Introduce
Bearings in general, if you use them in the rain or across puddles, the rate of rust is very fast. In addition, over time, dirt will stick to your sliding bearings, affecting the speed and several other related movements.
Of course, if you want your bearings to last a long time, maintenance is important. Below, we will guide you through the most detailed steps to clean skateboard bearings!
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The most detailed steps to clean skateboard bearings
How to properly clean sliding bearings? This is a question many people ask when using skateboards or roller skates. We will answer your questions in this article.
- 1: Secure a workspace
- 2: Remove the bearing
- 3: Clean the bearings
- 4: Reinstall the bearing
Start cleaning your skateboard bearings after reading the instructions! Simple implementation saves you not only money but also better-bearing maintenance, faster and smoother skating.
Steps to clean skateboard bearings
Step 1: Secure a workspace
The first thing you need to do is choose a space where you can start the maintenance process. We suggest places with flat surfaces to get the job done more smoothly.
Remember to put a pad underneath and a washcloth on hand if you want to reduce the mess from happening.
Step 2: Remove the bearing
Remove the wheel
To be able to clean your bearings, of course, you have to remove them from the wheel. If you don’t remove the wheel, just clean the outside of the bearing. That’s just for the sake of aesthetics.
Things will be easier by using a wrench or slide tool to loosen the wheel nut holding the wheel.
Remove the bearing from the wheel
Next, position the wheel at a 45-degree angle, then use the lever position. Holding the wheel in your hand, use the strength of your body and elbows to push the slip ring off the wheel. You repeat until all the sliding bearings have been removed and placed in a certain area or position.
Remove the shield in the bearing
Once you’ve removed the bearing from the wheel, use something sharp like a knife or pin to remove the shield. Your hands try to stay straight and shape the security in the bearings.
Step 3: Clean the bearings
Clean the bearings
Removes large dirt
This is the first part of the cleaning process. You will be quite surprised at this point because the thick layer of dirt and grime accumulate in the strong plate of the bearing. You should prepare a paper towel to deep clean the ground inside the shield.
Remember to do the operation very gently to avoid pushing dirt into the bearing! If the stain is too stubborn, dab a little solvent on a paper towel to make it easier to remove the stain.
Take out the bearing shield
After you have cleaned the bearing face, use a blade, pin, or any small pointed object to dislodge the rubber shield from the bearing. Hold the direction with one hand, with the other hand holding a sharp object, gently pop it until the cover pops out.
Once removed, you will see small metal circles. This is where the most dust and dirt damage the ball bearing and where we need to clean it thoroughly.
Prepare the cleaning solution
Once you’ve removed the bearing and the shield completely, you’ll now need some kind of rinse solution, not water. We suggest some of the best options like isopropyl alcohol, spirits, or acetone.
Soak bearings in solution
Now the bearings are ready to be soaked in the cleaning solution. You need to prepare a cup or dish with enough solvent to flood all 8 directions.
Note when using the key, wear gloves to protect the skin and avoid contact with the skin. When you’re done with the process, be sure to dispose of your solution in a safe, environmentally sound way!
Start by placing each bearing in the cup for the rinsing solution to work. The time you need to soak the bearings for at least 30 minutes, occasionally shaking and swirling the bearings by hand.
Although we do not recommend this, it can cause liquid to splash into your eyes. If possible, rotate the direction several times in the beaker for maximum cleaning. You can also use a toothbrush to scrub the bearings.
As the alcohol begins to dissolve, the solvent will gradually turn brown and black. If the color is significantly darkened, you need to rinse and change a different amount of solvent. This is necessary. And you should do it until the bearings look as clean as possible.
Use a towel to clean the bearings
This is a simple step. You can skip it, but if you want to be more thorough, add a few minutes. Use a towel to clean each bearing, and use your fingers to rotate it several times until it is smooth!
We hope you will follow the above instructions to preserve and maintain the best bearing life.
Step 4: Reinstall the bearing
Dry the bearings completely
Once the dirt has been thoroughly removed, begin to speed up the drying process.
Place them on a paper towel or towel to absorb the water and dry the bearings for about 10 minutes. If you want faster, you can use a hairdryer to dry it completely.
Use lubricants
An important next step is to lubricate the bearings because if you slide a dry bearing, it will cause harmful friction. We recommend using a bearing-specific lubricant such as Bones Speed Cream or Bronson Speed Co.
You should be careful when using WD-40 as a lubricant, as impacts will accelerate wear and make bearings prone to rust.
