Truck set-ups

[Rubbrick]

i am curious to know how much weight is taken off when a standard indy (~144) is ground down to the axle.

also why do people switch out the trucks when they hit the axle? i suppose you could still grind the axle, or does it snap instantly and/or make the grinds super sticky?

been trying to peice together a cruiser, wanted the indy turn with less weight :p

No, they don’t snap right away. I have a set of Indy hollows that have both been axled for about 6-7 months (regularly skating 3-4 times a week.) I’m surprised they haven’t cracked, seeing as they are hollows. The grinds aren’t sticky but definitely don’t grind as well as the regular aluminum hangar metal. I actually won an Indy mid gift box from cowtown/Indy for having axled trucks. I think they were expecting me to switch them out right away, but I’m still skating the old set.  People skate them hard, even with cracks in them.

[Lou Strux]

That axle grinds hella good!
At least that’s my experience. I try to ride them until they fail apart as a matter of pride, but also because they never grind so well as the do when they’re actually into the axle.

[FatGuy92]

Random question, not sure if this is the best place to ask, but does anyone ride smaller trucks than their deck width? Hearing Reynolds and some other OGs ride like 8.0 trucks on 8.5 decks had me really intrigued for awhile but I never bothered to try.

I heard it makes scooping and flipping tricks easier? Any downsides aside from stability and grinding space? Wanted to see if there are any strong opinions out there before I take apart my deck.

[Mbrimson88]

i am curious to know how much weight is taken off when a standard indy (~144) is ground down to the axle.

also why do people switch out the trucks when they hit the axle? i suppose you could still grind the axle, or does it snap instantly and/or make the grinds super sticky?

been trying to peice together a cruiser, wanted the indy turn with less weight :p

Maybe a Ben DG video, his standards were lighter when worn down than his hollow forged or something, but it might only reduce the weight by 20 grams unless you really took a lot off each truck.

I often try to save old trucks worn down to axle and use them on cruisers or even boards that people don't grind on much, so that is a good retirement and they can last indefinitely.

Some people take great pride in grinding them until they break, and as said that can take a long time even after you hit axle, but if they are skated as normal trucks until they are down to axle and at the point where new trucks would be good, that is the time to turn them into cruiser trucks.  Solid axle will last longer than hollow axle when they grind down.


These have been on ebay au for a while (not mine), but I don't need any more trucks.  They definitely seem at the far end of useful life, but the weight loss would be considerable.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Independent-Trucks-144-Hollow/164702931385

[Mbrimson88]

Random question, not sure if this is the best place to ask, but does anyone ride smaller trucks than their deck width? Hearing Reynolds and some other OGs ride like 8.0 trucks on 8.5 decks had me really intrigued for awhile but I never bothered to try.

I heard it makes scooping and flipping tricks easier? Any downsides aside from stability and grinding space? Wanted to see if there are any strong opinions out there before I take apart my deck.

Lots of people do, some by accident and some on purpose who love the "magic carpet ride".

It definitely changes the feel of the board, but generally a truck that sits fairly evenly with the deck or a bit under works best.  A good way just to feel it out too is take out all the axle washers and that will narrow the wheels on the trucks by a few mm, but I prefer washers on the inside and wheels sitting wide, but still not more than the deck is wide.

Sizing down a lot makes a board very tippy, but I know people like the feel of that, some saying it is better for flips, etc.

What are you on now and what are you thinking of trying?

[FatGuy92]

Expand Quote

Random question, not sure if this is the best place to ask, but does anyone ride smaller trucks than their deck width? Hearing Reynolds and some other OGs ride like 8.0 trucks on 8.5 decks had me really intrigued for awhile but I never bothered to try.

I heard it makes scooping and flipping tricks easier? Any downsides aside from stability and grinding space? Wanted to see if there are any strong opinions out there before I take apart my deck.

[close]

Lots of people do, some by accident and some on purpose who love the "magic carpet ride".

It definitely changes the feel of the board, but generally a truck that sits fairly evenly with the deck or a bit under works best.  A good way just to feel it out too is take out all the axle washers and that will narrow the wheels on the trucks by a few mm, but I prefer washers on the inside and wheels sitting wide, but still not more than the deck is wide.

Sizing down a lot makes a board very tippy, but I know people like the feel of that, some saying it is better for flips, etc.

What are you on now and what are you thinking of trying?

Thanks for the advice on the washers. I might try that out first.

I have a hockey 8.25 with Indy 144 standards. They feel really nice, but even though I wore them down, the trucks are heavy for me. I was thinking of tossing some Indy 129 titaniums I have on a cruiser on it to see how it would feel. Would the 129s and extra washers be weird you think? I’ve ridden 8.0 trucks on a 8.25 but haven’t gone down like 2 sizes before.

