Longboarding 101 - Adjusting your trucks, wheels, and bearings

Spencer smith walks you through how to adjust your longboard trucks, wheels, bearings and more. Learn the best tips and tricks to progress your longboarding by fine tuning your setup. This tutorial includes how to change wheels, how to tighten trucks, how to remove trucks, how to remove and how to insert and remove bearings.
For more information and tutorials visit: dblongboards.com

[@user-dp2ih6ck2l]

ありがとうございます。54歳、ロンスケ久しぶりに復活して、すっかり忘れていたことを思い出しています。....Thank you for the Tips by Video. I am 54 yrd @ Japan. I was going to a come back to the Long-skate boards on VOCD19`s little Lock down city. Your video makes to help me for my skate board`s life. Thanks... By the way, I have been in Nashville TN and NY @ 1990` ~.

[@n30nplay56]

The modern magic of the double tap the right side of the screen to skip 10 seconds forward too

[@MrJuanport]

this was cool but you didnt talk about how tight to make the wheels..

[@luvaanrooyan2564]

juan portillo obviously the tightest it can go

[@jonathanlee5314]

@@luvaanrooyan2564 In my experience a tiny amount of play allows the wheels to roll more smoothly.

[@luvaanrooyan2564]

Jonathan Lee that’s true but when it is very tight it won’t roll

[@Dr_Footbrake]

Jonathan Lee if you run spacers you should tighten the nut until there’s no play

[@fabianleneus4886]

Turn to the right, hence the name righty tighty

[@mckinleyabbott-dale7742]

THANK YOU, YOU JUST SAVED MY LIFE!!

[@mrcook9721]

Thank for the video, could you maybe introduce the adjustment of the trucks in terms of turning. Also maybe a little tutorial of how to turn and getting a good turning radius? I noticed when I try turn, my board hardly turns, even if I loose fully. However, I see other longboarders turning 180 easily, without popping their boards up or doing any kind of sliding..

[@perthlongboardingsociety321]

Turning radius is defined by your baseplate angle and your wheelbase. A 44 degree truck with a 27 inch wheelbase angle will have a very large turning radius, but be more stable at speed, than a 52 degree truck set up on a short 22 inch wheelbase, but this will have a more tighter turning radius. Your ability to use these though depends on a proper bushing set up, if your bushings are too hard for you weight you won't be able to turn your trucks properly regardless of what trucks, if you're bushing set up is too loose you will be unstable at speed and risk wheelbite. Trucks with a lot of rake (4mm to 6mm+) will make your bushings feel softer the more you turn / at the end of your lean, and you may notice a harder feeling centre, when compared to trucks that are rakeless or with a low amount of rake (1mm to 3mm). Flipping your trucks does the opposite making your centre feel softer and the end of your lean feel much harder. Trucks with a lower degree baseplate angle will need a few duro harder bushings than higher degree baseplates. A 42 degree truck will noticeably make your set up feel noticeably softer than say a 50 degree truck, without compensating your bushing duro.

[@PrincessBudenskya]

@@perthlongboardingsociety321 I recently took my trucks off to replace the grip tape and also replaced my wheels. Now that I've reassembled everything, I find that the steering is much less responsive. Tightening/loosening the bushings doesn't seem to make much difference. I think the change might be because my new wheels are much wider than the old ones. Any tips to make steering sharper? Having a nice smooth ride is kind of pointless if I can only go straight.

[@adrieltucker4657]

i know I'm pretty randomly asking but do anyone know a good website to watch new tv shows online?

[@lesterdude999]

2020 and i find this helpful. thank you

[@Beast-lv7yj]

Hey thanks for the videos they have helped me a lot

[@danielgabay8742]

I just wanna is a

[@dowhatmakesyouhappy7002]

Amazing! Very informative

[@benjivibin1563]

thank u so much dude i definitely needed this video

[@NikeBerpi]

very helpful thank you

[@thefox8939]

Ohhh yeah it's time to install my paris truck's and new divine 70mm 78a wheels.. thanks for the tutorial;)

[@Iamfga]

Thank you!

[@donaldself9709]

Thanks really helpful

[@mikes3610]

no

[@joevonwolfenstein21]

You're straight forward and unflinching in giving some basic instructions which are somewhat rare qualities in a skater. Usually, like with computers, most techs are hugger-mugger covetous of imparting knowledge. That , having been said ; I know these basic things. My question is : is graphite good with steel bearings with double sided shielding, and what is the best application procedure?🧐

[@mattg2612]

Awesome, thanks for the video. Very informative. Just ordered a skate tool so I can wrench on my new Carver Super Surfer.

[@lylechipperson3407]

Keep in mind that australian made boards are 14mm kingpin not 1/2" and a standard skate tool will be too small to adjust them.

[@Layne292]

THANKS SO MUCH

[@kiddarkness9775]

Thanks that was so helpful

[@danielbridges7041]

Really cool videos man. Very well done and easy to watch, also super informative!

[@mikeb2847]

Love your beginner tutorials - Why would you flip your hanger? What’s the purpose of doing that?

