Mounting G3s directly to older Big Daddys (after removing plate)

[otis]

Here's a question about the older Big Daddys that still had that damned plate: do any of you have experience mounting G3s (or any other tele binding) directly to the BD? Just to be clear, I'm talking about totally removing the plate and mounting flush to the ski. Still using whatever shim comes with the binder, though.

I know that there are varous blank "mount what you want" plates but I'm not interested in the extra weight. I've read the other threads also and nobody touches on this.

Anyone? I met a guy last year with some R8s he had mounted directly after removing the plate. Anyone else? Although I'm interested in the process to do this, I'm more interested in issues like durability, how it skis, etc.

I'm entertaining thoughts of picking up a pair of the older ones. The new ones are just too damned spendy. Thanks.

[Z]

i have no advice for you. but i do know where you can get em for stupid cheap, unless you already know.

PM me if you want....

[mntlion]

dont think it will work as the beta ribs extend thru the ski tip to tail.
also the new bindigns have to have pairs of holes, nothing in the middle.

I've mounted some salomon demos right to the ski, but it took some grinding of the bindings to fit inbetween the ribs

plates are not that much weight really.

[Hugh Jass]

Just to be clear, I think you're a fool.

(a) Why didn't you buy mine
(b) You have no need of these skis, given ludicrous quiver overlap.

[hemas]

Bjarke at Ttips has mounting his, without any plate and has worked just fine ( http://www.telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=892 ).

[hop]

I know it works with R8´s because I've skied Telepath´s skis (or Bjarke, if you prefer. If ´G3´s fit in the groove then I don´t see why they wouldnt work... just make sure you check your screw length.

[Telepath]

I know it works with R8´s because I've skied Telepath´s skis (or Bjarke, if you prefer. If ´G3´s fit in the groove then I don´t see why they wouldnt work... just make sure you check your screw length.

Yup, no worries. Most binders without a centered screw-hole confiq works. As hop says, make sure the screws aren't extremely long. I've mounted 04 BD's this way with both Linken, Rottefella and G3 screws without any trouble. Hols of just fine as well. With G3 you'll have to fin some different heel plates as the G3 ones have mounting holes along the center line. That's one of the main reasons we made a second set of side-by-side holes in the Rottefella R-series heel plates two years ago. Lots of funky aftermarket heel plates to use too; Armands Ultimate heels immidiately spring to mind as a cool (allhough pricey) choice.

[hop]

Armond´s heel plates unfortunately suffer the same center-centric hole pattern as G3 and the old R series. Oh well.

[kneedropper]

I ended up using the center pattern on the Bombers. You'll need slightly longer screws and obviously you'll also want to make sure you have a water tight seal around the exposed screws. Since the heel pieces typically to not take a huge amount of lateral force, the longer exposed screws shouldn't be problem... at least they haven't been a problem yet.

[otis]

i would guess that a significant % all folks who ski BDs tele reside on this board. i've never actually seen anyone tele on 'em before. excellent input. very helpful. so, here's 2 more questions:

1. so it sounds like mounting the g3 is no problem, except for the center mounted heel piece (and i'm sure i could work around that somehow). would the 4 screws for the toe piece actually be exposed? and do they mount into the beta ridges? or is there a flat section once the plate is removed? also, it sounds like the normal screws are just fine. right?

2. this question is a bit tangential, but i'll ask anyway: how long are the BDs, really? i've eyeballed them next to some 190 iggies and they were just barely longer. i recently put my 191 10exs next to those same iggies and if memory serves, the difference looks about the same. is it possible that the 193 BDs are really the same length as a 191 10ex?

thanks again.

hugh: i know that you will continue to heckle me, so heckle away. isn't this what october is for?

[hop]

I think the biggest problem you´re going to face is skiing those things (or any ski for that matter) with a binding as sloppy as a G3 Targa.

But anyways, they mount to a flat section under the plate that the plate would mount to, and CHECK SCREW LENGTH!!!! The problem with the center mounted heelpieces is that there is a little groove running down the center of the ski ^-_-^ that the screws will have to go into. Longer screws will get in there but there will be some exposed screw and not many threads actually holding the heelpiece on.

Enjoy.