Slalom binding placement and advise please

ReallyGottaSki

Hello everyone

I'm in need of some advanced direction placing bindings on a ski correctly the first time and not mess it up

Let me begin with a little backstory and interesting details that may be relevant ...

A ski friend saw i was still on my '94 vintage Connelly HP and asked why i'm still skiing on that dinosaur bone..
Well, over the years i hadn't tried anything worth giving it up over, it always felt right to me.
He arranged to set up a purchase of a used blank from another guy, i replied just cant, currently things are tight post-divorce; he replied don't worry....
Well i'm handed a '07 vintage Connelly F1 that feels light as a feather, i said i can't afford this he says yeah you can.
So i take it home, he says, its got a good story., i'll tell you later..

Well indeed i have it now for the price of a good pair of sneakers.
When i saw it, determined its too good to mount my clunky HP boots on it like i had first envisioned. Figured id get a modern binding set for it on closeout whenever i could.
So later on he tells me that it had changed hands prior but I learn that it is one of Jamie B's old sticks!
now i really don't want to mess it up

It appears to have been set up for an advanced plate or hardshell system. There are only 1/4-20 inserts at the extreme ends, i dont recognize the system and my searches came up empty

that said, I scored some very visually complimentary Radar bindings on closeout, but, not connelly

Questions..

1) So, how sacrilegious is it to mix brands on this ski?

2) Before i dare drill a hole, i want to get binding placement as correct as possible
My first inclination is place the back of my heels identically as my HP, while adjusted proportionately for any delta-length.
But please advise..

3) If i direct-mount, intend to use 5/8" ss pan head or truss head screws, into drilled pilot holes

4) Has one utilized a lightweight plate to adapt std plate bindings to the eight 1/4-20 inserts in the center-line
(4 front/ 4 astern) thus not making additional holes in the ski?

The total weight is looking like 7# vs my 10.5# HP, so i'm a bit excited about that

thanks for anything you can advise ballers,
Tom

ski..


with intended bindings..sure is purdy...


my old trusty HP

mbabiash

JB used Fogman hardshell system which used front and rear plates for the release mechanism.

DavidN

Here are the numbers for the 2007 F1
http://www.proskicoach.com/skis/connelly/f1/2007

Binding placement is measured from the tail of the ski to the back of the rubber (heel) on the front boot.

Steven_Haines

You can use interlock instead of drilling holes

S1Pitts

I would be cautious. That F1 may not have the blocks beneath the top sheet to accept and hold the sheet metal screws. Maybe check with Connelly?
I would be inclined to make up an adapter plate utilizing the fore/aft mounts to allow the Radars to be used until the fogman system could be replicated.
Cool Ski.

Killer

I'm guessing you aren't an experienced tuner, or high end skier, save yourself from possible injury and mount it on the wall, better yet get JB to sign it! then trade another pair of sneakers for an even newer and better ski off Ski-it-again.

like this:
http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skiitagain.php?endless=summer&topic=Search&category=Slalom&postid=49770

or this
http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skiitagain.php?endless=summer&topic=Search&category=Slalom&postid=48682

will be a much easier ski to ride and likely didn't have a pro flexing it at 41off... skis deteriorate, especially with repeated heavy use. Kind of a collectors item ski too, could be worth something someday!

The issue you will have with many skis, is it appears your back boot is the feather frame which I believe will only mount to late model radars. Front boot will mount to any newish ski. The radar posted will have no issue accepting that boot and is light years better than the F1

BraceMaker

You'll be fine. Either find front boot measurement and just screw it in with #10 stainless sheet metal screws like we've done for 40 years or drill and insert inserts but you'll be fine just set a drill stop so you dont drill through the bottom.

aupatking

I would hang it on the wall. My fear would be that they didn’t put the plastic (whatever) inserts in it at all, where the inserts would normally be. PM me. I may have a ski

BraceMaker

@aupatking I had a Connelly back then, Wiley's just drilled and screwed right in with sheet metal screws when I ordered from them. Then I mounted FM quattros to it and had to drill and screw into the front and rear to add more inserts.

Those fogmans were just drilled in also.

What you basically want to do is drill, then using a small burr in a dremel open up around the screw hole, then inject fill those holes with some epoxy, then redrill. Makes them less likely to strip. Wiley's FYI did not put filler around the holes.

ReallyGottaSki

Thank you men, outstanding. for your spectrum of observations and thoughtful suggestions, they are all valid and worthy of consideration this winter
much obliged

Horton

@CollinSpradlin @Connelly_Skis_Inc

ReallyGottaSki

very good,

and, appears I was mistaken, and as BraceMaker sez, the Fogmans were set with #12 x3/8 oval head screws, not 1/4-20 as i misreported. Also an adhesive

Sethski

@ReallyGottaSki I’m at Connelly guy and I will still tell you that it’s not sacrilegious. Happy that you are still on at Connelly and we definitely want you to get it set up right. There should be blocks in that ski so the sheet metal screws should be fine but the blocks would be where Connelly inserts would be. That means it should work properly on your front plate, but you’re better off borrowing a Connelly rear plate (from a newer pair of boots than your old one) and mark the plate and ski and still your plastic plate and tap into the ski based on those holes. If you have troubles or questions feel free to give me a call. 843.270.2902

As for settings, the link someone gave above should be good but let me know if you have troubles.

CollinSpradlin

@ReallyGottaSki Sorry I'm a few days late. I checked with the people who built this ski and if it did come from Jamie it's possible we left out the ABS blocks in the normal binding insert areas. Shoot me an email if you want to discuss further. [email protected]

ReallyGottaSki

Seth, and Collin, and everyone

Thank you all for both endeavoring to getting me on this ski proper and not shooting my eye out in the process

ALPJr

Now that's pretty good customer service

ReallyGottaSki

Well the ski is performing really well, so much better than what i was on.

Two fun projects this year; this F1 ski that found its way to me due to thoughtful folk, and a long overdue engine refresh, had been making noise for two decades, valve stem had worn down about 0.300"! It likely would have fragged this year.




Enjoying the lateral support of these binding, and the ski really suits me. I don't frequent the course much at all, but 28 off at 34 on poor water, felt like butter, i could gain on the course then have to wait for the ball like never before.
Looking forward to a run at a real site!

Thank you all, and Seth and Colin for the guidance on the F1
and i'll inspect it frequently, as i heed the advise given it has seen high stresses

This engine is now a mid-range monster, with gains low and high end as well. makes speed holding and compensation at ski speeds a breeze.
New bearings, oil pump, dr chain, trick flow Al heads, alum intake, scorpion rockers, 214/224 cam, aluminum front cover, crank rwp, and commander manifolds.
Added up to 141 pounds removed from the boat. Wake was great prior, even down to 24 mph, even more so now.

Its been a good year, post divorce.
so refreshing to not be undermined and plotted against ,and one's efforts scavenged further.

Solid, amazing GF, and daughter is doing great

Anyone who has poison in their life, don't wait as long as i did to eject it. Yeah its fianacial Armageddon but you can't get those years back don't burn any more.

keep ballin

MDB1056

Gorgeous engine, and way cool ski. Go enjoy life............ You're so blessed