm's at the hill and was giving er, lots of flat landings decent drops and high speed turns through chopped pow. No problems, these bindings are great.

[el hefe]

Except the brakes, anyone adjusted them by bending them up a bit so they don't sit so low on the sidewalls of the ski? They were dragging a bit on cat tracks.

[Adrgha]

How much "play" is there supposed to be between the boot and the heel piece in these, and tech bindings in general? I've no previous experience with tech bindings other than these, so bear with me. I noticed today while skiing some deep pow that the heels seem to move up and down a bit within the heel pieces, and more on one ski than the other. I suppose some play is to be expected, but how much is too much, so to say? Is this normal? I have Dynafit Mercury boots, brand new as well.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

How much "play" is there supposed to be between the boot and the heel piece in these, and tech bindings in general? I've no previous experience with tech bindings other than these, so bear with me. I noticed today while skiing some deep pow that the heels seem to move up and down a bit within the heel pieces, and more on one ski than the other. I suppose some play is to be expected, but how much is too much, so to say? Is this normal? I have Dynafit Mercury boots, brand new as well.

I'm not really clear on what you're talking about given your description. By play do you mean a gap between the boot and heel piece? There shouldn't be any on the ION. What exactly are we talking about?

[xyz]

Skied the shit out of these inbounds today. 40cm's at the hill and was giving er, lots of flat landings decent drops and high speed turns through chopped pow. No problems, these bindings are great.

Yup. I've got about 20 days on these so far this season. Mostly touring but a few inbounds laps in there for sure. So far so great. Solid bindings.

[frorider]

A commenter on wildsnow.com also had an issue with the plastic underplate not fitting the toepiece aluminum frame, thereby causing mount screws to loosen. A dremel tool quickly solves this issue, but g3 needs to get that injection molded plastic part quality under control.

[Adrgha]

I'm not really clear on what you're talking about given your description. By play do you mean a gap between the boot and heel piece? There shouldn't be any on the ION. What exactly are we talking about?

Sorry, English's not my native tongue, so I'm probably not very good at explaining. But basically, I can move the heels up and down a fair bit after I've clipped into ski mode. There's some movement between the pins and the shoe (expected, I guess), but the pins also move a few milimeters within the heel piece, and the heel piece itself moves a little in the mounting bracket. This results in the heels feeling a little "loose". I'm just wondering how tight this is supposed to be... As I said, no previous experience with tech bindings.

Other than this, I've skiied a lot on these the last few months, and I've had no issues whatsoever.

[bobsdesk]

Frorider - that was probably me. As you know there is a plastic baseplate under the primary toe piece. I'm getting visible slop (1mm) in the metal toe piece. Binding screws aren't spinning, and I can't get them to turn. This becomes pretty noticeable when you're touring and there's additional leverage on the toe.

I think this is happening because the upper metal toe piece doesn't fit PERFECTLY into the mold of the plastic...hence your comment about better QC.

Have you seen this happen and if so, what are you dremeling to fix the issue?

[MagnificentUnicorn]

I would say the problem with the plastic base plate and metal toe not fitting together is because they fit perfectly. I had the problem and took the binding off and the plastic mates perfectly with the the metal. If the holes aren't lined up really straight it take some persuasion to get the metal toe to mate perfectly with plastic base and sit flat on the ski.

[el hefe]

So no one else is having a issue with the brakes sitting wide and low? Mine sit part way down the side wall. Thinking of either removing them (doesn't look easy) or taking a dremel and reducing the size of the black plastic.

[neck beard]

No problems here with brakes.

Ramp angle: side by side with the same ski mounted Dynafit Radicals, the ION higher toe stack height is very obvious. The heel pins seem to be at the same height. So less ramp angle on the ION. And you can really feel it skiing. So much so that I am getting back seat too often. After 800 days on the Dynafit forward ramp angle, my subconscious body posture naturally counterbalances the forward ramp, by being more rearward than is normal. Now that the forward ramp angle is gone, my body posture is out of line too far the back. I'm subconsciously compensating backwards for a for something that is no longer there. Proving a hard habit to break. Thanks Dynafit. At least that is my excuse for some shit skiing this season.

Next year's brakeless Ion.

Same heel drill pattern? It is expensive, but for 1 week-multiple week trips I really like to carry a full "speed' heel piece to replace a broken 'normal' heel piece in the field if required. [And thanks to G3 I would no longer need to carry multiple driver heads to do the work]

[CarveMan]

I'm looking forward to the lack of ramp. Much more neutral posture.

Being too far forward is just as bad as being too far back - where you want to be is centred. Get used to it

[neck beard]

Get used to it

I'm trying, I want to. But it is going to take a while after skiing so much on Dynafit high heels.

[galibier_numero_un]

Speaking of leashes, does anyone have any thoughts as to the least intrusive place to attach powder cords? I'm not a fan of digging for skis

That little spot on the front of the lever looks like a candidate for some 3mm cord, but I don't want to interfere with the touring action. I suppose it's time to experiment and report back.

Not sure how to post an in-stream photo, but here are possible solutions:

http://www.galibierdesign.com/images...n_0800_Med.jpg
http://www.galibierdesign.com/images...l_0800_Med.jpg

Edit: packing up for 4 days at Alta ... field testing time

Cheers,
Thom