Atomic Centro 412's...pre-release issues?

**PlayHarder** · 10-19-2006, 12:49 PM

Centro is the demo track

Maybe looking to deep?

**Viva** · 10-19-2006, 01:01 PM

Had the same problem with Xentric 412 bindings. I was skiing Blackcomb with the AD and I would pre release just trying to get across a cat track. Went to a shop in the village and the tech immediately swapped out the heel pieces with new ones for no charge.

**Joanie** · 10-19-2006, 01:05 PM

L7, are you a tech? An Atomic rep or certified tech? How did you know how to check the heel piece otherwise?

I appreciate the information. I just wish I'd known sooner.

**Joanie** · 10-19-2006, 01:07 PM

Viva, when was that?

Did the tech at the shop in the village tell you about the issue with that era of Atomic heel pieces?

L7 · 10-19-2006, 01:41 PM

Yes I'm a certified tech.

**cantunamunch** · 10-19-2006, 01:52 PM

I've released from a set of Atomics into a header.

Of course, I was a twit not to
a) clear the toepiece and lug of icing
b) spot the compression before the fog rolled in.

The bindings were (are) a perfectly fine set of 1018s.
I'm SO happy with my old MCL.

**PlayHarder** · 10-19-2006, 02:04 PM

^^^You're not suggesting that the binding may have just done what it's designed to do, are you. Unpossible.^^^

**jfost** · 10-19-2006, 02:20 PM

I blew out of NEOX 4.12's (on M:ex) on a hard left turn - my left (inside) toe released. Then the right one blew out in moguls.

Bindings set up correctly, mounted and tested by Atomic Tech, DIN at 8 all around. I gave the skis to my dad, who wants to be safe at all times.

**Viva** · 10-19-2006, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Joanie

Viva, when was that?

Did the tech at the shop in the village tell you about the issue with that era of Atomic heel pieces?

This was two or three years ago and bindings were 2 years old at that time. Yeah, the tech said that Atomic had authorized them to replace heel pieces and he had a box of them in stock for this very reason. I was lucky that this was in Canada, 'cause in the US, I was told, I would have had to go through Atomic warranty channels.

**Joanie** · 10-19-2006, 02:50 PM

But the heel pieces...or the springs within them...didn't necessarily break, correct?

Anyway...L7, you being a certified Atomic tech, if I gave you my personal specs (height, weight, DIN), would you be able to tell me anything more? Just curious, really. Maybe it has nothing to do with anything, but I can tell you with absolute certainty that the guy who set me up was/is a certified Atomic tech.

Another guy told me that the "bad batch" of bindings everybody talks about were a certain color...an orange/reddish color with checkerboard somewhere. I can tell you that the bindings I've got don't look like that at all. But...from all I'm reading, it sounds like that whole "color" issue is bogus because from what I understand the "bad batch" from back then was not just a bad batch of Centros but pertained to other models as well.

Some might say I'm overreacting, but I think pre-releases are horrifically dangerous. Mine certainly scared the crap out of me, I can tell you that. I thought I was going to bite the dust...er, the snow...right then and there.

And oddly enough, I have never pre-released from a binding in all the years I've been skiing. Never. Not even once. Which is probably odd, considering all I'm reading here.

**Joanie** · 10-19-2006, 02:55 PM

What Viva said here says a lot.

I guess I can see why L7 knows exactly how to spot the issue in those bindings.

L7, did Atomic also send you a bunch of heel pieces in case of returns to your shop? Maybe they only did that in Canada. Or maybe they did it across the board?

I'm just curious if certified Atomic techs throughout the U.S. were given a heads up about this issue back in 2002 or thereabouts. Were you, L7?

The reason I ask is that maybe you're right...maybe the tech who set me up had been sort of pre-warned about this potential issue with the heel pieces and didn't give it enough credence or whatever. In that sense, I guess you'd be right. Do you suppose certified Atomic techs were given this information?

**cantunamunch** · 10-19-2006, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by Joanie

But the heel pieces...or the springs within them...didn't necessarily break, correct?
... Maybe it has nothing to do with anything, but I can tell you with absolute certainty that the guy who set me up was/is a certified Atomic tech.

Did he do a release test? Before the fall or after? Bad heels would and do show up on release tests. There really is no mystery.

Another guy told me that the "bad batch" of bindings everybody talks about were a certain color...an orange/reddish color with checkerboard somewhere. I can tell you that the bindings I've got don't look like that at all. But...from all I'm reading, it sounds like that whole "color" issue is bogus because from what I understand the "bad batch" from back then was not just a bad batch of Centros but pertained to other models as well.

Checkerboard -> winner flag logo on the toepiece of the possibly suspect 310s and 412s of that era (and 614s and 1018s, not so suspect) That lets you date them. Yours are not them.

**Joanie** · 10-19-2006, 05:07 PM

I wouldn't be so fast in assuming those are not mine.

**cantunamunch** · 10-19-2006, 05:56 PM

I have no reason to assume that they are since they do not look like this.

