pavedwave longboarding

scooterdad · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:48 am Post subject: Bushings affected by temperature?

This may be a rather obvious question, but are bushings very affected by temperature? I ask this because I seem to feel a difference when riding on colder vs warmer days. Today it is warmer out (66 degrees F), and I rode to work (fractured toe holding up fine) and got wheel bite for only the second time. The front truck seems a little turnier than usual, and generally I had been riding when the temps were under 30 degrees F. Is this something others have noticed? I may need to switch to firmer bushings now when the weather is warmer or perhaps it is just coincidence.

LDPanda · Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 418 Location: Seattle, WA

Yes, temperature certianly affects bushings (and the flex of your board and the duro of your wheels too). It is usually not a problem, but if youre runing your setup really close to wheelbite in the cold and then take it out in the warm, it doesnt surprise me that you might get bitten. I wouldnt suggest using different bushings right off the bat, id try cranking down on your kingpin nut a few turns before trying anything too drastic.

stocago · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 227

In addition to them getting harder, I get annoyed by the added noise. When it's warm they're quiet, but when it's cold they can squeak. I'm pretty sure it's the bushings and not the pivot cup.

scooterdad · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 4:42 am Post subject:

Thanks for the thoughts. Rode home without any wheelbite last night, but I went just a little easier with the hard turns. I may try adding a 1/4 inch riser just to minimize the chances of it happening. I also will try tightening the kingpin bolt some as you suggested.

Yes, I do notice less squeaking with the warmer temps. Even with a good coating of silicone grease in the pivot cups when it is really cold I get some squeaks- definitely not as bad as without grease but some. Not a peep from down there yesterday with temps in the 60's. But back to reality with 30 degrees this weekend.

stocago · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 227

Are you using flat washers? Cupped ones will limit the turning a tad and change the feel, perhaps giving you more rebound.

In case of wheelbite wear your safety equipment!

scooterdad · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 4:30 am Post subject:

They have a little cup to them. Maybe I'll experiment with flat ones as well.

stocago · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 227

The flat ones allow you to turn deeper. Watch for wheelbite if it's warm!

pavedwave · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 1120 Location: seattle wa usa

I definitely see my white+orange Khiros in front slipping and sliding all over each other. In the hot weather they've been slipping to the point where the edge of one gets jammed into the hole of the other, right at the kingpin, basically a flippin mess.

For nearly a year I had one Khiro orange cone that was smashed into the perfect "base" shape and held my white barrels in place. Then a few weeks ago this flattened cone finally blew out, split in half and fell out of the truck. I've been missing that ever since and wish I could mold one.

Have a new technique now that seems to be working pretty well... Flat Bennett washer at very bottom, white barrel bottom, orange cone on top of the barrel which the hangar seats directly down onto, then a Carver CX (or orange Khiro barrel) on top.

What I'd really like to see are Khiros softer durometers in a big Bennett-shaped mold!!

pavedwave · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 1120 Location: seattle wa usa

This is what I've been running lately. Seems to hold up better in the hot temps (80--90F)

northcoast · Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Posts: 64