Switchback question

This is the World Famous TelemarkTalk / TelemarkTips Forum, by far the most dynamic telemark and backcountry skiing discussion board on the world wide web. We have fun here, come on in and be a part of it.
User avatar
woodchuck
Posts: 70
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 9:28 am

Switchback question

Post by woodchuck » Sat Mar 17, 2018 1:33 pm

My cartridges back themselves off during ascent. They start out adjusted to Voile specs (4 - 6mm past the index mark). Voile says the threads are to be greased and mine are. I get some rubbing between boot and cartridge -- enough to buff off the red finish in spots -- maybe that's (part of) the problem?

We're talking as many as six turns of adjustment in an 800' ascent. There's nothing particularly repeatable or consistent about this either. The worst offender is typically the right side of the right boot.

Bend the rods to eliminate contact with boots? Loctite? Witchcraft?

User avatar
connyro
needs to take stock of his life
needs to take stock of his life
Posts: 1233
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2015 11:46 am

Re: Switchback question

Post by connyro » Sat Mar 17, 2018 2:39 pm

If I had to guess, it sounds like you may have your bindings mis-adjusted so one cartridge has more pre-load than the other one. When I have an imbalance in the adjustments between the two cartridges, I notice that the heel throw is not aligned on the center of the ski and one cartridge 'pulls' more than the other one. This can cause play in the boot/binding interface, possibly causing the cartridge to unscrew.



User avatar
lowangle al
Posts: 2732
Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 3:36 pm
Location: Pocono Mts / Chugach Mts
Ski style: BC with focus on downhill perfection
Favorite Skis: powder skis
Favorite boots: Scarpa T4
Occupation: Retired cement mason. Current job is to take my recreation as serious as I did my past employment.

Re: Switchback question

Post by lowangle al » Sun Mar 18, 2018 12:22 pm

You might be right about the rubbing of the cartridge and the boot causing it. Maybe it will get better over time as the grease on the threads dries up.

This isn't a cure, but I used to put tape on the rod to mark the spot where they should be adjusted to. This way I could easily see if they were loosening and I knew where they needed to be readjusted to.



User avatar
dnt_upton
Posts: 140
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2015 10:00 pm
Location: Drink Moxie

Re: Switchback question

Post by dnt_upton » Sun Mar 18, 2018 3:00 pm

It's the grease. I had the same problem.

I think Vibratite is the answer. And you might first try teflon tape.



User avatar
woodchuck
Posts: 70
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 9:28 am

Re: Switchback question

Post by woodchuck » Sun Mar 18, 2018 5:28 pm

Thanks for sanity check(s). Re-adjusted the darned things 4x today. Going to try a little blue loctite next.



User avatar
dnt_upton
Posts: 140
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2015 10:00 pm
Location: Drink Moxie

Re: Switchback question

Post by dnt_upton » Mon Mar 19, 2018 3:23 pm

Let us know if that does the trick.



User avatar
anemic
Posts: 229
Joined: Fri Feb 28, 2014 4:39 pm

Re: Switchback question

Post by anemic » Tue Mar 20, 2018 4:29 pm

I think the mechanism is the same on my Hardwires and I'm glad not to have this problem! I'd probably call voile and see what they have to say. They've probablt heard of this problem before and can tell you the fix. I'd hope. I can see going to a Switchback binding someday. Seems like there are quite a few Axl problem forum threads but almost zero Switchback problem threads.
Call it Nordic Freeride



User avatar
EvanTrem
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri Dec 16, 2016 12:21 am
Location: Washington State, USA
Ski style: XCD, Telemark, Backcountry
Favorite Skis: K2 Work Stinx w/ 22 Designs Outlaw X, Madshus Annum w/ Voile 3 Pin
Favorite boots: TX Comp, Alico Ski March
Occupation: Engineer

Re: Switchback question

Post by EvanTrem » Sat Mar 24, 2018 1:33 am

dnt_upton wrote:It's the grease. I had the same problem.

I think Vibratite is the answer. And you might first try teflon tape.

I agree with this. I have had pretty good results using teflon tape (just standard plumber's pipe tape).



User avatar
TomH
Posts: 98
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2014 5:27 pm

Re: Switchback question

Post by TomH » Tue Mar 27, 2018 9:59 am

On BD02's I used to use electric tape (over cartridge/cable interface) to stop the same thing from happening, and it was also SOP for HH's heel tube per the manufacturer. I've heard the teflon tape many times for Switchbacks though.



User avatar
Woodserson
Posts: 2968
Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2015 10:25 am
Location: New Hampshire
Ski style: Bumps, trees, steeps and long woodsy XC tours
Occupation: Confused Turn Farmer

Re: Switchback question

Post by Woodserson » Tue Mar 27, 2018 11:27 am

TomH wrote:On BD02's I used to use electric tape (over cartridge/cable interface) to stop the same thing from happening, and it was also SOP for HH's heel tube per the manufacturer. I've heard the teflon tape many times for Switchbacks though.
Easy fix on the BD because it's all under boot.

I haven't had this problem with my Voile HW, SB, or X2's but I DO notice that new cartridges need adjusting over the first week or skiing or so as they get compressed, new springs getting their workout... after a few weeks they stabilize out.



Post Reply