How To Lubricate Skateboard Bearings| 6 Great Ways For Doing This |
Last Updated on June 12, 2023 by BoardsRiding
Skateboarding is an exciting and fun activity that can be enhanced with the right skateboard bearings. On the other hand, could become dirty and require cleaning and lubrication. To get your skateboard riding like new again, you must first learn how to lubricate skateboard bearings. I recommend opening them up, cleaning and lubricating them, and storing them in a moisture-free container till they’re ready to use again.
It’s a good idea to clean and lubricate your bearings on a regular basis to ensure optimal performance. This will extend the life and durability of your bearings while also providing you with optimal speed. Remember to stay away from water and sand. When a bearing is used or stored in a wet and dirty environment, its lifespan is drastically reduced.
What You Will Need:
1• Skateboard bearings that are filthy. (This can be obtained from dirty skateboard wheels.)
2• Acetone or another solvent may be used. 97% isopropyl alcohol is also acceptable.)
3• A bowl or cup in which to place it.
4• To remove a bearing shield, use a small pin or a straightened staple.
How To Lubricate Skateboard Bearings:
Now that we’ve gathered everything we need, it’s time to overhaul our bearings. We’ll take a few extra steps to ensure that the wheel cores get the most out of every lube drop.
- Remove your skateboard’s wheels
- Take out the bearings and shields.
- Use a cleaner to clean your bearings.
- Lubricate and dry your bearings.
- Shields and bearings should be replaced.
- Putting the wheels back on
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Remove Your Skateboard’s Wheels:
You can’t get to each bearing unless your wheels are removed from the axles. It’s extremely simple to remove the wheels from the skateboard, Click Here to read more about how to loosen skateboard wheels. Unpin the axle nuts with the skate tool (or even an adjustable wrench if you don’t have one) and unscrew each nut on your truck.
Keep in mind: lefty loosey, righty tighty.
Keep all the nuts and washers aside. Set them aside in a separate place with the washers and other small hardware. When I’m at home, I generally keep them in a Tupperware container. But if I ever remove the wheels while out and about, I’ll replace the washers on the trucks and tighten a nut just enough to keep it secure. If you wish to clean them, you can put them in a small cup of alcohol, but this isn’t strictly necessary.
Then, with the axle’s tip clinging to one bearing, slide the wheels out. Tilt a wheel to one side as the axle pin locks a wheel core once it has caught the bearing’s body. The ball bearing is still on the axle at that point. Do this with all of the wheel cores to avoid the need for additional tools.
Take Out The Bearings And Shields:
You’ll have to remove the bearings from the wheels now. You remove them by prying them from your wheels with your truck’s axle. Slide your wheel halfway onto the end of the axle to accomplish this. The axle should only have one bearing. Twist a wheel outward as well as around, prying out a bearing with the axle holding the insides of the bearing in place.
Then, flip the wheel over and do the same thing on the other side. After you’ve removed each of the bearings from your wheels, you’ll need to remove the bearing shields. Unfortunately, no tool exists to accomplish this. Use something sharp, such as a razorblade, safety pin, or thumbtack, with extreme caution. Try not to deform the shield, as this could cause the ball bearings to rub and cause your bearings to lose speed.
Expert Advice: Bearing spacers are used on some wheels. If yours do, store them in the hardware tray to keep track of them. You’ll need them later if you reinstall your bearings.
Use A Cleaner To Clean Your Bearings:
You’ll need something to clean your wheels now that you’ve removed the bearings and shields. Acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and mineral spirits are examples of non-water-based cleaners and solvents that will work. Wear gloves and avoid any contact with the skin when working with solvents. Soak the bearings for a few minutes in a wide-mouthed bottle, mason jar, or Tupperware container, stirring occasionally. The bearings should ideally sit for between ten and fifteen minutes.
The better you scrub, however, the more dirt and debris you can remove from them. I recommend scrubbing the bearings as thoroughly as possible with a rag or even an old toothbrush. Another suggestion I have is to try a bone-bearing cleaning kit. It’s a fantastic, mess-free method for cleaning your bearings more thoroughly and quickly without damaging them.