*Edit - for the record, I’m not a tall dude and can skate the 129s completely fine on a smaller deck (they don’t feel too unstable when riding on a 7.75 for example).

[Diocletian]

Those trucks look amazing with all the work put in on them. I would never sell those, though. That's like practicing for something, winning first place, then selling your gold medal. Makes no sense.

[Ok]

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Random question, not sure if this is the best place to ask, but does anyone ride smaller trucks than their deck width? Hearing Reynolds and some other OGs ride like 8.0 trucks on 8.5 decks had me really intrigued for awhile but I never bothered to try.

I heard it makes scooping and flipping tricks easier? Any downsides aside from stability and grinding space? Wanted to see if there are any strong opinions out there before I take apart my deck.

[close]

Lots of people do, some by accident and some on purpose who love the "magic carpet ride".

It definitely changes the feel of the board, but generally a truck that sits fairly evenly with the deck or a bit under works best.  A good way just to feel it out too is take out all the axle washers and that will narrow the wheels on the trucks by a few mm, but I prefer washers on the inside and wheels sitting wide, but still not more than the deck is wide.

Sizing down a lot makes a board very tippy, but I know people like the feel of that, some saying it is better for flips, etc.

What are you on now and what are you thinking of trying?

[close]

Thanks for the advice on the washers. I might try that out first.

I have a hockey 8.25 with Indy 144 standards. They feel really nice, but even though I wore them down, the trucks are heavy for me. I was thinking of tossing some Indy 129 titaniums I have on a cruiser on it to see how it would feel. Would the 129s and extra washers be weird you think? I’ve ridden 8.0 trucks on a 8.25 but haven’t gone down like 2 sizes before.

*Edit - for the record, I’m not a tall dude and can skate the 129s completely fine on a smaller deck (they don’t feel too unstable when riding on a 7.75 for example).

I think the muska did 129s on an 8, and Greco did something more extreme. I’ve done 5.0s on an 8, was fine, used extra washers. Wasn’t helpful tho (I was hoping for some extra scoop, easier 360 flips)

[off]

rode 5.2s (lows) on an 8.5 with three inside washers, cant recommend it. if you really love small trucks and dont want to size up, it may very well work.

if you are accustomed to your trucks being .25 smaller/larger than your deck, its going to feel pretty weird and take time to adjust to. its worth depends on the skater and what you are willing to give up. wheelbite was more frequent, landings and hill bombs felt sketchier, less room to grind. flip tricks felt more compact and easier to throw but it was negligible/bad to me, i struggle with landings if im not fully focused. went up to 5.6s and had a much better time.

if you have the trucks available its worth a shot but definitely dont buy new trucks for something like that. ended up being a waste for me because i dont ride anything less than 8.5, had to sell basically brand new trucks for little return. at least i know better

[tzhangdox]

rode 5.2s (lows) on an 8.5 with three inside washers, cant recommend it. if you really love small trucks and dont want to size up, it may very well work.

if you are accustomed to your trucks being .25 smaller/larger than your deck, its going to feel pretty weird and take time to adjust to. its worth depends on the skater and what you are willing to give up. wheelbite was more frequent, landings and hill bombs felt sketchier, less room to grind. flip tricks felt more compact and easier to throw but it was negligible/bad to me, i struggle with landings if im not fully focused. went up to 5.6s and had a much better time.

if you have the trucks available its worth a shot but definitely dont buy new trucks for something like that. ended up being a waste for me because i dont ride anything less than 8.5, had to sell basically brand new trucks for little return. at least i know better

Exactly my experience except with 5.2 (not lows) on an 8.25... coming from 5.8 on 8.25/8.38/8.5

I do however have a big 8.8 shaped board that had Thunder 151s on it, axles poked out a bit due to taper, put old venture 5.8s on it and I feel like the skinnier trucks on that made it noticeably better to do kickflips, nollie/sw flips and tres on. Not exactly my go to flatground board though, but there's probably merit to the idea that skinnier trucks have better leverage for flipping.

[FatGuy92]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I guess general consensus is that the benefits are negligible. I might try it if I get bored, but I think I’m blaming my gear for my lack of ability lol.

[Mbrimson88]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I guess general consensus is that the benefits are negligible. I might try it if I get bored, but I think I’m blaming my gear for my lack of ability lol.

You can always just change over the hangers, not needing to take the whole truck off the board, but for some people who have the bushings just right, I would be leaving the kingpin nut as the last thing to touch.

As you said, you have the parts, so if you had time, it can't hurt to try a few variations.

