Binding forward pressure: too much/ too little

[El Chupacabra]

Searched, couldn't find the answer:

What happens if you set binding forward pressure too high or too low?

I'm guessing that too low = prerelease. But what about too high? Will the binding not release (does too high pressure mess with the effective DIN setting)?

Interestingly, on both sets of Look pivot bindings I have, the shop's setting for forward pressure was considerably looser than the method recommended here (screw head flush with the heel).

-Karl

[mntlion]

you are right.

[summit]

Too tight can also cause prereleases (overloading) and unreliable releases.

[Spats]

Too much forward pressure will make the binding either release easily or not release at all, depending on the design.

A center-pivot binding, like Salomon, will release more easily, because the forward pressure will rotate the pivot (blowing you out) if it moves even a little bit off axis. To see what I mean, hold two wooden dowels on top of each other by pushing them together, and then tap them lightly sideways near the join. The energy you put into pushing them together now pushes them out to the side, and they fall over.

A dual-pivot binding, like Look or Tyrolia (and maybe Marker and Atomic, though I'm not as familiar) will release less easily or not at all, because the forward pressure will keep the boot from rotating. Once the boot rotates outside the pivot, it will release quickly, as in the first case above.

[El Chupacabra]

Thanks -- obviously don't want to blow up a knee by screwing up my own bindings.

-Karl