Randal Baseplates... Again

**Michael Billings** · 12-25-2004 12:39 PM

Well, got some new Randal DHs for Christmas. Again, the baseplates are ****ed. They are drilled too wide by about 2 millimeters. This happened to Veg also. Anyone else had this problem with some recently aquired Randals, because I am thinking it was just a bad batch...

And yes, I will E-mail him about it because he was cool with my last problem...

**digitalcordless** · 12-25-2004 12:58 PM

alot of randals have problems with them. mine were a bit messed up, but i just got a drill bit and drilled the holes a bit bigger cuz the kingpin wouldnt slide in all the way. i didnt drill it tooooo big, i found the same size bit as the hole (tad bit bigger) and just went up and down and it milled out some metal and made my kingpin fit better.

CIV showed me one of his 180 baseplates, and the kingpin hole wasnt in the middle, it was like offsetted to the side, it was bad

randal should take a bit more time in making their product a bit better and more presise then now. they have tons of money.

**Michael Billings** · 12-25-2004 02:13 PM

Yea, the only set of randals that was alright for me was my 150s. Such a shame, too...

**Uncle Frank** · 12-26-2004 03:53 AM

In the many threads on this topic, nobody really has talked about the subsequent PERFORMANCE of these trucks with defects.

To play devil's advocate, it appears to me that if you can get the things mounted to your deck, and ride a hill without turning problems, then the defects are negligible.

My Randal baseplates do seem to go on tight, but I make my own decks, and I can't always be sure my holes in the decks are perfect. I don't think it's a big deal for the bolts to go crooked a little.

As far as kingpins go, I see lots of trucks that sit a little tilted, not just Randals. As soon as you get on the board, that small amount of imprecision falls right off the radar.

It is "just a skateboard" after all. Anyone into mountain bikes, MX, or tuner cars will understand and appreciate the relative simplicity of a skate.

All the same, I would like to see Randal hammer out the kinks in his product, to show that his company truly leads the industry and cares about the customer.

**Directive0** · 12-26-2004 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by Uncle Frank

It is "just a skateboard" after all.

Sticky worthy.

**Rustyfriend** · 12-26-2004 09:42 AM

i found on my 180 baseplates that you need to file out part of the area where one of the heads passes by at the bottom in between those two sides because a little metal sticks out and stops you form putting the kingpin in like a shortboard.....this isn't tkaing away any part of the structure, just a little metal that is "ozzing" out of the mold thingy

**Michael Billings** · 12-26-2004 10:13 AM

Well, I would deal with the defect if I could get my trucks on my board. Either way, this thread has already happened about a million times, so it is not like this one is any different.

Randal did redo his bushings and I got a free set of them the last time I sent him my bad baseplates. They are soft and work very well as a top bushing.

**theoreticalcrab** · 12-26-2004 06:14 PM

**Mile_High_Mark** · 12-26-2004 06:44 PM

Vote with your wallets. If people continue to buy Randals, there's very little incentive for Randal to "fix" things.

**Directive0** · 12-26-2004 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by Mile_High_Mark

Vote with your wallets. If people continue to buy Randals, there's very little incentive for Randal to "fix" things.

Whats the alternative, mark? Im actually asking.

**Directive0** · 12-26-2004 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by Mile_High_Mark

Vote with your wallets. If people continue to buy Randals, there's very little incentive for Randal to "fix" things.

Whats the alternative, mark?

**Mile_High_Mark** · 12-26-2004 07:03 PM

Seismics. Axles are straight, hangers are faced well, and the baseplates are drilled correctly. Sure, they cost a little more than Randals, but when you factor in the price of upgraded kingpins and bushings, they're not that much more.

**Directive0** · 12-26-2004 07:34 PM

I can't agree with you there. I like my seismics, but i prefer them for a different kind of riding altogether. I've had several sets of randals but only had an issue with on baseplate.

But those that have had issues are probably in a different boat. And, marks right, in a consumer/fabricator relationship there is only one way to incite change.

**Michael Billings** · 12-26-2004 07:37 PM

I agree, Seismics for downhill seem pretty sketchy. I just wish his product wasn't so good in theory, yet poor in production (sometimes).

**cooterboy7** · 12-27-2004 02:11 AM

well i believe this thread could be an official petition to send to randal so that longboarders can be insured in the future of quality..
my siggggggg

**RustyBurrito55** · 12-28-2004 08:08 PM

ill sign the petition! i suppose if its over the internet you have to do it with emails or something so.

1. Matt Hogan
rustyburrito55@hotmail.com
Albany, New York

there the first signature is complete