Binding screw repair

Question
If you strip the holes in a ski during a binding installation I have been told you can't use more than one screw insert per toe or tail piece.

Is that true and what options are available. Also, what is a common cause of striped holes?

Thanks

Bruce

Answer
Hi Bruce, I've never heard that you cannot use one than one insert, although I can understand the logic; the hole for an insert (brass or plastic inserts) is really big, and in a narrower part of the ski, two big holes side-by-side can lead to failure of the top layer of metal or glass (on a 63mm waist race ski, 2 10mm plugs =30% of the skis surface your drilling away). Instead of brass inserts, helicoils are less invasive, and can be epoxied into place to become partially, if not fully integated into the core. You need to know what core material you have- some foam cores have been reported to react to adhesives although I've never had a problem. You can get heli-coil kits at automotive supply stores, or you can order them from tognar.com and get all the other ski stuff you need at once. They also have a lot of binding answers in their tips & tricks area.

Screws strip primarily due to shop error. I realize I'm probably going to get some shop upset by putting that in print, but there's no if's about it. Screw holes are to be drilled using a specific width and depth bit. If the shop tech decided to just use the bit in the drill, instead of switching it out for the right one, then the hole will strip out. If it's too big, it pulls out, if the bit is too small, the surface of the ski puckers when the screw is inserted, and the binding does not lay flat and then the hole gets worked loose. I can't imagine a shop that does not use a template, so ovalizing the holes because of a miss-drill is not likely (unless you have some obscure binding, and they had to do a free-mount). When the screws are put in, most shops use a screwshooter (a drill) to install them. Binding screws should only be installed at about 3-4 Nm, but many techs get a bit enthusiastic, or forget to set the clutch on the drill. They may try to fix their error with a bit of epoxy, but a stripped hole is a stripped hole unless it's fixed.

On the toe-piece, you don't have many options- for the heel you may be able to re-position the heelpiece. Bindings allow you to mount for one size boot, and adjust fore-aft by about 1 shell size (about 10-15 mm) without a re-mount. So the shop would essentially remount the heel as though you had a bigger (or smaller) boot, leaving the toe where it is. Then they would adjust the heel to accomodate the correct size boot.

Another option you have is to install an aftermarket riser plate. VIST makes several, sold through race suppliers. They screw the plate onto the ski, and then the binding onto the plate. They will make your ski much stiffer though.

Lastly, you can go to a swap, sell your current bindings, find another pair from a different manufacturer, and have them mounted.

Personally, I'd go for the helicoils.

Hope that helps...

Ron