**CantDog** · 10-19-2006, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by Joanie

. Mine certainly scared the crap out of me, I can tell you that. I thought I was going to bite the dust...er, the snow...right then and there.

And oddly enough, I have never pre-released from a binding in all the years I've been skiing. Never. Not even once. Which is probably odd, considering all I'm reading here.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that you might ski a bit more conservatively than many folks here.

**cantunamunch** · 10-19-2006, 10:43 PM

CantDog, you krazy mon to go out on limb like dat.

**Joanie** · 10-20-2006, 07:24 AM

haha, you guys are too much!

I was too dramatic in my statement. I didn't mean it the way it sounded. I guess "ever" means "ever", no matter how you say it though.

I more meant "under these circumstances"...so...call me Sarah Heartburn.

Oh, and CantDog, those bindings you kindly supplied a picture of...those are the Race version of the Centro 412. These were not the only bindings affected.

Thanks again, guys.

**Viva** · 10-20-2006, 08:09 AM

Sooooooooooooo, now that we've got that out of the way, tell us a little more about yourself, Joanie. Any pictures to share (nekkid, of course), do you have a hottie younger sister, do you like bacon, etc.?

L7 · 10-20-2006, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by Joanie

haha, you guys are too much!

I was too dramatic in my statement. I didn't mean it the way it sounded. I guess "ever" means "ever", no matter how you say it though.

I more meant "under these circumstances"...so...call me Sarah Heartburn.

Oh, and CantDog, those bindings you kindly supplied a picture of...those are the Race version of the Centro 412. These were not the only bindings affected.

Thanks again, guys.

The picture is not a centro that's for sure.

**Joanie** · 10-20-2006, 11:11 AM

Sorry...I meant to say that I think they are the Race version of the 412.

**Joanie** · 10-21-2006, 05:30 AM

Guys, if there's a "weak metal band" in the heel piece, I would assume that even when the tech tested it, it might not show as a member of the so-called "bad batch", BUT it might still cause me to pre-release. Am I right?

**Shin-to-Win** · 01-26-2007, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by L7

Also check the binding with no boot in it and the heel cup up. The back lever should move freely. If it does not move freely in this position there is a broken internal piece that happened with a limited production and you MIGHT still get somewhere with warranty.

Damn, I'm pretty sure I have a set of these "bad batch" racing 4-12's. They're on my beer league race skis that have only 10 days after 4 seasons. Took 'em out last night and pre-released on the cat track right before my first run. Blew out again three gates in. They sure do look purdy with those checkered flags but what fucking pieces of shit!!

Hope the shop or Atromic takes some pity on me. So would a set of 614's be OK? What else can I use for my skinny Atomic BetaRace 9.20's? I have some solly 914's and PX14's in the basement. Do I need that mount what you want plate or can I mount to the plastic riser that's there already?

**dtg1962** · 07-19-2007, 08:42 AM

I saw this discussion on the pre-release problems with the Centro binding and it interested me because I know someone who was badly hurt after her Atomic binding released. It saddens and shocks me to learn that this was not the first time this happened and Atomic apparently knew about these problems all along and did nothing about it. How many others has this happened to? Is there any way to hold Atomic accountable for selling such a lousy product? Why haven’t they told people if they know about these problems with the bindings? What can we do to make sure that this doesn’t happen to anyone else?

L7 · 07-19-2007, 10:25 AM

The incidence of the specific problem was pretty low so FIRST I guess your friend would want to determine if his/her injuries had anything to do with this specific problem. The much more common problem was pilot error, snow under the boot, self inccorrect adjustment, lack of maintenance, worn boot soles and a host of other things. Then I guess the recourse would be a court of law. Our friend Joanie was bound and determined to blame Atomic and anyone but herself but that doesn't mean she would win a court case nor does it mean every ski accident was caused by the binding.

**JOEL** · 03-19-2009, 01:47 PM

I hope all the folks in the thread know this already, but Atomic re-called a large number of bindings for rear (heal) release problems. You can check the Atomic site, or better yet the CPSC site under recall atomic bindings (google). Some the relevant text is as follows:

The models with a widespread suspected problem were made between 1998 and 2002. (Have to read very small dot under heal lever for DOM. I had to use a magnifying glass. ) From the CPSC site (or the Atomic site) this is the information regarding which models are subject to the recall:

Description: The recall affects the heel components of the following Atomic alpine ski bindings: Race 310, Race 412, RaceRace 310, RaceRace 412, Xentrix 310, Xentrix 311, Xentrix 412, C310, C311, C412, CR 310, CR 412, R 310, R 412, SX 310, SX 412, Device 311, Device 412, Centro 310, Centro 412, and Dynamic ADX 312, RD10, X412, Centro 412. The recall includes only those bindings manufactured from 1998 through 2002 The year of manufacture can be located on the underside of the heel lever.

Sold at: Authorized Atomic USA ski dealers nationwide from 1998 through 2005