blown sidewall --> delam issue WWMD

[Mulletizer]

One of my m103s is feeling unwell. The sidewall cracked; I checked it at the time but thought it was just a scratch or irregularity in the sidewall and did nothing. D'oh. In fact there is a chunk of sidewall about 1.5cm long under the rear binder that is loose.

The bad bit is that I left it about a week and carried on skiing (because I failed to notice the extent of the damage). Water and frost has got into the crack and has opened up a crack about 40cm long between the base/edge and the core. The crack is only about 2mm wide and 1cm deep but the water has caused the core to swell and there's no way I can clamp it shut to glue.

So now I'm concerned with damage control and limiting it getting worse. What would you do to sort it out? Things I have considered so far:
- fill the crack with p-tex and glue down the siewall crack
- pump the whole lot full of epoxy
- just mount up another pair (I gots me some spares but it ain't easy to get someone to do a decent mount here)

Not really sure what to do... The flex of the ski is still normal and the base is still flat enough for me (I have undamaged skis with more concave bases). If I repair it I really need the ski to hold up to about 3 weeks use on my forthcoming US trip. Any suggestions?

[mntlion]

1)dry the ski out over a hot air vent for a day or so to get all the water out.

2) use tape to make a damn so that the expoy just goes into the crack, and also not over all the sidewalls, base, carpet, etc

3) fill with expoy, open and close the gap with a thin blade screw driver to pump it in and out all the way

4) heat the epoxy with a blow dryer to make it runny so it will flow deeper into the ski.

repeat 3 + 4 a few times

5) clamp if you can, let it dry for 24+ hours.


if you want to remount, do you have a drill and 4.1 * 9 bit? just use tape and lots of time and do the remount yourself ....

[Mulletizer]

Thanks. I might be able to do the remount myself; I just prefer tapping the holes on skis with this much metal and I don't have tools for that.

BTW Those M103s I bought from you arrived with Tom in December. All good, as described. Apologies for not letting you know. FWIW This pair are not the ones I bought but are older - have about 60-75 days on them, I guess.

[Meathelmet]

I have had that same kind of things goind on with my 103s too.

The previous owner glued the edge/sidewall back to gether once, and i have now done it twice...
That sidewall material is so damn brittle,that it apparenlty cant take flexes or impacts,but cracks.

I used a 2cm syringe, with a shortened needle to inject some heated epoxy to the ski. Then had it clamped for a day.
Now they have a chance to hold up for the rest of the season.
And maybe next one too?

Here is some pointers that idris gave:

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...m.103+sidewall

[squirrelmurphy]

if it's last year's model a shop can warranty it and get you some supermojos

[mntlion]

Thanks. I might be able to do the remount myself; I just prefer tapping the holes on skis with this much metal and I don't have tools for that..

just thread a extra screw in and out of the holes, then screw the real binding screws in. does the same thing as a real tap I find.


glad to know that you have the quiver of 103's now.....