STH Gen 1 Tortional Toe Wiggle

[gunniride]

I'm not certain whether to use the term lateral or tortional to describe the issue I've faced for years with Salomon toe pieces. When my ski is flat on the snow, if I rock my knee left and right, there is play between the toe of my boot and the binding when adjusted to spec. My normal practice over the years would be to drop the toe height on the binding until it squeezed a laminated business card, then I'd give the screw one more full turn downward. Even that method would result in toe slop "torsionally" so I'd twist it another full turn or two while standing in a lift line until the toe had nearly no visible movement. I suspect that isn't the safest way to deal with the issue, but it has worked for me for years. Can't recall the last time I kicked a shoe, so I'm not entirely sure the toes would release as designed.

Fast forward to this season and I'm starting to ski again after a foot injury that kept me from skiing last season. After a long recovery from calcaneus surgery, I'm slowly getting back into skiing, but my leg is weak and I have concern for bindings releasing properly. Witnessing a friend rock his boot back and forth in a STH2 it would appear the slop I'm experiencing may be from the age of my oirginal STH? I reset the toe height closer to spec, but it has noticeable slop. Debating whether to buy a new pair of STH2s or the Strive 14 MN, or just go back to my previous practice of lowering the toe height on the STH1 until the boot is secure. (Toe wear on the Krypton alpine sole is minimal, and for the time being I've lowered my DIN in hopes of releasing as needed). Perhaps I should add that the wings are adjusted properly and checked periodically.

[toast2266]

Is it a driver toe (4 screws) or a Z type toe (3 screws, one of which is hidden)?

[gunniride]

Driver

[toast2266]

Are you pulling back on the top of the boot (effectively leveraging the toe upwards) when you set toe height? Toe wing width is tight to the boot?

Beyond that, I've got no other answers besides maybe the springs are worn out.

[gunniride]

Copy, thanks for the input. Both sets of my STHs have hundreds of days on them. Guess I'll look for some Strive MNs or STH2s

[One (+) Sentence]

Sounds like perhaps your heel track is worn out. That can lead to the torsional play you're describing.

[gunniride]

/\/\/\ Not something I had considered. Thanks for mentioning it. Will inspect more closely

[Djongo Unchained]

Toast mentioned toe wing adjustment but I didn't see any mention of it from you. If you're not tightening the wings, then plainly that's a wiggle issue up front.

And having a ton of down pressure at the toe, card tight plus a full turn, and proper forward pressure could keep you in pretty snug but that toe play would be obvious, and sketchy fosho.

Tighten toe wings before toe height screw, then snug wings again.

Edit: after rereading, I see your last line says wings are addressed. Hmmm...

Wings tight, toe height proper, forward pressure dialed. Not much left to adjust.

[waxoff]

Toast mentioned toe wing adjustment but I didn't see any mention of it from you. If you're not tightening the wings, then plainly that's a wiggle issue up front.

And having a ton of down pressure at the toe, card tight plus a full turn, and proper forward pressure could keep you in pretty snug but that toe play would be obvious, and sketchy fosho.

Tighten toe wings before toe height screw, then snug wings again.

Edit: after rereading, I see your last line says wings are addressed. Hmmm...

Wings tight, toe height proper, forward pressure dialed. Not much left to adjust.

Hey Sherlock, how about also checking the binding-ski interface, i.e. are the mount screws tight and dry, or is the core rotting. No good building a brick house on marshlands...

[Djongo Unchained]

Rotting cores and stripped holes are for old fuckers.

Shuffle along now in yer fuzzy slippers.

+ =

[waxoff]

Rotting cores and stripped holes are for old fuckers.

Shuffle along now in yer fuzzy slippers.

+ =

Hehe, I did shuffle. But sometimes I'm still right you know, young punk, grow up!

[tenB]

You’re over tightening your toe height adjustment which will prevent your toe from releasing correctly. A quarter turn more than recommened with the business card is ok. A full turn is no bueno

Fully open up toe height and toe wings. Set forward pressure first, then toe height, then snug up the toe wings. Click boot out then back in again and check and adjust forward pressure if needed.

[tuco]

Heel cup wear can be an issue that cause a loose connection

[Djongo Unchained]

You’re over tightening your toe height adjustment which will prevent your toe from releasing correctly. A quarter turn more than recommened with the business card is ok. A full turn is no bueno

Fully open up toe height and toe wings. Set forward pressure first, then toe height, then snug up the toe wings. Click boot out then back in again and check and adjust forward pressure if needed.

That's the money shot. I didn't put the process in proper order but that's it fosho; although I prefer to adjust wings both before and after toe height adjust. First to get them touching, then toe screw, then wings again to fine tune that fit.

and yeah, I crank my toe height then back it off a 1/4 turn at a time and dial in on the exact card slide tension.
A full turn can take ya from not enough to too much pretty quickly.