G3 Targa binding cable adjustment help

Can anyone guide me about adjusting bindings?

I bought some used skis with G3 Targa bindings. Even though these are very popular bindings for some reason there isn't how-to info on the web that I've found for adjusting them. I've seen several web references to how easy they are to adjust.

The bindings are set too short for my Scarpa T2 boots to fit. The minor adjustment possible by turning the cartridges isn't enough.

I think that what has to happen is that the yellow plastic piece on the top needs to be removed and then the cable gets put into another slot beneath. However I am unable to get that plastic piece off after removing the 1 screw that is apparently holding it. Is there some trick I'm missing? Is this just a matter of brute force?


Thanks for the advice.

Skipole

you're on the right track with what you've done so far. The plastic cover held on by the single screw can really get set in place after a long time and may not easily pop off after removing the screw.

I've had to use a small flat-head screwdriver before as a lever to gently pry the plastic plate off. Usually easiest to pry the top plate by levering at the end of the binding pointing towards the tail of your ski. Eventually it should just pop off....then you can separate the metal frame of the binding from the plastic riser and reroute the cable.

hey skipole,    if those plastic plates have not been off since the original mounting then it probably is just a matter of brute force.  i've taken several of those apart on all my skis and sometimes they are just set in place and cut to fit just right.  i haven't see any that have anything besides that one screw holding them in place.  

once the cartridges are let out all the way and still don't fit then you would have to move the cable.  i've see them mounted with a loop put in the cable to take up slack and then some mounted just straight through the groove in the mounting plate.  i'm not sure if there are longer large size cables but i would think there is.  i have an average boot size and have never had to worry over cable length.  

i do know of one pair that were mounted with a twist in the cable to take up extra length and they were known to pull out once they were skied hard.  

good luck.  if you try prying the plastic foot plate with brute force and it cracks or breaks ask around at some shops if they have any old ones laying around.  especially a place that sends out a lot of rentals.  if you need i think i have an extra or two also.

Success! Trying under the tail portion didn't work but I was able to get a very thin screwdriver under the tip portion. There's an inset for the tops of the screws underneath the plastic and it seems that a vacuum had formed there. Once the vacuum was broken the plastic piece came right off. So it's a matter of applying force at the right place.

That binding has essentially 2 major settings. By looping the cable around in a semi-circle more cable gets taken up under foot and the cable is shortened. By avoiding that loop less cable gets taken up under foot and the portion fitting around the boot is lengthened.

thanks for the encouragement and information.

Skipole

A third setting also exists. You can put a twist in the cable and loop that around the semi-circle to shorten it even further. I know this isn't what you need, but just an FYI.