[Mcidraque]

Those trucks look amazing with all the work put in on them. I would never sell those, though. That's like practicing for something, winning first place, then selling your gold medal. Makes no sense.

hahaha thank you :'-o

[OldCandy]

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i am curious to know how much weight is taken off when a standard indy (~144) is ground down to the axle.

also why do people switch out the trucks when they hit the axle? i suppose you could still grind the axle, or does it snap instantly and/or make the grinds super sticky?

been trying to peice together a cruiser, wanted the indy turn with less weight :p

[close]

Maybe a Ben DG video, his standards were lighter when worn down than his hollow forged or something, but it might only reduce the weight by 20 grams unless you really took a lot off each truck.

I often try to save old trucks worn down to axle and use them on cruisers or even boards that people don't grind on much, so that is a good retirement and they can last indefinitely.

Some people take great pride in grinding them until they break, and as said that can take a long time even after you hit axle, but if they are skated as normal trucks until they are down to axle and at the point where new trucks would be good, that is the time to turn them into cruiser trucks.  Solid axle will last longer than hollow axle when they grind down.


These have been on ebay au for a while (not mine), but I don't need any more trucks.  They definitely seem at the far end of useful life, but the weight loss would be considerable.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Independent-Trucks-144-Hollow/164702931385

woah holy fuck thats so clean! carved by god himself.
thanks to everyone for responding lol i would gnar but im jr member
always liked to lean and crunch through grinds sounds like great news )

[TracersOnlyfans]

I ride stage 11 indy 149 Ti forged, with bones medium bushings, with the nut flush, or even a little looser. the bottom bushings never last more than 3-4 months, sometimes less, so I have a bunch of top bushings that are fine, and a lot of the bones kingpin washers that come with them. Has anyone tried running top bushings on both the top and bottom, but adding 2-3 truck washers under the bottom bushing? Any accomplished truck engineers /nerds who can give me some pros/cons of such a setup?
i hope you all forgive me for not reading 329 pages to see if this has already been answered.
Thanks in advance

[Kneesles]

I ride stage 11 indy 149 Ti forged, with bones medium bushings, with the nut flush, or even a little looser. the bottom bushings never last more than 3-4 months, sometimes less, so I have a bunch of top bushings that are fine, and a lot of the bones kingpin washers that come with them. Has anyone tried running top bushings on both the top and bottom, but adding 2-3 truck washers under the bottom bushing? Any accomplished truck engineers /nerds who can give me some pros/cons of such a setup?
i hope you all forgive me for not reading 329 pages to see if this has already been answered.
Thanks in advance

It should ride pretty similar if you get the height to match a bottom bushing using washers. Id suggest trying out bones hard bushings. They are stiff at first but once broken in they are much better and don't blow out. You could even mix it up with a hard bottom and med top to brake in the bottom first so when you put the hard top on it wont feel like a big change. Indy black bushings with the bottom barrel feel very similar to broken in bones hards too.

[TracersOnlyfans]

Expand Quote

I ride stage 11 indy 149 Ti forged, with bones medium bushings, with the nut flush, or even a little looser. the bottom bushings never last more than 3-4 months, sometimes less, so I have a bunch of top bushings that are fine, and a lot of the bones kingpin washers that come with them. Has anyone tried running top bushings on both the top and bottom, but adding 2-3 truck washers under the bottom bushing? Any accomplished truck engineers /nerds who can give me some pros/cons of such a setup?
i hope you all forgive me for not reading 329 pages to see if this has already been answered.
Thanks in advance

[close]

It should ride pretty similar if you get the height to match a bottom bushing using washers. Id suggest trying out bones hard bushings. They are stiff at first but once broken in they are much better and don't blow out. You could even mix it up with a hard bottom and med top to brake in the bottom first so when you put the hard top on it wont feel like a big change. Indy black bushings with the bottom barrel feel very similar to broken in bones hards too.

thanks, i set it up with three washers at the bottom against the baseplate, two bones washers and one thicker washer (about 1.8 x the thickness of a bones washer) from a hardware store. I got 20metres down the road and immediately stopped to remove one bones washer from each, it was too tight and didn't carve right. Now it's riding great. The top nut is flush, and it feels a little looser than riding them with the regular bones bushings setup. Somehow feels like it has more pop too, like it's lifted the wheels a little higher and out, lengthening the wheelbase marginally while still feeling as loose as i like it, but hey, that might be all in my head.

