pavedwave longboarding

northcoast · Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Posts: 64

i wonder if a spherical bearing in the hanger would relieve some of the stress on the kingpins.

my thinking is (correct me if i'm wrong) that kingpin wear comes from the hangers knocking on the kingpin when you turn...putting a spherical bearing in the hanger would eliminate the "knocking" by fixing the pivot point into one spot, and eliminating the side-to-side play that causes kingpin wear

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

I dont believe kp wear comes from the hangar knocking agaisnt the KP, althought that would certianly cause wear if it were to happen. If that was the case though, the break point would be higher up. You would also see signs of that damage on the threads of the kingpin where the hangar rests and i havent. Also, im positive the hangar isnt knocking into the KP in the rear, i have it locked up tight. I think the wear comes from constant vibration and the KP itself turing back and forth with the hangar. Especially with harder bushings, some of the force applied to the truck moves the KP itself (i think). Thats not to say that spherical bearings wouldnt help the situation, i simply dont know. But im pretty positive that the wear to the KP does not come from the hangar, its more just vibrations.

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

I'm pretty sure that the looseness of the pivot won't have an immediate effect on the kingpin, only because I've been riding two of my Bennetts with horribly mangled and sloppy pivot pins for a couple years now. I wore them down on accident by letting the rubber pivot bushings turn to mush, then kept riding them until the pivot pin was rubbing directly against the pivot cup for ####?? miles until I finally noticed it. Doh! But they still feel awesome so I just watch the pivot cup wear more closely and ride them 'compromised' -- oddly, still no kingpin breaks, but I'm not taking my chances too much longer on that.

petary791 · Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:23 pm Post subject:

Titanium kingpins actually seem reasonable in the LDP arena. Anybody try it?
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egret · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 84

something about titanium doesnt seem right for a kingpin. Same reason titanium wouldnt be used for a sword blade. Iron has a certain amount of flex depending on how hard it is tempered and I dont think titanium flexes as much. It may be harder but may also be more brittle like very hard steel. I wonder where kingpins fall on the Rockwell hardness scale and if maybe a bit softer would make them less prone to breaking. I'm surprised with all the engineering but into baseplates and hangars that kingpins appear to be off the shelf.

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

Broke ANOTHER grade 8 today >< This time it was the stock KP from my orion baseplate (made by tracker i believe). No falls or anything, just a long walk home.

blake · Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 198 Location: Seattle

Maybe some one needs a diet haha Wink

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The concrete is our canvas, our wave, our playgound, our catalyst for growth. When you feel it, flow with it, live in the moment; and shred it like you'll never skate again, everytime.

Ian the Groove Worshipper · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 79 Location: Largo, FL

How many miles did you have on that KP?

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

Hmm, im not sure but id prolly say around 450 mi.

Unfortunately, the KP is pressed into place pretty good, i couldnt hammer it out so for now im using an RT-S baseplate. Its not quite as good a fit for the airflow but its not terrible.

stocago · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 227

Two @300 miles and one @450 miles? I guess you need to replace your kingpins every 250 miles!