Guide How To Clean Longboard Bearings & | Essential Equipment |
Last Updated on July 4, 2024 by BoardsRiding
It’s time to give the longboard bearings a thorough cleaning if they start to feel clumsy or noisy. Cleaning them is a crucial component of upkeep that you shouldn’t skip. You may go more quickly and have greater pleasure from riding a longboard by cleaning the bearings. Most skateboard bearings require little maintenance and last for a long time.
It’s likely to be beneficial to strip the bearings and reapply grease when you ride the deck through liquids or puddles. Generally speaking, every rider should be able to properly clean longboard bearings. In this article, you will learn how to clean longboard bearings.
Materials Required For The Process
- Cleaner
- Lubricant
- Container
- Paperclip or Knife Blade
- Dryer
1: Cleaner
It’s usual practice to clean bearings using alcohol or even a citrus cleaner; this is safe but more likely to leave residues. Since citrus cleaning is water-based, you must quickly dry your bearings in order to prevent rust. The solvents that are sold commercially are not necessarily as pure as you might believe. Some typical examples include acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and carburetor cleaning products.
They must be dried quickly as well. Many boarders use cleaning supplies that contain alcohol, such as methyl and ethanol. There’re further options as well, including gasoline and engine degreasers. What you use is entirely up to you. However, we urge you to use environmentally responsible methods. Lemon juice also works well.
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2: Lubricant
We advise using the lighter grease option whenever it comes to lubricants. Of course, the decision is totally yours. The bearings will spin quicker with thinner lubricant, but they will also be more prone to breaking. Your bearings may spin slower with medium grease, but it will be harder to get them dirty.
Although it will keep water out, thick grease will draw in more dirt. Longboard bearings should be lubricated after cleaning them to ensure smooth operation; try to select lubricants without a break-in period.
3: Container
Use a secure container rather than one made of fragile glass or chemically reactive plastic.
4: Paperclip or Knife Blade
The shield will be taken off with the aid of a paper clip, knife blade, or some other sharp object. Most of the time, all that is needed should be anything that is sufficient to eject the shield.
5: Dryer
Although not required, a dryer can be useful. You should acquire something if you really want to fast-dry your damp bearings or if you just want to ensure that all is dry all the way inside.
How To Clean Longboard Bearings?
Steps to clean the bearings of a longboard are:
1: Essential equipment
- A good knife or a boxcutter
- Solvent or cleanser for brake parts
- Three-in-one ball bearing grease and sewing machine oil
- Flathead screwdriver, small
- A rag or cloth towel
- A lidded container, like a glass jar
- A blade for a knife for rubber gloves
- Circumclip pliers
- A comfortable, well-lit environment
- A lidded tray for storing your bearings
- Some speed paste or mild grease
- Bearings
2: Take Off The Longboard Wheels
Usually, the skate and socket wrench are used to remove the axle nuts.
3: Wheel Bearings Should Be Removed
Before the bearing could be pulled out of the wheel, a little retaining ring on most bearings needed to be pried off with a flathead screwdriver. The tiny steel balls in a bearing run in a circle that is part of the bearing. The bolts holding the bearing to the truck. The wheel is linked to the side that has the ball bearings. This permits the truck to remain still as the wheels spin.
A full set is eight bearings, with two bearings per wheel. Longboard bearings are available in a standard size or can be made to fit any wheel. You won’t even notice them if you have solid bearings. Get rid of the axle nut. When the inner wheel is at the end of the axle, slide the wheel outward.
Jimmy the bearing from the wheel with a motion similar to opening a beer bottle. Repeat with the other wheel, then flip the first one over.
4: Remove The Bearings Shields
You must take off the shields in order to reach the bearings inside once you have removed your bearing from the wheels. Any object with a sharp, pointy tip, such as a box cutter, can be used for this. Pull up after inserting the tip inside the inner ring. To access the balls and cage, you’ll probably need to remove one of the shields.
If you don’t take care when removing the shield, you’ll probably scratch or damage it. Users need only one on each bearing, so it’s all right. For metal-shielded bearings, the exterior of the race will have a “C” clip. For individual cleaning of certain bearings, it’s feasible to entirely remove the balls and cage from the race, but you’re not required to do this unless you truly desire to.
