Improperly Adjusted Pivot Pin Can Cost You A King Pin

Of all the broken king pins and pivot pins returned to the Snyder Skate factory, about 90% of them were caused by improperly adjusted pivot pins. The pivot pin, designed to give the skater support, is seated into the bottom of the hardened insert where it is used as a pivot point. But it cannot perform the function when it is not seated properly into the pivot cup. Instead, what you get is a free-floating truck, hanging from the king pin and the cushions. This results in far too much stress being placed on the king pin when landing a jump. On a Snyder Skate the angle and design of the skate can be maintained whether there is a loose or tight action tension by properly adjusting the pivot pin. On a skate with no adjustable pivot pin, if you loosen or tighten the action of the skate, you are actually changing the working angle of that skate by not being able to properly seat the pivot pin into the pivot cup. When adjusting the pivot pin, the main thing you want to do is to get the ball to fit securely into the bottom of the pivot cup. That is, when the truck is in its loosest position, the ball of the pivot pin should go all the way in until it actually touches the bottom of the pivot cup. If you can press the pivot pin down or move it from side-to-side, then you will know the pivot pin is loose and must then be positioned lower into the pivot cup. Proper lubricant will also lessen the destructive effects of metal-to-metal wear. Over a period of time, damages can result from an improperly adjusted pivot pin. For one thing, the steel pivot pin can damage the truck, which is made of softer aluminum, by wearing away the threads. Also, it can pierce the hanger, which will run your skate. Then, too, if you let a loose pivot pin and loose jam nut go too long, chances are you will never again be able to get the pivot pin sufficiently tight because the threads are too worn. If you break a king pin, look at the pivot pin and jam nut and make sure they are properly adjusted. An improperly adjusted pivot pin can result in the cause your broken king pin troubles. Figure Skate Adjustments: If you are one of the many skaters who own the Snyder Figure Skate, which features a calibrated repeatable action setting, the following will help you achieve the adjusted setting that’s right for you. You will note that the king pin on this figure skate is a factory pre-set stud, which needs no further adjustments. However, the one adjustment you will have to make, different from normal adjustment, will be the pivot pin. You should first adjust your skates to “long figures” to obtain the correct action tension. Next, click your action tension for adjustment on loop figures. This is done with the 9/16” nut driver which comes with your Snyder Figure Skates for this adjustments. Now, while the action is adjusted to its loosest position for loop figures, adjust the pivot pin by turning it until it touches the pivot cups insert, then turn it one-half turn further into the pivot cup insert before locking. This pivot adjustment is now correct for any setting of the “Click-Action” tension on your figure skates. Your Snyder Figure Skates can now be adjusted to your action tension preference.