[@fabianleneus4886]

Thanks

[@lorenaeliasen8124]

Probably a dumb question. Why would I want to switch the hanger? I have a long board that has started to turn super fast and I don’t know how to fix it.

[@josiahbonacci9272]

Flipping the truck hangar blew my mind 😂😂

[@alexdou3618]

Hay hope you'll see this question , so i have a long dancer long board , and I have a additional place to move tracks forward and back , can you explain please the set ups behind that ?

[@sirmixalot3332]

Wider the wheelbase (further apart) adds stability and less maneuverability it will want to track straighter. Closer together less stable tracking and turns are more nimble. Too far apart is cumbersome while too close is twitchy.

[@elijahnapp]

How tight do I tighten my wheel nut?

[@decorachan4680]

This is cool! But one question: In what circumstances would you flip the truck hanger? (I’m a newbie, so I’m a little confused)

[@NeutralXer89]

Was wondering the same.

[@decorachan4680]

Dillon Rosel :(( i’m confused

[@priscillayg]

I was wondering the same thing too. Maybe it's just preference ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@sirmixalot3332]

Flip one and try it out. Then try flipping both. Answers await.

[@apexprofessionalhoning716]

I have trucks that say 50 degree on one side. Are they supposed to be facing the same side or opposite ends? ⬅️➡️? ➡️➡️?

[@kubuz37]

Is DB Single Speed available anywhere in Poland or Europe for that matter?

[@carsongates6324]

Hi, im thinking of getting a new board but im not sure what id want. It would be almost like a cruser but also have that down hill boming capibility and im not sure abput what parts (trucks, wheels) to get. Any help?

[@Nikolaos34]

Anyone who is seeking advice for truck tuning, I always keep my front truck tighter than the rear truck. This has been my go to setup for every board now, as long as you remember which end of your board is the nose. (You can fine tune how loose / tight based on your hardware and personal preference, as long as the front is tighter.) Doing this has reduced the amount of average speed wobbles, and made turning feel smoother. Give it a try!

[@Phynych]

Nick Mur right idea wrong end of the board you want the rear tighter than the front (if you are using the same duro bushings all around which most beginners do) the easiest way to achieve more stability is to flip the rear hangar on most cast longboard trucks because most of them have some some degree of rake.

[@michaelross1339]

Hilarious. My rear is tighter than my front.

[@Mikishots]

Nope. A tighter rear truck will negate wobbles. Your method makes it worse.

[@neuvation6607]

Mikishots lol what nick just explained just proves that its all in your head and wobbles are based on confidence and what u think + balance and comfort on your setup rather than truck tightness negating wobbles.

[@Mikishots]

@@neuvation6607 that would also be a no. Wobbles are a physical law of motion. A pro skateboarder on badly set up trucks will wobble at speed, irrespective of how confident he may be. A tip for future reference: just because some "explains" something, it doesn't magically make it proof.

[@samwitbay7199]

Can anyone tell me what type of board he has I really want a board like that plz...

[@calinmerge8312]

Question: i want my board to slide, downhill idk... Is there a setup for that or?

[@chillmilki8609]

If you loosen the wheel nut would I be able to get more distance per push?

[@ethand5672]

The axle nut should be tight enough to have very minimal play but loose enough as to not restrict bearing rotation. What I do is tighten it very lightly until it's tight, then loosen like a quarter turn

[@willdabeast6503]

Can’t find an answer to this anywhere. Trucks on a longboard face opposite directions. For tightening and loosening, is it both the same direction based on the orientation of the board, or is it base d on the orientation of the trucks?

[@friktionrc]

For a beginner, should the trucks be tight? I've just come by a longboard and it looks almost new (stock wheels, with very little damge or sceatches to either wheels or boards). It feels great to just push off on and get used to balancing but when I see other longboard vids folks seem to beable to 'carve' their boards and make them turn, so just wondering if I should losen my trucks yet/when stilla newbie

[@DrownEmOut]

How tight should the screws be on the base plate?

[@mitchmaher]

How tight should be the things that connect the trucks to the board? I have a drop through and they are kind of wobbly but it’s not the kingpin it’s the screws that go to the board

[@sirmixalot3332]

Tight!

[@rebecamoya1013]

what affect does flipping your truck hanger do?

[@felipe2fp]

Yeap that is one thing that I would like to know. I have a paris v3 180m and they dont look the same on both sides. Maybe was just my impression.

[@300WINMAG360]

My sector 9 board didn't come with spacers does that matter. Also how tight do you want the wheels??

[@chrisshelburg4211]

Pitdog360 spacers really just give leeway to the space between wheels and deck, and they also help with shock absorbance and reducing the chance to crack the deck near the truck bed.

