Bennett Trucks

I was switching some trucks around the other day and I realized how much I like these cut down Bennett trucks.  I wanted them on like 3 different boards.  I just got some new wheels, a little taller than what I usually ride and the Bennetts are perfect for them.

Bennetts on a Penny.

Independent 109 Stage 10 Skateboard Trucks

I just got these Independent 109 Stage 10s.  I have been waiting for these for quite a while as Independent has not made anything smaller than 129s for a few years and just recently started making these again.  They have a 4.25" hanger and a 7" axle.  The hanger is the old style that looks more like a T than a triangle.

                                      

The baseplate is not the downhill style 6 hole baseplate I kind of expected it to be when I saw it was drilled for new and old school mounting.  It is a standard Stage 10 with 6-holes instead, id does not have the longer kingpin or the big emblem on the bottom.  

                                      

Other than the baseplate everything is as expected, cant wait to get them on something and see how they feel.  They seem like a good width for a Bantam or a Nickel.

Cut Down Bennet Vectors in progress.

I want some Bennett Vectors that will fit on a Penny sized board.  The smallest they make are 4.25" hangers so I guess I have to make them.  I am in the process of cutting some down to make them have 3" hangers and 6" axles.

The other day I pounded out the axles and cut the hangers down to size.  That part was very easy.  then came the cutting and threading of the axles.  That was not so easy.  I have done this with 2 other sets of trucks.  I have cut down a set of Randals and a set of old school G&S trucks, both to about 110mm.  On both rethreading the axles wasn't easy, but I was able to do it by hand without too much trouble.  Not so with these axles in the Vectors.  I even went and bought a new die to see if that was the issue, but still couldn't get it.  I ordered some bar stock so I can make some from scratch and as soon as it gets here I am going to finish these up and see how they ride.

I will eventually use them both together, but I think I will pair one up front with a Midtrack in the back for a tiny slalom inspired setup and see how that feels for a while first.  

Now I am getting to excited to play with these, I hope that bar comes soon.

Holes

To fit standard old school drilled trucks like Tracker Midtracks on a Stereo Vinyl Cruiser, Fish Skateboard or a Penny, there is a little drilling that needs to be done.  Some people say they have been able to just force the bolts through, but I have not experienced this, I have drilled all mine.  

A comment on another post asked for some pics of the holes drilled.  Here they are.

The Left is the stock hole.  Right is the drilled hole.  As you can see, we are not drilling a whole new hole, just opening up one side of the existing hole because the standard mounting hole pattern is just a little bit longer than the Penny / Vinyl / Fish mounting pattern.

This opens up our choice of trucks to anything really narrow and drilled for old school mounting.