TLDR:
Yup, it works great, thanks

[HumBoogie]

Expand Quote

I ride stage 11 indy 149 Ti forged, with bones medium bushings, with the nut flush, or even a little looser. the bottom bushings never last more than 3-4 months, sometimes less, so I have a bunch of top bushings that are fine, and a lot of the bones kingpin washers that come with them. Has anyone tried running top bushings on both the top and bottom, but adding 2-3 truck washers under the bottom bushing? Any accomplished truck engineers /nerds who can give me some pros/cons of such a setup?
i hope you all forgive me for not reading 329 pages to see if this has already been answered.
Thanks in advance

[close]

It should ride pretty similar if you get the height to match a bottom bushing using washers. Id suggest trying out bones hard bushings. They are stiff at first but once broken in they are much better and don't blow out. You could even mix it up with a hard bottom and med top to brake in the bottom first so when you put the hard top on it wont feel like a big change. Indy black bushings with the bottom barrel feel very similar to broken in bones hards too.

Bones hards are the way to go. I've been on here telling people that but they don't listen.

[Mbrimson88]

Old mate taking things to the next level once more.

How about that setup in the video he made...

Amazing!


https://www.instagram.com/p/CLmEeB_lbgG/

[pointandclick]

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Great job on the finish, those are SAF! I'm running the Bones meds top and bottom, same overall effect as the tensor top, no bottom washer and Ti nuts as well on my Maglights; that washer tho...looks sick...ebay seller has it listed at 6.2g, stock cup washer is 4/5g ...@$12 a washer, it's adding weight? I just use the bones washer on top (2g)..thunder are 4g each as well tho, indy's are, like everything else they make, heavier as well (but if I had t bet, more durable).

[close]

Thanks Xen! So I took one off and it measured in at just a hair above 3g. So they are MARGINALLY lighter, haha. Luckily I got the top washer cheaper than it is now. But also I figured, might as well go that extra step, complete the light weight Titanium mania. Haha



Also, for that inverted kingpin loving crowd, I found a Ti bolt from an auto parts resource that is like a flat top Bones washer as the head of the bolt. It's perfect kingpin size, length, pitch, etc. Here it is mocked up with a Bones bushing (it's my bottom bushing, but it gets the point across...) Not modding these trucks to use this, but I will be putting them in some Indy's after I buy a pair of the new inverted baseplates when those are on the market.

that kingpin is wild

[drinny]

I need to know about that kingpin! Specs, name, is it Allen key? Weight compared to a Krux hollow DLK? 😮

[manysnakes]

I love that the inverted Ace kingpin guy appears to have built an entire apparatus for kingpin removal. I'd place that thing on my vise and whack it with a dead blow, but I appreciate the commitment

But anyway, I also need details on that titanium kingpin. Part number, plz

[pointandclick]

Old mate taking things to the next level once more.

How about that setup in the video he made...

Amazing!


https://www.instagram.com/p/CLmEeB_lbgG/

also im impressed with how easy it popped out. i've never had the luck of and easy kingpin removal

[j....soy.....]

Ti hardware co. isn't the worst idea.....or just curate all the better versions....I think they are out there....

Let us know the specs because the new Indy set up is trash....the new thunder will be trash.....

[Diocletian]

Eventually when you grind the hanger down enough, you'll start touching that inverted kingpin, and it being Ti, it will grind funky on certain surfaces based on what people have said about that Theeve TiH hanger.

[j....soy.....]

There's a ton of clearance with that.....you'll hit the axel before you hit the head....

[sketchyrider]

anyone else not get great grooves on their truck? maybe i swap them out too much, maybe its cause i do too many slash grinds...maybe just shit technique, but it seems like i barely get grooves going, its like the whole truck wears almost evenly.

[Paperclip20]

anyone else not get great grooves on their truck? maybe i swap them out too much, maybe its cause i do too many slash grinds...maybe just shit technique, but it seems like i barely get grooves going, its like the whole truck wears almost evenly.

You gotta really grind them in for deep grooves. Depends on what you're skating too. Some trucks I had but only skated at a skatepark with rounded angle iron had barely anything on them compared to a set I did mainly slappy grinds with on crunchy curbs

[Firebert]

Depends on what you're skating too. Some trucks I had but only skated at a skatepark with rounded angle iron had barely anything on them compared to a set I did mainly slappy grinds with on crunchy curbs

Yeah, one day skating concrete and my 139s are ground down further than the 149s that have been used for over a year at just the park

[rosemaryBB]

Got some riptides set up in my Aces after having really good experiences running them in Thunders - even got the Ace-specific ones, but I feel like it's made my board more herky-jerky than it was before - almost like the metal truck components won't sit right on the bushings.

 I'm running stock bushings and don't know if changing those out would do anything, but just curious if anyone else has had this experience before.