Randal Mods Clarifications/Shopping Questions...

**theboon12** · 06-16-2006 02:18 PM

I've got a new complete from Daddies coming in on Saturday or Monday consisting of S9 J-Bay, Randal II 180's, DBS Abec 7's, Spacers, and Abec11 70mm Grippins 78a.

I'm going to be using this board 90% of the time for downhill carving and have been doing a lot of searching/reading about Randal mods on this forum. So far I've decided that the two essentials for me (because I weigh 180 lbs) are flipping/upgrading the kingpins and getting new washers.

For the kingpins I'm wondering if I get 2.75" grade 8 kingpins (as I've read are good for experimenting with different bushings) will I have a length issue running them flipped with the stock Randal bushings?

For the washers I'm still a little confused which type of washers I should get, what size, and how many I need.

For both the washers and the kingpins I'm wondering if most skateshops will carry these pieces or if a hardware store will carry parts that will work just as well.

Thanks,
Darren

**Mile_High_Mark** · 06-16-2006 02:21 PM

Hardware store is your best bet.

Four flat washers is enough for one board.

For the kingpins, if you run them with the bolt's head inside the baseplate, length shouldn't be an issue. If you run the nut in the baseplate--which is not the preferred orientation--you may have contact if the bolt is too long.

**theboon12** · 06-16-2006 03:10 PM

Thanks Mark. Should I just get the same size washers that come with the trucks but flat?

And how will I determine if the kingpins are strong enough?

**Mile_High_Mark** · 06-16-2006 03:15 PM

Yeah, that'd probably be fine.

**silversurfer** · 06-16-2006 03:30 PM

Stock Randal king pins should be fine.
They can break, but if your not skating super hard you should be fine.

A lot of people upgrade to grade 8 kingpins, not a bad idea.
But not a must either, IMO.

**Mile_High_Mark** · 06-16-2006 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by silversurfer

Stock Randal king pins should be fine.
They can break, but if your not skating super hard you should be fine.

A lot of people upgrade to grade 8 kingpins, not a bad idea.
But not a must either, IMO.

The stock Randal kingpins "should be fine" if you flip them around. In the stock orientation, the threads are located where the stress is greatest. This creates a huge stress riser, which can--and does--lead to breakage.

**theothervagabond** · 06-24-2006 04:30 PM

get some 3/8" washers from home depot. get them slightly bigger then the part of the bushing the touches the truck. speaking of bushings, if your getting randals, youll probably want to replace the bushings anyways. but whatever you do dont skate them until you switch the wachers. i shredded my bushings in an hour of riding. then i learned that your supposed to change the washers

**xxguitarist** · 06-24-2006 06:40 PM

i dont know how you shredded your bushings in an hour... i rode mine with stock cups for nearly a year before i got on SF, and they're perfectly fine.
since then i've taken care of them but... still.

**silversurfer** · 06-24-2006 07:09 PM

^Basically same here.^

**Sal Pic** · 06-24-2006 07:17 PM

I've seen stock randal cup washers tear up bushings within a half hour. More with the 180s cause the bushings are softer.

Either way, I LOVE the way my randals feel with the yellow bushings and flat washers.

**xxguitarist** · 06-24-2006 07:25 PM

ah, well mine are 150s. maybe that was part of it.

**revelation2** · 06-24-2006 07:30 PM

I've got a question on those replacement grade8 kingpins---should they just be hammered into the baseplate? I'm afraid to do it, but I've heard stories...They're a tight fit, for sure.

**theothervagabond** · 06-24-2006 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by xxguitarist

i dont know how you shredded your bushings in an hour... i rode mine with stock cups for nearly a year before i got on SF, and they're perfectly fine.
since then i've taken care of them but... still.

here are pictures
randals cutting the bushings.

that was after putting them on my board and riding in my front yard adjusting the trucks until they felt right. saw what happened, looked it up on here, and learned about the flat washers. the ones that are on in the pictures are way to big, but there were what i had in my garage. brought some smaller one home from work. getting new bushings soon along with my dhrace. (as soon as they ship)

**theothervagabond** · 06-24-2006 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by revelation2

I've got a question on those replacement grade8 kingpins---should they just be hammered into the baseplate? I'm afraid to do it, but I've heard stories...They're a tight fit, for sure.

you could take a dremel tool to the head. on my other trucks (no name, regular style trucks) i broke a kingpin and hammered out the old one, but the new one wouldnt fit. i grinded down the edges of the head on the bolt until it was a snug fit. worked like a charm.

**xxguitarist** · 06-24-2006 11:52 PM

wowwwwwww you have (had?) those tight as hell!

my front was set just tight enough so i couldnt wiggle it around with two fingers, and the rear was set a turn or maybe two tighter.
in other words... 10 or 20 turns looser than yours.

come from a shortboard background, by any chance?

**AGENT WD-40** · 06-25-2006 12:22 AM

Yeah man, those trucks are way too tight. Also, I noticed the board was very high off the ground. Try flipping the hangars around which will lower the board and give the trucks some more stability (so you dont have to tighten the trucks down so much)

**xxguitarist** · 06-25-2006 10:05 AM

what do you guys use as replacement bushings, anyways? i'm going to be ordering some stuff from MHS soon, and figured i'd throw in a few bushings. i want something softer than the stock red bushings in the 150s.

**Sal Pic** · 06-25-2006 11:30 AM

I hear the khiro bitches are nice, as are the softer independent bushings. I havent tried either, personally, so I would also like to know the answer (Not a fan of the 150's bushings at all).

**silversurfer** · 06-25-2006 11:58 AM

Bones hardcores or Khiro Whites

**theboon12** · 06-25-2006 08:06 PM

Thanks a lot guys. I'm going to get the washers tomorrow (I've been out of town a couple days) then starting my first truck surgery. A couple questions regarding instructions:

1. I want to flip both hangers to get a feel for how I like that compared with the stock setup. I've searched and searched, but cannot find a step by step walk through on how to do that...just reasons to flip or not to flip. Can anyone walk me through this process?

2. I also need help on getting access to the washers so I can replace them with my new ones. Is it as simple as taking out the kingpin and sliding the new washers in?

Thanks for all your help.