refurb of a vintage board. help me out!

[BUboarder]

My little sister is going off to college this coming fall, and i'm thinking of surprising her, refurbishing our dad's old hobie woody skatepark rider as a gift for her to take to school. it's no longboard--stiff as a plank and small--but it is fun, and portable. i imagine it would be more fun with some new trucks. what would work? i looked at the LY dingy which is about the same size, and they use 85mm tracker mini trucks. the hobie is approx. 5.5-6in wide and 20ish inches long, and according to MHM, it's drilled for oldschool (2.5inches hole to hole on the truck mounting bolts) i could easily re-drill it to fit newschool, but hey, keeping it original style would be cool. would the RT-S/X's work, or would that be a bit big? could you even put big trucks on it (150mm) and have it work? i imagine you'd constantly bite your feet on the wheels. i have no idea. i just know as-is with the original little bennetts it doesn't turn for crap, and it's a b!tch to adjust since it's a weird inverse bolt/nut adjustment.
thanks for any advice you've got guys!

ps mods please don't move this thread to the board building thread, since this forum gets more traffic.

[MrCokesNSmokes]

My little sister is going off to college this coming fall, and i'm thinking of surprising her, refurbishing our dad's old hobie woody skatepark rider as a gift for her to take to school. it's no longboard--stiff as a plank and small--but it is fun, and portable. i imagine it would be more fun with some new trucks. what would work? i looked at the LY dingy which is about the same size, and they use 85mm tracker mini trucks. the hobie is approx. 5.5-6in wide and 20ish inches long, and according to MHM, it's drilled for oldschool (2.5inches hole to hole on the truck mounting bolts) i could easily re-drill it to fit newschool, but hey, keeping it original style would be cool. would the RT-S/X's work, or would that be a bit big? could you even put big trucks on it (150mm) and have it work? i imagine you'd constantly bite your feet on the wheels. i have no idea. i just know as-is with the original little bennetts it doesn't turn for crap, and it's a b!tch to adjust since it's a weird inverse bolt/nut adjustment.
thanks for any advice you've got guys!

ps mods please don't move this thread to the board building thread, since this forum gets more traffic.

Why not just use the re-issued Bennetts (in the 4.3 size)? There are many advantages to doing this:

1. The board will look "period correct"
2. The Bennetts don't cost a lot (maybe $45 a pair?)
3. Aftermarket parts are readily available for the reissued Bennetts (bushings, etc)
4. The new Bennetts use a standard kingpin and nut
5. The new Bennetts are drilled for both old and new school (so, if your sis wants to ride a different deck, the same trucks will still work, no matter what)
6. Precision bearing wheels will fit new Bennetts.
7. The new Bennetts turn better than anything else on the market.

I'd say that solves most of your problems, right there, doesn't it...?

[BUboarder]

nice, yeah that sounds like it would solve all my problems! i didn't really consider them at first cause i have no idea how their sizing system works. so are the 4.3's 4.3 inches or what? dumb reason for not considering them, i know...haha
MHM recommends tracker mid-tracks. i like the look of the bennetts, they're pretty cool lookin. what does everyone think? i want the board to be pretty easy for my sis to ride, so if one truck or another has some bad characteristics it'd be helpful to know.

[BUboarder]

whoop, there we go. from MHS...

Bennett Vector 4.3" truck. 7" (178mm) axle with 4.3" (110mm) hanger. Drilled for oldschool and newschool mounting patterns.

i am dumb.

however, the original bennetts seem to be...about two inches between the insides of the wheels (the part their name is printed on. the hanger?) so how will the longer trucks affect the ride? i'd assume more stability and better turning, but possibility of wheelbite.

[Ogre]

Go for the Bennets! I had that same set up in the late 70's and it was great! 3dm Cambrias in a soft duro would be sweet wheels on that set up as well!!! She'd be stylin' on campus!!!!
Or the green Aligators in 63mm..

[BUboarder]

Go for the Bennets! I had that same set up in the late 70's and it was great! 3dm Cambrias in a soft duro would be sweet wheels on that set up as well!!! She'd be stylin' on campus!!!!
Or the green Aligators in 63mm..

set up as in the trucks, or actually the whole deal, hobie deck and all?! that'd be sweet.
i love the look of those white 3dm's, even tho i know they'll get dirty and brown real fast. eh, who cares? that plain, unadorned old-school look is sweet!!

mmm and incidentally, what IS up with the kingpin setup on the original little bennetts? it looks like the new ones have the kingpin the opposite direction (not inverse...just upside-down) so the nut is easily accessible right on top (or bottom...when the board's wheels down). it's a real pain to do anything with!