[@chrisshelburg4211]

All in all wheel tightness and generally any tightness with the kingpin is personal preference, find what works for you! :)

[@Dec.H]

Wgat board style is that its just what ive been trying to look for for ages

[@DBlongboards]

It's a DB Single Speed V2 - might be tricky to track one down since we don;t make them any more

[@Dec.H]

Oh thats to bad but ill keep my eye out anyways, cheers

[@sk8gamer773]

wasn't thr trucks put on backwards? I'm am just unsure? can I use these tips for cruisers

[@CryRedYT]

Sk8Gaming88 depends on how you ride. Some boards have positive and negative trucks mean both face in so u can ride either way or have positive positive or even negative negative. But to put things simple, just keep them positive negative.

[@CryRedYT]

And yes these tips include cruisers

[@perthlongboardingsociety321]

Probably because in the video Reverse Kingpin Trucks were used (RKP's). Some cruisers use Traditional Kingpin Trucks (TKP's), which are more commonly used on skateboards than longboards, due to their lack of stability at speed that the longboard market requires. They have their kingpin on the inside of the truck so that they dont get scraped when skateboarders grind on their trucks, which is why it may look reversed to the video.

[@philorida]

I wanted to loosen the trucks on my 41" drop deck. The wheelbase is the extreme definition of wide. I think it's 30.

[@adventuresofdianajane1610]

do i have to adjust both or only the front?

[@CryRedYT]

diane niegas personally for better flow id adjust both trucks

[@adventuresofdianajane1610]

thank u so muchhhh

[@CryRedYT]

diane niegas no problem

[@prodseb]

CryRed YT but for downhill you want the back one a bit tighter than front to prevent speed wobble

[@Jake-jg8jz]

I once loosened my kid pin so much that it fell out and my truck fell apart, is that supposed to happen?

[@perthlongboardingsociety321]

Yes, this is how you take your trucks apart to change parts, such as bushings & wasers, pivot cups, or even hangers and kingpins. When you put it back on just make sure its secure and the hanger is fully in contact with your bushings.

[@michaelross1339]

Yes. If you loosen it too much, it is supposed to fall off.

[@lilostitch2165]

I like his shirt. Where to cop? Link me

[@CHarley20]

Same

[@josephisaguy]

i have the same trucks, what happens by turning them the other way?

[@lydluvv.45]

NoMic your turning will be opposite, like turning right will make you turn left

[@Fanedits94]

I changed my bearings and for some reason it’s super noisy and not as smoothe as before I had these super cheap bearings on and I just got new and I changed them and their super noisy whay can I do to fix it

[@ethand5672]

If the wheels aren't tight enough or too tight this might happen, also if the bearings were not prelubricated, or if you didn't use spacers/rings

[@mnheat3364]

For cruising what's the best setuo

[@frisog7082]

i think loose trucks

[@denisstrublik1969]

For downhill, loose trucks or tight trucks?

[@ethanromero3442]

Denis Štrublík I prefer tight trucks then loose because your a lot less likely to make a speed wobble when doing tight trucks. I use loose trucks When I freestyle x dance though

[@perthlongboardingsociety321]

Over tightening your truck can actually make you less stable, go for harder bushings to match your weight, and keep your nut in line with the end of your kingpin to not squish your bushings.

[@christynburgess8467]

what kind of long board is it?

[@eonrelaxationmusic1916]

Leftie loosie, I'll never forget now, 😅

[@jeremymoorer1611]

Why would you flip the hangers?

[@Swank1900]

Why no speed rings?

[@olyveahunter9861]

My longboard kept like wiggling when I’d go down hills it was so annoying

[@ethand5672]

tighten the rear kingpin

[@justfly4568]

what tool is that

[@Brimi712]

What’s the point of flipping the hangers?

[@romanayala3215]

What board is he using

[@evilboy6693]

what board is that?

[@DBlongboards]

A DB Single Speed!

[@Rexpinson25]

Hello

[@ashperson2134]

Maynard-longboarding wasssup dog

[@isaiahrafaelpena8287]

Hey man is your longboard still good this days?can I have it I just broke my longboard today and im so broke to buy 1 I am still 17y.o for me to work 😔.

[@andrewmckinney3290]

Yoo

[@richardhayter3919]

Dude, please dont suggest righty tighty lefty loosey as this will confuse people depending if they have the wrench at the 12 oclock position or the 6 oclock postion, use clockwise or counter clockwise (anti clockwise if you live where I do) then there can be no confusion ! Cheerio from across the pond.

[@sirmixalot3332]

If someone cannot figure out righty tighty and lefty loosey they need A LOT more help than this video can offer. 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock are unnecessarily complicating the very simple righty tighty adage. Less is more.

[@emmadelaney9865]

I just realised my wheels aren’t on my board right-

[@fipeke]

Ok but my board comes in contact with the wheels and flungs me the fuck off. I can't make it any tighter because then the longboard just won't turn. Either I have a shit as fucking longboard or some dark magic is at play here

[@ethand5672]

wheels are too big for the board/board isn't cut right for the trucks which aren't wide enough

[@basementkid6697]

You dont need to explain how it works just say what it does

[@ronsaunders3170]

You said you wouldn't make us watch thru but you did. fast forward is not cut & jump