The clearance between the balls and the races inside a bearing is less than the thickness of a hair, according to Bones Bearings. A serious skater can collect plenty of dust, dirt, water, mud or sand in his wheel bearings. If you have recently noticed your skateboard wheels slowing down or they seem noisier than normal, you probably need to clean your bearings. Don’t keep skating on bearings that don’t spin freely. Eventually the bearing will freeze up, and the last thing you want when you skate is for your wheels to stop turning.
Step 1
Pry the non-contact rubber shield upwards at the inner race near the center of the bearing using a pushpin or small knife. Take care not to bend or cut the seal. For labyrinth shield bearings, remove both shields.
Step 2
Wipe down the rubber shields with warm soapy water and a lint-free cloth. Do not use solvents, which may cause the rubber to swell or blister. Dry the shields thoroughly and set aside.
Step 3
Remove the ball retainer, also known as the cage, by placing straightened paper clips in between the ball seats and then pushing the retainer out; this step is optional but leads to more thorough cleaning. Do not pry the retainer out as this can cause damage to the ball cavities.
Step 4
Don a pair of rubber gloves and put on eye protection.
Step 5
Fill a metal, polyethylene or polypropylene jar with skate-bearing cleaning solution, pure isopropyl alcohol or acetone. Fill with paint thinner in a pinch, but this may leave an oily residue on your bearings.
Step 6
Submerge the bearings and ball retainers in the cleaning solution. Shake the jar gently to flush the solution through the bearing. Replace the solution repeatedly until it shows no sign of dirt and you are satisfied with the bearing roll.
Step 7
Remove the bearings and ball retainers from the cleaning solution. Blast out dirt, residue, solvents or water using a can of compressed air. Reassemble after allowing the bearings to dry completely.
Tips and Warnings
- If you choose to remove the ball retainer, the balls may shift and fall out completely. To reassemble, place the outer race and the seven balls on a folded towel. Arrange the balls so they form a crescent moon on one side of the race. Press down on the race on the side with the balls. Angle the inner race and align the running surface with the balls. Pull the outer race to the center to complete assembly.
Things You'll Need
- Pushpin or small knife
- Soapy water
- Lint-free cloth
- Paper clips
- Rubber gloves
- