Wow! Today I will show how to change the bearings on a skate in 5 minutes. For this you will need: a key for a skate, if there is none, then a 13mm key or a breeder, + new bearings and, in fact, straight arms.
In this simple way, you can quickly change a broken bearing in a park or somewhere on a spot. After which, you can safely continue your ride
How to change bearings on a skate?
If your wheels start to spin poorly, the skate jerks or stops quickly, then it’s time to check the bearings. Changing the bearings is pretty easy, especially when you know how to do it. The main thing is not to rush and act carefully.
How to remove the wheel And Put Bearing?
The easiest way to do this is to use a special wrench or a regular 1/2 “wrench. If the wheels have gaskets, set them aside, and remember to install them after changing the bearing.
Step 1
Cling the bearing: Now place the wheel on the suspension axle so that the axis lightly touches the tip of the bearing and does not touch the wheel.
Step 2
Extract bearing: Slowly and gently tilt the wheel at an angle to the suspension axis. The bearing should slip out. The main thing is to be careful and does not rush. Otherwise, the bearing may be damaged. Although, if you plan to discard this bearing, then you can not be careful.
That’s all – repeat these operations with the remaining wheels of your skateboard.
Everything seems to be simple, but if you are not confident in your abilities, ask a more experienced skater to help you.
Step 3
Insert new or cleaned bearings. First, try on a new or cleaned wheel bearing. Most bearings are painted on one side. It is recommended that the bearings be placed with the colored side out although it is not so important. Then, gently pressing the outer metal ring of the bearing, lower it into the hole in the bearing.
Do not press the center of the bearing: Need to click where the edge of the wheel borders the bearing. Repeat this process with the rest of the bearings, placing them on each side of the wheel. If you previously installed gaskets between the bearing and the wheel, then make sure that you put them this time.
Step 4
Washers: As already mentioned above, some skaters install a gasket between the bearings as they wish. Also, some skaters like to use washers. They help reduce friction and allow the wheels to spin faster. If you do not use washers, you can skip this point and read the next one.
Washers are very small metal rings that are mounted on both sides of the bearings. Install one washer on the suspension axle. Then put on the wheel. Then install the second washer.
Step 5
We establish a wheel. After you replaced bearings, establish a wheel on a suspension bracket. It doesn’t matter how you position the wheels — with the pattern outward or inward — it all depends on your desire. Then, tighten the nut, as in the photo.
Such nuts must come complete with suspensions. But if not, it’s easy to buy them at sports stores or a skate shop.
Tighten the nuts Using skate tools or conventional wrenches, slowly turn the nut down. Thus, the bearings go deeper into the wheel. Do not rush; do not turn too hard. Otherwise, bearings may be damaged. Do not tighten the nut too much – you need the wheels to spin.
Step 6
And the last one. After you tighten the nut and the bearings are in place, loosen the nut a little. Then gently rock the wheel back and forth. You will hear slight clicks or crackles. This sound should not be strong; bearings should only crack slightly.
This technique will help your wheels rotate faster and more freely. That’s all! You have successfully replaced old bearings with new ones. What are you waiting for?
How to Clean Bearing Properly?
Regular cleaning of these parts helps to reduce skatewear, significantly increases its speed, and helps to prevent jamming of wheels. If bearings are not cleaned in a timely manner, the likelihood of accidents when using the board increases significantly.
The cleaning operation itself is simple, it can be done independently at home, without involving a specialist and money spent on his call and pay for the work.
To start cleaning, remove the bearing. The whole process is described in detail above. In order to avoid the loss of important parts (bolts, washers, spacers) it is better to keep them all together, for example, in a box or plastic bag.
Cleaning is recommended in the following order.
- Clean the main sections of the bearing from dust and dirt. To remove obvious areas of contamination, wipe it with a napkin or dry cloth. To clean the most problematic areas, you can use a solvent.\ Prepare a solution for cleaning. To do this, you need a clean container and a cleaning agent (acetone, grease cleaner, white spirit or rubbing alcohol). Rubber gloves are recommended for protecting hands.
- Place bearings in a container filled with a cleaning agent.\ Rinse the items and wait a while until the parts are completely clean (about 10 minutes). If the cleaner has darkened, it is recommended to carefully drain it and pour new cleaning agent into the container. The operation should be repeated until the elements are completely cleaned.
- Remove the sleeve, remove the rubber insert from the bearing itself. To do this, pry it with something thin, for example, a paper clip or a sewing needle. If it fails, you can insert a needle between the outer ring of the bearing and the sleeve. After that, carefully lift the rubber grommet until it comes out of its seat.
Then remove the parts from the container with the cleaner and allow it to dry.
To do this, they can be laid out on a clean rag.
How to lubricate a bearing?
Before lubricating parts, it is recommended to dry them. It takes no more than 15 minutes. To speed up the process, you can use a can of compressed air. To do this, direct the jet to the open side of the element.
Then, apply special grease to the bearing. Enough 2-3 drops for one part. For uniform lubrication, the bearing should be turned over.
The use of vegetable or motor oil can lead to the clogging of parts. Using the WD-40 is also not recommended. It can act as a cleaner in some cases, but not a lubricant, in addition, it reduces the life of parts.
Next, you need to put bushings in their place. At the same time, check that there are no gaps between them and the bearing. Then you can insert the bearings.
If the skate is equipped with a separator (synchronizer), you must install the part back. To do this, the wheels are attached to the chassis, but the nuts are not tightened very tight. The wheels should swing slightly. If the wheel rotates poorly and stops, it is necessary to loosen the nut holding it.
Specialists strongly recommend the use of greases suitable for all models. To achieve ease of rotation of the wheels, you need to “roll out” the board for about a week. But at the same time, it is enough to lubricate the bearings once a year.
Lubricate at a rate of about 40 percent of the free space inside the bearing.
Never use water when performing operations when lubricating bearings.
Maintenance of non-separable bearings
To do this, remove one boot. At the same time, he will bend and become worthless. Do not be upset, because in the future he will not be needed. After flushing and lubricating, the bearing is installed in the wheel with the open side.
The absence of one boot will not significantly affect the performance of the skate since the bearing fits snugly against the walls of the wheel. That is why you should not be afraid of dust and dirt. The cleaning process of non-separable bearings is similar to the steps indicated above.
Subject to all the conditions for the care and replacement of problem parts described in this article, you can count on a significant increase in the operating time of your skateboard.