[msk]

however, the original bennetts seem to be...about two inches between the insides of the wheels (the part their name is printed on. the hanger?) so how will the longer trucks affect the ride? i'd assume more stability and better turning, but possibility of wheelbite.

Sounds like Bennett HiJackers (the original Bennetts). If your board is only about 6" wide, anything wider than than the trucks already on it are going to make the wheels stick way out beyond the edge, especially if you're trying to keep it looking period correct with offset or sideset wheels.

As for the difference between those and new Bennetts, I believe the geometry is close, if not the same. If so, the old ones will be slightly more responsive, since they're narrower, 4.3s will be slightly more stable. Wheelbite shouldn't be much of an issue, since with 4.3s the edge of the wheel will probably be beyond the edge of the deck (shoe bite might be a problem, though)

Another thing to consider would be if the old trucks still have the original baseplates, which were plastic. If they're original, it might be a good idea to replace the trucks just so those don't break. If the plates have been replaced (usually with ACS plates), I'd stick with those. Just make sure the jam nut is kept tightened against the baseplate, otherwise the kingpin can wobble and the plate threads will get stripped...

mmm and incidentally, what IS up with the kingpin setup on the original little bennetts? it looks like the new ones have the kingpin the opposite direction (not inverse...just upside-down) so the nut is easily accessible right on top (or bottom...when the board's wheels down). it's a real pain to do anything with!

That's the way ALL trucks used to be. The original Trackers, in '75, were the first to have what is now the standard kingpin setup, and at the time it was seen as a pretty radical design. It probably wasn't until mid '77 or so that all trucks finally had Tracker style kingpins...

[Fishtale Boards]

Dude, take the board, and put it down on a piece of oak or plywood or anything and trace it. Then cut that out and there you go. Granted, some finish work is involved to. But don't mess with the originals, they look so much cooler all vintage. In my opinion, refurbishing a deck would be destroying it. You would be taking its "good ol days" away from it so to speak.

[BUboarder]

eh, that's good and all, and i would have no problem keeping it as-is for myself, but i wanna share the joys of longboarding with my sis, get her interested and give her something to start with. i know that desire is there bubbling under the surface...i just don't have the money to buy her a full-on longboard, and i know she was mad at me for taking the mini to school, so she'll like having it back
i don't want to sand the board down or anything, just strip off the gross grip tape and reseal it, scars and all, and put some functional trucks on there, so it will last that much longer and actually turn

...Another thing to consider would be if the old trucks still have the original baseplates, which were plastic. If they're original, it might be a good idea to replace the trucks just so those don't break. If the plates have been replaced (usually with ACS plates), I'd stick with those. Just make sure the jam nut is kept tightened against the baseplate, otherwise the kingpin can wobble and the plate threads will get stripped...

wait, so...i want that little nut up against the baseplate?? that seems backwards...it's keeping the bushings compressed, isn't it? that's how i change how firm/soft they are--twist 'em, right?

[msk]

wait, so...i want that little nut up against the baseplate?? that seems backwards...it's keeping the bushings compressed, isn't it? that's how i change how firm/soft they are--twist 'em, right?

You adjust the truck by turning the kingpin itself (just like a Grind King type inverted kingpin). The jam nut stabilizes the kingpin. You loosen the nut slightly, adjust the kingpin, and then tighten the nut against the baseplate. Otherwise, the kingpin will start to wobble, and eventually strip the threads out of the baseplate. Unlike on a modern inverted kingpin truck, there's no steel nut inside the baseplate, just either soft aluminum threads, or if its an original Bennett plate, a threaded insert that can strip or pull out.

A lot of people used to make that mistake, using the nut to adjust the truck instead than the kingpin. That's why most shops back then used to sell replacement baseplates And why the Tracker kingpin design was such a good idea...

[098Mindstate]

Let's see some pics of the Hobie deck you speak of. I want to see if it... This will determine if you should restore it or keep it original. Also, what trucks did it have to begin with? I might be interested in buying them.

[Ogre]

set up as in the trucks, or actually the whole deal, hobie deck and all?! that'd be sweet.
i love the look of those white 3dm's, even tho i know they'll get dirty and brown real fast. eh, who cares? that plain, unadorned old-school look is sweet!!

mmm and incidentally, what IS up with the kingpin setup on the original little bennetts? it looks like the new ones have the kingpin the opposite direction (not inverse...just upside-down) so the nut is easily accessible right on top (or bottom...when the board's wheels down). it's a real pain to do anything with!