Lubricants can increase bearing life but cannot be cleaned. You don’t need to use an excessive amount of oil because, when using fat to speed up the slide and smoother, the screens can attract a lot of dirt.
It is worth mentioning here that the thinner your lubricant layer, the faster the rotation of the bearings, but it is very easy to destroy. Just having anything stick to it will cause the direction to explode.
Besides, if the approach does not have any lubricant, it will cause the bearing to overheat and lead to the wheel melting.
However, do not worry too much about this problem. Because if you regularly maintain and clean the directions, this is not a cause for concern.
Reinstall the bearing
Put the shield back to its original position
Now put the shield back in its original position where you popped it off. This is not difficult, but ensure that the seal between the protection center matches the bearing and there is no gap. You should be gentle to avoid bending the shield!
Reinstall the bearing
The final step is to put the bearings back on, which is easier than removing them. Simply place the bearings in place and use your fingers to push each ball into the wheel to complete the assembly step. One thing to note is that you have replaced the spacers located between the bearings before mounting on the wheel.
Slide the wheels back
As a final step in re-installing the bearings, make sure that the wheels are in place. Do not tighten the nut that may hinder the rotation of the wheel. Use your hands to turn and check each wheel. When you feel all wheels are moving freely, the process is complete. If the wheel is more difficult to ride than it should be, loosen the wheel retaining pin.
When should we clean our bearings?
It is difficult to know when we should perform our bearings cleaning and maintenance. However, as a general rule, when you slide, the wheel stops quite quickly and makes a loud noise.
Or, when you’re sliding, your wheels will make a high-pitched squealing sound, like the sound of friction between hard objects. Please pay close attention to these things for timely maintenance, limiting damage, and reducing bearing life!
Things to avoid when servicing bearings
First, you must not clean the bearings by using a small oil pipe into the bearing, but you must remove the direction. If you do, the unwashed dirt will still stick to the old oil stain before applying new oil.
Second, the bearings should not be in kerosene or boiled on the stove. If you have just the skateboard in the rain or slipped through a puddle, never remove the bearings soaked in gasoline.
Because of that, you can’t wash off the gasoline, causing the bearings to rust right after. If the bearings are soaked for a long time, it is easy to generate approaches to dying. And it is difficult to rotate.
Necessary items in the process of cleaning bearings
We will reiterate some of the things you will need to begin the bearing maintenance process:
- Flat surface (table, floor)
- Wrench
- Razor, razor, or stapler
- Tissue
- Single-use cups, plates, or wide lids
- Isopropyl alcohol, spirits, and acetone solution
- Skateboard
- Lubricant
Some items in the process of cleaning bearings
Some tips to help you increase the battery life of your bearings
- Avoid sliding on sand and dirt, especially near the coast or dirt road.
- Use quality bearings. Although the price is more expensive, the service life is longer.
- Use lubricant for your bearings bi
- Never use water as a lubricant
- Do not slide in puddles
FAQs
1. Can I use regular oil in my bearings to increase speed?
The answer is yes, but be aware that centrifugal force will cause the oil to flow out. That means you’ll have to reapply the oil often. Note that if a bearing loses its lubrication, increased friction will heat the bearing and lead to wheel melt.
2. Will the lubrication of the sliding bearings make any difference?
In fact, this action can make all the difference. Cleaning your skateboard bearings will help prolong their life and prevent rust. This also saves you high costs.
3. Can WD40 be used on skateboard bearings?
This is not recommended! As we said above, WD40 is just a degreaser. You aim to clean bearings, which means to remove all grease. The WD40 will remove old grease but cannot clean your paths.
Plus, filling the bearings with WD40 will result in the bearings being destroyed quickly!
4. Can I use 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean bearings?
If you use pure isopropyl alcohol to clean your bearings, you will achieve an absolute level of cleanliness.
But if you use 70% isopropyl alcohol, it will cause your bearings to rust. This result is because the remaining 30% is water, which can lead to rust and slow the rotation of the paths.
5. What if I accidentally bend the shield?
Bend shields will affect the bearings and washers. We think if you bend the guard, take it off and take it out.
You should only install the direction with one other shield. It’s not a good idea to fit a bent shield into the same ball bearing.
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Conclusion
We have tried to eliminate problems that can cause you trouble during maintenance. The process may seem complicated at first glance, but cleaning the bearings is very simple. You will not have any problems when you follow the order that we give you.
Hope this tutorial on how to clean skateboard bearings will be really helpful for you. Plus, the questions we’ve answered above will help you better understand how to take care of your bearings.
Please read our answers carefully! If you have any questions, please leave feedback below. You will be provided with the most detailed information!
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