Dynafit Radical Issues and Solutions
This shouldn’t happen, but if it does, warranty should cover it.
Climbing Post Hinge Embrittlement
For a small percentage of the bindings sold last year, Dynafit claims less than 1%, the metal in the climbing post hinge became embrittled and broke during normal use. The manufacturing process has been changed to prevent embrittlement of the parts from occurring, thus any Radical bindings sold from Fall 2012 on should be immune from this potential defect. Hopefully that fixes it but my experience in the world of telemark (admittedly different than the AT realm) says the part will inevitably need to be beefed up to survive long term. Since Dynafit is loath to use beef to solve an issue with strength it will be interesting how they solve this issue.
Spindle Pin Sheers
Dynafit has discovered a specific but unlikely circumstance that can lead to the heel unit being damaged. Since identifying this issue, our international team has been working hard on understanding the issue and finding a solution.
After intensive testing, we are confident this identified damage DOES NOT present a safety risk. But at the same time, we aim to take a proactive leadership approach and as a result are communicating a “required technical upgrade of the Radical series”. This includes all bindings in the RADICAL series, including RADICAL ST, RADICAL FT, and SPEED RADICAL.
Visual instructions for upgrade – pg. 1
Details on the issue and the solution:
- Issue: The damage can happen when the heel unit is subjected to forces in a particular way. This particular arrangement of forces is pretty rare. In the ascent mode (when the heel unit is in “lock” or “tour” position) the housing may be damaged if the unit is strongly impacted in a counter-clockwise direction (back towards “ski mode”) causing the internal PIN to strongly impact against the internal housing wall. Damage can only occur in ascent mode, not in the descent (or “ski” mode).Even if the housing is damaged, the binding should still release perfectly in any mode, and there is little danger of the heel unit detaching. Therefore this does not constitute an acute danger or risk for the skier.
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Visual instructions for upgrade, pg. 2
Essentially after the damage, the binding functions similar to a TLT Vertical binding which doesn’t have a PIN in the back unit (this “lock position” was introduced to prevent the inconvenient – and fairly rare – rotation of the heel unit back into ski mode, while touring).
- Solution: The good news is we can eliminate the risk of damage. This is achieved by a quick and easy exchange of the small PIN which is within the heel housing. For bindings in the market, this exchange can be completed without having to return the bindings. Please see the attached visual and written description of the solution.
Download detailed instructions here:
Written • Illustrated
For more details on the Dynafit Radical and associated issues, see this page on Wildsnow.com.
© 2012
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Maybe we should coin the term “Dynafit Denialists” for those few remaining dead enders who refuse to accept that Dynafits really are the hottest A/T bindings, eh Dostie? 🙂
Doubt can ruin a man’s faith. It poses as truth, preying on fears to derail those seeking the way. Pity those who doubt what Dynafit can do, though we can have some fun at their expense and ridicule their choice to accept the burden of weight from bindings that only offer a passport to the backcountry, not the means to make the passage through the backcountry efficient as well.
Therefore, do you think it’s from denial, or doubt?
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