What is the oldest binding you would still use?

[Uncle-A]

Most of the springs in the heels of older bindings are cracked due to stress and exposure to salt.
(Cartop ski carriers)
Don't be surprised when the spring suddenly collapses and you get spit out.
I have several sets of old Looks in my attic and they all have cracked springs in the heels.

If salt got on your bindings from cartop ski racks you have nobody to blame but yourself. All the major manufactures sold binding covers for protecting bindings during transport. This is just one example of the binding protection available in the 1970's. Never had a spring issue with any binding, but had lots of Salomon Plastic issues and they never had a recall.

 

[crgildart]

If salt got on your bindings from cartop ski racks you have nobody to blame but yourself. All the major manufactures sold binding covers for protecting bindings during transport. This is just one example of the binding protection available in the 1970's. Never had a spring issue with any binding, but had lots of Salomon Plastic issues and they never had a recall.
View attachment 101043

I still have one of those with a Rossignol logo. Those, and ski bags are really only good for short trips. I must have torn up at least 4 heavy weight airline baggage type ski bags in two years taking 8-10 hour trips with bagged skis on roof racks. And yes, I tied down all the excess material at the ends and middle. It still wears holes in them at the sharp points, around brakes, tips, and tails flapping around in the wind for 10 hours at a time.

 

[John Webb]

Want me to post a pic of a bunch of cracked and broken Look springs?
High carbon steel like binding springs are made from is very susceptible to stress corrosion cracking.
I'm not talking about plastic bindings, I'm talking about the all metal Looks from the '70's and '80's that are still good except for the springs.
Course, you are a young'n who may not remember all metal ski bindings.

Weren't these valve springs from VW or Porsche cars !

 

[Dakine]

@Uncle-A.....Set your wayback machine to 1974 and give me a stiff lecture.
It was rust on the edges that made me give up cartop carriers.

@John Webb....I don't know but I did replace the springs with some valve springs I had in my shop.
Briggs and Stratton, I think.
We don't need no stinkin' DIN calibrations, just crank them until you don't come out.

 

[Bill Talbot]

Most of the springs in the heels of older bindings are cracked due to stress and exposure to salt.
(Cartop ski carriers)
Don't be surprised when the spring suddenly collapses and you get spit out.
I have several sets of old Looks in my attic and they all have cracked springs in the heels.

Who would put their skis on top of the car where they would get bathed in salt spray?
Skis belong inside your car where they will be warm and safe.... if that means someone has to stay home, so be it!

 

[cantunamunch]

Look ZR - anyone got a restomod AFD suggestion?

 

[Philpug]

Look ZR - anyone got a restomod AFD suggestion?

For Gripwalk? The new Gripwalk AFD is a 4 hole pattern and the ZR is 3. I am sure with some Dremel time it can be made to work.

 

[Uncle-A]

Look ZR - anyone got a restomod AFD suggestion?

Any photos of what you are looking for?

 

[cantunamunch]

For Gripwalk? The new Gripwalk AFD is a 4 hole pattern and the ZR is 3. I am sure with some Dremel time it can be made to work.

Don't specifically need GW - still 100% on 5355 soles - just need new AFDs as it's been a couple of decades.

 

[ScotsSkier]

Most of the springs in the heels of older bindings are cracked due to stress and exposure to salt.
(Cartop ski carriers)
Don't be surprised when the spring suddenly collapses and you get spit out.
I have several sets of old Looks in my attic and they all have cracked springs in the heels.

Want me to post a pic of a bunch of cracked and broken Look springs?
High carbon steel like binding springs are made from is very susceptible to stress corrosion cracking.
I'm not talking about plastic bindings, I'm talking about the all metal Looks from the '70's and '80's that are still good except for the springs.
Course, you are a young'n who may not remember all metal ski bindings.

Yup! ONLY examples I have seen in 50+ years of a broken spring (as opposed to broken/deteriorated housings) were on Look 99RS toe pieces of late 80s vintage IIRC. And it didn't take long, they were broken in early 90s

 

[Uncle-A]

Yup! ONLY examples I have seen in 50+ years of a broken spring (as opposed to broken/deteriorated housings) were on Look 99RS toe pieces of late 80s vintage IIRC. And it didn't take long, they were broken in early 90s

Like the pair I posted earlier on page 2 of this thread. Look 99's. They are in good working order, and I have skied them and they did release when needed.

 

[Joal]

Don't specifically need GW - still 100% on 5355 soles - just need new AFDs as it's been a couple of decades.

So you just want the actual correct AFD for the ZR toe? The sliding height adjustable AFD? Posted this pic in the LOOK thread. #182

 

[cantunamunch]

That totally works, many thanks!

 

[ScotsSkier]

Like the pair I posted earlier on page 2 of this thread. Look 99's. They are in good working order, and I have skied them and they did release when needed.

Yup, that is the one. My buddy couldn't understand why the toe piece was just flopping about!

 

[Uncle-A]

Look ZR - anyone got a restomod AFD suggestion?

I found a pair of Look

AFD pads I will part with if they are what you need.

The hole pattern should be the same but from center to center across the front is 42MM and diagonal is 46MM to the single hole. The height at the thickest part is 12MM. Sorry one is discolored not sure what happened.

 

[Joal]

That totally works, many thanks!

You can have the AFDs on the left. I have already cannibalized the heels as they were too rusty too save. The sliding mechanism works fine on both but as you see one was missing the teflon but I have a sheet of the stuff. Maybe you just need the teflon?

 

[cantunamunch]

Just need the Teflon

 

[cantunamunch]

Thanks for the offers guys, I expect I'll be getting in touch soon. (When I'm not in place away from the gear).