Worn Railflex?

[Svend]

I'm hoping someone can help me with this one.  We have a pair of Fischer Progressor 8's with a Railflex II binding, that are about 4 seasons old.  When there is no boot in the binding, there is significant looseness of the toe and heel pieces on the rail.  You can really wiggle them around, and the heel piece is looser than the toe.  Is this normal?

Clicking a boot into the binding, and with the ski clamped to my vice, shows no noticeable play or looseness.  Everything seems pretty tight and snug, but then I am just exerting hand/arm pressure and am not cranking the same torque that a skier in a high speed carve would do.  Not sure if my bench test would show any faults.

Nevertheless, I am concerned that the binding-rail interface may be worn, but wanted to check in here for some feedback.  Any tech experts here that are familiar with this binding?

I should add that the skier (my wife) has not noticed any performance issues with the skis, and does not feel any looseness underfoot when clicked in.  It certainly hasn't slowed her down....sigh.... 

[jim-ratliff]

I would take the bindings off the rail and make sure that there isn't any real looseness in things that should be tight.  Look at the underside where the rail pushes into the plastic groove on each binding and make sure that nothing is really failing, and check the metal plate on the bottom of the binding that actually rides on the rail.  If those attachment points are tight then I wouldn't be very concerned; when you click into the binding the forward pressure is going to tighten things up.

I assume you are describing looseness in the binding to rail connection. The heelpiece is probably a diagonal release binding, and that does have wiggle when the binding is open.

I think the fit is normally loose, but not what I would characterize as "significant looseness".
And you probably would prefer not to have the bindings come loose from the connecting rail while skiing.
Since I know where those skis came from, if you notice significant  yellow stain coverage under the bindings, then you should dispose of them immediately.

By the way, I have an extra set of Railflex II rails and bindings I was going to dispose of.  I'll stick them in a box just in case you'd like to pick them up this summer.

[Svend]

Good advice, Jim.  Thanks.  You are correct -- the looseness is between rail and heel/toe piece slider grooves.  I know about the Tyrolia diagonal heel, and that is not the issue.  I did take one of the bindings off the rail to check for loose screws and other fasteners, but it was just a cursory inspection.  I will check more thoroughly tonight.

And yes, immediately upon receiving said skis, did I check for yellow staining.     Just to be on the safe side, they received an extended blasting from the pressure washer, followed by a dip in a sanitizing tank.  One can never be too careful these days.....   

[jim-ratliff]

Good advice, Jim.  Thanks.  You are correct -- the looseness is between rail and heel/toe piece slider grooves.   One can never be too careful these days.....   

In that case, I doubt that it's an issue. When skiing, the forces should be from the heel/toe slider piece onto the bottom of the rail groove anyway.

[HighAngles]

The "looseness" you describe is a known issue with the Railflex design.  Probably one of the primary reasons Tyrolia redesigned it with the PowerRail.

You said that you had the ski clamped in a vise and checked for any play, but please try this test and tell me what you find.  Put the ski on a solid wood or tile floor (something hard), snap a boot into the binding, then stand on the ski straddling the binding with each foot to the front and rear of the ski.  In this position, move the boot from side to side and see if the boot is moving a lot and if so, is it moving "inside" of the binding or is the toe or heel piece moving on the rails.

I've found that over time the toe and heel piece actually begin to move on the rails.  I don't believe that this is a safety issue or Tyrolia would have recalled these bindings long ago.  I also don't think it's much of an issue for a skier who isn't seeking the ultimate performance from their ski movements and edging.  It's generally not a ton of play even in a well used setup.

[Svend]

H-A:  I did as you suggested, and there is the tiniest bit of play in the heel pieces.  Barely a 1/2mm I would guess, and hardly detectable unless I press my finger on the binding-rail joint.  The toe pieces seem very snug -- I could not detect any play at all. 

Interestingly, there seems to be much more play in the rail-ski interface.  I can see the rail bending and twisting on the ski slightly.  The rail-to-ski screws are tight, so this is the rail twisting out of shape just a little bit.

All-in-all, everything seems in order, unless you have some further reservations.  If not, it looks like I have no need for concern.  Very reassuring.

Thanks for the help.

Svend

[Gary]

Love your new look Svend....your turban looks marvelous!

[Svend]

Why thank you, Sir.  It kind of goes with this winter.  If it gets any warmer up here, we're going to be skiing on sand dunes in a few years.  So much for the frozen North.