Sally 914 pre-release

**Dexter Rutecki** · 01-01-2006, 10:59 PM

These bindings have probably only released two or three times on me over 40-50 days, and I only had one other pre-release (which happened on an incredibly rutted course, so I didn't let it bother me), but today I had the heel-piece on one release at moderate speed, on a flat, with only some minor bumps to blame (I was going straight when I felt the heel start to come out, so I just stepped out and skied to a stop then went back for the ski).
I've had a few really rough, painful landings on these things (including one ACL rupturing landing) and they never let go (they shouldn't have), so I'm just wondering WTF happened today. Boots were clear of snow when I clicked in and I haven't touched the settings. Made me paranoid for the next few runs as I kept thinking I was feeling it about to release again--I actually started trying to hammer some bumps with that ski to see if it would come off again, but everything seemed OK.
Ideas, aside from 914's suck?

**mntlion** · 01-01-2006, 11:01 PM

toe wings and toe height OK? (they loosen with time)

boots toe height wearing out over 50 days?

**Dexter Rutecki** · 01-01-2006, 11:07 PM

Both are possible, although I really avoid walking anywhere with my boots for that reason.
I guess I'll check the wings and height, but I looked as closely as I could today and the wings looked identical on both skis.

**Spats** · 01-02-2006, 01:04 AM

Double-check your forward pressure? Too little will cause some bindings to be very unhappy.

**marshalolson** · 01-02-2006, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by Spats

Double-check your forward pressure? Too little will cause some bindings to be very unhappy.

too much forward pressure can cause pre-release on the 914 also

**natty dread** · 01-02-2006, 07:47 PM

I don't trust 914s on fat skis anymore. On my iggies and spat, even properly adjusted, I could torque right out of them at speed. I have 916s on everything now and have had zero problems.

**train07** · 01-02-2006, 09:03 PM

too much forward suck can cause pre-release of the backward suck creating a great sucking sound. i think it's a sound problem.

**robokill1981** · 01-04-2006, 04:16 PM

If your toe wings are getting loose on their own Salomon will warranty the bindings if they are less than 5 years old. I got a free pair of 914's a few weeks ago that way...although I've also switched to only 916's so they will probably be in Gear Swap soon.

**train07** · 01-04-2006, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by Bullet

The heal din sounds too loose.

See...i told ya it was a sound problem

wise ass remarks coming from a guy who's rockn some Marker Demos on sploders : ) )

**cold_smoke** · 01-04-2006, 05:27 PM

Be sure to adjust and dial forward pressure with the wings and toe height loosened. After forward pressure looks good then adjuast toe height and wings. If this was done backwards, the toe may not be fully seated.
I think the driver toe has gone downhill since the inception of the spherical release mech.

**Steven S. Dallas** · 01-04-2006, 06:14 PM

The toe seems really sensitive. Anyone in the KT-22 line at early last Thursday would have had the experience of watching me blow up at 30 mph upon hitting an ice patch and throwing a 914-mounted Spatula. This happened again with atop the Headwall traverse an hour later. The binding performed fine in pow, but wanted to blow out on hardpack- as if spats didn't suck on hardpack already. Make sure to back out the wings before adjusting forward pressure,though, and they should be fine (until they start to loosen up).

**Spats** · 01-05-2006, 12:44 AM

Switching to any Look/Rossi turntable (or 916s, but they're spendy) will solve 100% of your problems. You'll also find that edging on hardpack improves dramatically.

I've posted my "why plastic Salomons suck on fat skis" rant enough times, so I won't do it again here. But I guarantee that you will continue to release unpredictably on hardpack until you get different bindings.

**Dexter Rutecki** · 01-05-2006, 09:29 PM

Actually, Spats, I think this should be the end of it. The forward pressure was indeed half a click off on the ski that released (thanks to Plakespear for helping me out with this), and I've only released from these skis two or three other times in about 50 days (only one of which was anything close to a pre-release). I'll be skiing and racing on these things this winter, so we will see what happens (had Rossi turntables 8-18's on my old race skis, and did indeed pre-release two or three times from them as well).