Lubricate And Dry Your Bearings:
After removing all the dirt, debris, and gunk from the bearings, remove them from the cleaner and dry them as soon as possible. Tap the bearings face down on a dry rag or paper towel. You could also spin them while holding them in the rag, or blow them dry with a hair dryer. After that, re-lubricate the bearings.
A dry bearing causes friction, which damages the bearings; that’s why lubricating them is such an important step. I suggest using a skate-bearing lubricant like Bones Speed Cream. Drizzle 1–2 drops of oil into the bearing and spin it to distribute the oil. A rep for the other eight bearings.
Shields And Bearings Should Be Replaced:
Now you must replace the bearing shields on the bearings. This is a lot simpler than taking them off. Simply place them where you want them and gently press from the center until they snap back on. Replace each of the bearings on the wheels. If done correctly, this should feel like you’re riding on new bearings.
Expert Advice: Replace the bearing spacers between the bearings before reinstalling them in the wheels, and replace the speed washers on the truck axle before tightening the axle nuts.
Putting The Wheels Back On:
This is probably the simplest step. Simply reinstall the skateboard wheels and tighten the axle nuts. As a general rule, they must be loose enough to spin easily with the hand, but tight enough not to wiggle on the axle. This step is optional; however, if you wish to make sure you’re ready, ride the skateboard on the road even if you have new bearings. You should have a much more comfortable ride by then.
When Should You Lubricate Your Bearings?
Skateboard bearings must be lubricated on a regular basis to ensure smooth, friction-free movement. Bearing oil is a non-hazardous and environmentally friendly lubricant. Bearing oil must be changed every 3,000 miles or even every six months if used heavily.
To clean the bearings, first vacuum the dust away, then wash them in lukewarm water with mild soap. To ensure proper lubrication, apply a few drops of bearing oil to the bearing surfaces before reassembling.
How To Clean Skateboard Bearings:
Here’re the steps:
• Taking the Bearings Out
• Bearings Cleaning
• Bearing Greasing and Reassembly
How To Clean Skateboard Bearings With Household Items
Here’re the steps to cleaning bearings at home:
• Step 1: Take the wheels off your skateboard trucks.
• Step 2: Disassemble Each Wheel’s Bearings.
• Step 3: Remove shields correctly based on their type.
• Step 4: Clean the dirty skateboard bearings correctly.
• Step 5: Lubricate Your Bearings With the Correct Lubricants.
• Step 6: Replace the bearing shields.
• Step 7: Replace the Bearing in Each Wheel.
The Best Solvent For Cleaning Bearings.
Here’re the best solvents:
- Bones Speed Cream Skate Bearing Lubricant
- ACER Racing SIN Synthetic Bearing Lube
- SONIC Citrus Skate Bearing Cleaner
- 100 mL TotalBoat Special Brushing Thinner
Power Lubrication Techniques For Skateboard Bearings
While applying lubricant is a simple task for many, there’s still a risk that you’re not doing it correctly. So, try and learn from these hints to get yourself out of a bind.
- Learn more about bearing free space. These will assist you in accurately determining how much lube to use.
- The majority of bearings are pre-coated with anti-corrosion agents or oil layers. If your lubricant is incompatible with these, you must thoroughly clean the wheel cores before applying it.
- Never use too much lubricant on the bearings. Internal friction and overheating will result. Applying too little lube, on the other hand, will cause these parts to wear out quickly.
- You can’t lubricate your bearings if they’re in perfect working order. Monitoring the performance of the wheel cores is the most effective way to keep them. You’ll know when and how to apply lubricant by then.
- Make use of appropriate ultrasound equipment. This device is unlikely to be familiar to everyone.
These suggestions are not optional. They can be critical to the performance and longevity of your skateboard. So, as you improve your skateboard maintenance skills, keep these in mind.
FAQs:
Final Thoughts: How To Lubricate Skateboard Bearings
How to lubricate skateboard bearings? It’s a habit to take care of your skateboard. The more you do these things, the better you understand skateboards and their parts. Bearing cleaning is an essential component of skateboard maintenance. You could ensure that the bearings are clean and lubricated for optimal skating performance by following the steps outlined in this article.
There’s no telling when you’ll need to repeat it. When there’s visible gunk or even when the bearings are losing their luster, clean them. If you’ve tried cleaning them again and they’re still not meeting your expectations, it’s time to purchase a new set of bearings. Thank You!