5: Clean The Bearings Of The Longboard
Put the longboard bearings in a jar and fill it with your preferred fluid before applying your own homemade cleaning solution. After about two minutes of shaking, rinse your bearings with an extra-clean solvent. For 30 minutes, soak the instructions in a dish of cleaning solution (rubbing alcohol works well), and then scrape any dirt or grime off with a toothbrush or even another small brush. Let the bearings air-dry after cleaning them with a clean solvent.
6: Check The Bearings
On the bearing surface, look for any cracks, chips, or even other signs of deterioration. Replacement bearings ought to be used if damage is discovered.
7: Clear The Debris And Dirt
Remove any debris or dirt from the bearings with a tiny brush or toothpick.
8: Bearings Rinse
Dry off the bearings after rinsing them with clean water.
8: Utilize Lubricant
Apply a drop of lubrication or oil to each bearing (optional).
9: Rescrew Bearings
Put the wheels back on after tightening the bearing caps.
10: Assemble The Longboard Again
Reinstall the axle nuts and rejoin the wheels after the bearings are clean and dry. You should now be able to ride your longboard. By following these simple steps, you can keep your longboard bearings in excellent condition for many years.
Why Are Lubricants Thin?
Because lubricants often have very good roll speeds, less dirt builds up in the bearings. However, a thin lubricant such as oil offers the highest protection, which is an advantage. Additionally, it enables the bearings to last a long time and rotate swiftly. However, it draws in dirtier stuff more than thin things.
Oil accomplishes the same thing, meanwhile. There’s a chance that the bearing could spill oil when moving quickly. Whenever it overheats a wheel and threatens to siege the wheels, this is a concern. Additionally, it makes the wheels much dirtier and noisier.
How Are Longboard Bearings Taken Out And Cleaned?
By rotating the bearing counterclockwise, bearings can be removed with ease. Ensure that you take small steps when you turn. Using a bearing wrench, uniformly tighten the bearings. Your bearings will have the longest possible life as a result of this.
After you have finished tightening the bearings, be careful to place them in the bearing housing without twisting them. A rag, brush, and cleaner can be used to quickly clean them.
How Should Longboard Bearings Be Cleaned?
Cleaning longboard bearings can improve their performance and lengthen their useful lives. Here’re a couple of techniques for cleaning the bearings on your longboard.
Clean the interior of the bearing with a toothbrush or towel and a scrubbing brush. Be careful to scrape the bearing’s interior and use a rag to remove any dirt. Next, clean the outside surface of the bearing using a clean rag. To keep your teeth in good shape, take care to wipe from one toothed side to the other.
Utilizing a bearing polish is another technique to clean your bearings. Your bearings will be cleaned as a result, and you can ensure that they’re operating at their best.
Best Bearing Cleaning Solvent
We suggest Acetone, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Citrus Cleaner, and Denatured Alcohol as solvents. You can find all of these in the paint aisle at your neighborhood hardware store.
Can Longboard Bearings Be Reused?
Whenever it came to reusing longboard bearings, there were a few considerations.
- Before reusing the bearing, make sure it has been thoroughly cleaned and degreased.
- Assess how well the new bearing fits in comparison to the old one. Significant play indicates that the bearing might not even be adequately placed, which could result in an early failure.
- In cases of uncertainty, swap out the bearing.
FAQs:
Final Verdict:
Over time, the bearings on your longboard accumulate filth and debris, which reduces your ability to perform some sick feats. Although it’s not difficult, cleaning your bearings is very beneficial. Cleaning your board’s bearings increases speed and durability and helps lessen the board’s normal wear and tear.
Your skateboard bearings have just been cleaned and regressed. It’s a good idea to check the wheels each time you use them by turning them in your palm. Deeper bearing problems are indicated by an unfamiliar sound or a board that is leaning to one side.
Clean at least once a month, if not more frequently, if you use grease. Half of this interval is necessary for oil.
You should now have a better understanding of the value of maintenance as well as how to clean longboard bearings. Share your thoughts in the comment section. Thank You!
I’m Mike Dave & Focused on Riding Boards we are on a mission to grow the love for different types of board riding. We want to build interest by providing complete guides of boards so, if you want to increase your knowledge about riding boards, this website is a perfect selection for you, do hit a survey on this website and you will surely love it.