I had the whole "set-up" And Cambrias, were fashioned by J G after RR' #4's... Give your sis some reliable and nastalgic gear!!! As far as rracing the deck and creating a replica...
Nah..... Be a real giver, let her start on the roots of all that is good!

[BUboarder]

Let's see some pics of the Hobie deck you speak of. I want to see if it... This will determine if you should restore it or keep it original. Also, what trucks did it have to begin with? I might be interested in buying them.

pics forthcoming, as soon as i get outta bed today, haha! i believe it has been determined that the trucks are the original ones. i haven't actually been able to find a picture of my exact deck, just the weaver woody, which is similar. scratch that, here's a pic from online!! that's not me

I had the whole "set-up" And Cambrias, were fashioned by J G after RR' #4's... Give your sis some reliable and nastalgic gear!!! As far as tracing the deck and creating a replica...
Nah..... Be a real giver, let her start on the roots of all that is good!

That's awesome! it was my dad's board. The board is well loved, but solid as a rock still! And yeah, tracing the deck seems kinda selfish. I totally plan on giving her the whole thing! of course if i find out it's worth a few $$$s, i might just sell it and get her an actual longboard! haha who knows. or maybe not--having the little thing around is fun. it's neat to own a piece of skating's history

[BUboarder]

ok, so here's the pics of my board









and one of it resting up against my superglider, with my roommate's board, for size comparison


oh, i also have the original set of bushings that came with it; the ones in the pic are a replacement set of the same kind

EDIT: anyone have any idea what it might be worth on the market if i decided i wanted to sell it?/any offers?

[098Mindstate]

Yup, that's a really nice vintage deck with some of the more modern goodness that came along for the time...plus Bennett trucks! Granted, they are not Bennett Pro's which would easily sell for over $200 but they are fairly good condition and could sell for a good $20-30 IMO (based on losses seen in the 4th picture). Based on the plastic base and the kingpin, they should def. NOT be ridden, esp for your sister.

Sure the wheels will stick out a bit, but I would go with a newer set of 4.3 Bennets' and a beautiful set of 3dm Cambrias because they match the deck so well.

I guess what I would want to know before you even think about touching the deck is, how do you plan on refurbishing it without destroying the graphic and/or shining it so much that it's gross.

[Shorty McSmalls]

Dude,

There is nothing wrong with that deck. Keep it as is and don't sell it either. I wouldn't even give it to my sister, but how nice of you to want to do so. Ride it and enjoy it, it's a piece of history. I am a big fan of 3dm wheels and the cambria's are as far an alteration as I would go.

[BUboarder]

...they are fairly good condition and could sell for a good $20-30 IMO (based on losses seen in the 4th picture)

Sure the wheels will stick out a bit, but I would go with a newer set of 4.3 Bennets' and a beautiful set of 3dm Cambrias because they match the deck so well.

I guess what I would want to know before you even think about touching the deck is, how do you plan on refurbishing it without destroying the graphic and/or shining it so much that it's gross.

to answer the first part, i still have the original bushings that were on the board. they're in a ziplock bag. i received the new ones for free and wanted to see if it would help how the board rode. (although you say i shouldn't ride it...haha)

2nd, i'm torn between the original look of the 4.3 bennetts and the size/price of some 85mm tracker midtracks. MHM recommended the midtracks to me. i'm just not sure what i want

3rd, i haven't touched anything on it yet ('cept the bushings), but my plan would be to just clean it lightly so that there's no dust/dirt sitting on the surface, and then sealcoat it with some sort of clear wood sealant. whatever i do i want it to retain it's vintage/pre-loved look as much as i can. or perhaps...would something like Thompson's deck restorer stuff work on it? i have no idea, since there is still some of the clear lacquer on the board. suggestions anyone?

[BUboarder]

i know, i know, double post...

well, i've decided that i do want to put new equipment on the deck.
down to Bennett 4.3s or Mid-Tracks,
some 68mm 3dm avalons in the retro red 76a,
and of course bearings (inexpensive ones ABEC 5 or 7)
so
what do you guys think: speedy lunatics from MHS, or some bones reds?

[098Mindstate]

Bones Reds. They have never let me down, plus they match.

[098Mindstate]

So what's the word?