How To Cut Down A Randal

[T.V.A.R.]

Alright boys and girls,
I know some of you have wanted this for a long time. So here it is.
An Official TVAR How-To on Cutting Down Randals!

It goes like this:

This is your starting product. A randal truck. Nice, but not quite what you want right?
Let's change that shall we?


The first thing we need is tools.
For this job, you will need:

- Vice
- Hammer
- Long, skinny bolt, or screw driver.
- Metal File
- Metal Cutting Hack Saw
- Good Means of measuring. (Dial Calipers are best, Ruler will work
- Marking device (Sharpie works well)



Now We're ready to get started.

Step #1: Measure!

Start out by finding the middle of your hangar. Be as precise as possible about this.



Next, Mark your center and where you want to cut on either side. Try to be precise abou this too.


Now it's time to head to the workshop.


Step #2: Pound it out!

Clamp your hangar in the vice, and use your hammer to pound on the end of the axle. On randals, it will almost fall out. Other trucks require more force.



Once the axle is flush with the end of the hangar, It's time to bring in your Screw Driver, Drive Pin, or long skinny bolt, to push it the rest of the way through.



Once the axle falls out the bottom of the truck, it should all look like this:




Step #3: Cut It!

Now it's time to get down to the real grit of cutting down trucks: The actuall cutting. Clamp the hangar in the vice again and proceed to cut on your mark with the Hack Saw.

Note: Using some "Cutting Oil" here can really speed things up.


Once you've cut all the way through, repeat that process on the other side. Your end result should look something like this:



Now is also a good time to clean up the ends of your hangar with your file to get that "Faced" look.




Step #4: Re-Insertion!

It's re-assembly time now. Slid the axle back into the hole, and pound the sucker back on through to the other side.


Make sure it's centered. Now, just use your file to Clean up any rough spots, and you've got a finished truck!




I hope this tutorial helps. I know it's very basic, but I will make more. Truck Modification Class #2 will feature axle extension and shortening.

Enjoy,
~Zak~

[assumeivan]

GREAT job on this Zak! Made it nice and simple, and the final product looks amazing! Props to ya!

Ivan

[SteveC]

Sweet! I might just do this to an old set of 180's soon.
Or my crooked C7 hangers...

I wonder if anyone's done this and added a ball joint

[AGENT WD-40]

A How To on how to make a ball joint would be DOPE...

[zepmanj]

i apologize if this is a noob question, but what are the benefits of cutting down trucks such as randals?

[HerBDerb]

Originally Posted by zepmanj

i apologize if this is a noob question, but what are the benefits of cutting down trucks such as randals?

Sometimes you want a smaller hangar, usually for slalom applications.

[TheEskimoMan891]

So you could use this process to make some doublewide trucks right?
get some super large hangers, cut them down and with all the extra axle fit 2 wheels on each end?

worth a try i guess

[VulgarDisplayCFH]

I love how filthy your drill press is from the urethane.

Thanks for the tutorial. I've been dying for this thread.

[MillencolinAddict]

Originally Posted by TheEskimoMan891

So you could use this process to make some doublewide trucks right?
get some super large hangers, cut them down and with all the extra axle fit 2 wheels on each end?

worth a try i guess

Depending on what type of board you are running that will move some wheelage pretty far under the deck... wheelbite anyone??

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by MillencolinAddict

Depending on what type of board you are running that will move some wheelage pretty far under the deck... wheelbite anyone??

Yes and no.
On a dropthrough with cutouts? likely yes.

But a thinner hanger actually puts the wheels further from the deck. (height wise)
so on a topmount it would likely make no difference at all. Same would go for dropped.

Just so long as you cut 50mm off each side of the hanger, which you'd need to to use the same axle...

[karrot]

Originally Posted by TheEskimoMan891

So you could use this process to make some doublewide trucks right?
get some super large hangers, cut them down and with all the extra axle fit 2 wheels on each end?

worth a try i guess

depends on what wheels you use. i made some cut down dh hangars last year, and tried double wide flashbacks, and you have to take off alot of material around the face of the hangar to put the wheels on.


heres how to make wide randals

for DJONA

[nsc1120]

Originally Posted by SteveC

Just so long as you cut 50mm off each side of the hanger, which you'd need to to use the same axle...

I'm pretty sure two bearings, a spacer, and a couple speed rings is not 50mm, it's about half that depending on the wheels spacing, so you would need to cut the hanger down by 50mm total, not per side

[karrot]

Originally Posted by nsc1120