Bearings
What are bearings?
Bearings are the small metal disks that make your wheels move. In each wheel there is 2 bearings. They come in a standard size that fit all wheels. Between the 2 Bearigns is usually a thick washer called a bearing spacer. Bearings usually have about 5-9 small metal balls inside them. All boards need bearings, even wall mart boards, otherwise the wheel would rub against the axle of the truck and would sqeek like hell and it wouldn't roll. Most sets of bearings are ABEC rated on how fast they go, with ABEC 1 as the worst, and ABEC 7 at best. Each brand of bearings are differently made by companies like Pig, China Bones, Black Panther and many more. Each brand has a diffferent quality, some bearings are tougher and last longer, and some are high maintanence and need lots of Cleaning.
Why should I clean my bearings?
If you don't clean your bearings then dirt will get inside them and you won't roll as smoothly, or as fast. Instead of smooth and fast you will roll slower and when you move it will feel really gritty. Eventually your bearings will seeze up and won't move, leaving you unable to skate until you buy new bearings. They come in sets of 8, pricing from $8-$80 depending on the ABEC rating and quality. And you should also clean them becuase it's somehow sorta fun(Don't ask me why, it just takes up time and it doesnt seem like work or anything), and it makes them look good.
What do I need to clean them?
you should have a roll of paper towel, a box of kleenex and lots of que-tips or cotton puffs.
How do I clean them?
There is 2 different methods of cleaning your bearings. The simple way is used for after skating an area that's a bit dusty. If you choose to do the advanced method you won't be able to skate for 2 days, but it's worth it. This method cleans and lubricates the bearings, making them pretty much like they were when they were new.
Simple Method
STEP 1) Take the wheel off the trucks with a ratchet, skate tool, or vice grips. Make sure you dont loose the little washers of the axle, or the nut.
STEP 2) Remove the bearings from the wheel by hitting it against your palm, or a sheet of paper towel layed on the ground. Some wheels are tougher to get the bearing out, you shoudl try puting the tip of a screw driver in the small hole that the axle of the truck goes through, and twisting the screwdriver sideways cuasing the bearing to come out. Try not to dent the shield.
STEP 3) Put all the bearings on a sheet of paper towel and then one by one clean the bearing by rubbing all the dirt off with a cotton puff or que-tip. After the dirt is off rub it with a sheet of kleenex to get off the left over dirt. Clean inside the hole in the middle of the bearing with a que-tip. Make sure you clean both sides.
Step 4) Rub the wheel with a sheet of paper towel before puting the bearing back in. it doesnt have to be perfeclty clean but you should try to get off as much dirt as possible. Then put the bearing gently in the hole and puch it all the way back in with your thumb. If that won't get it, put the bearing in the hole as far as you can and then put the wheel on the truck's axle, push the wheel onto the trucks and you shoudl get it back in.
TIPS) Make sure the bearing spacer is in the wheel before the second bearing goes in. Try not to put the bearing in backwards, some bearings it doesnt matter but you should put it in with the side that has the name brand on the outside. don't loose the small washers that are on the axle of the trucks, one goes behind the wheel, and one goes on the outside of the wheel, so that the bearing doesnt touch the axle nut.
Advanced Method
STEP 1)Read the first 2 steps of the simple method(Removing the bearings)
STEP 2)Get some sort of bowl an pour a bit of motor oil into it.
STEP 3)Let the bearings lay in the motor oil over night.
STEP 4)The next day put the beaings in a degreaser to get rid of the oil. You might need to dilute it a bit with water if your bearings aren't very open. You won't need to do this with bearings like Pigs, but will need to do it with bearings such as Black Panthers.
STEP 5)Put the bearings back in the motor oil and let them soak over night again.
STEP 6)The next day take the bearings out and dry them off with paper towel, ag, or whatever. |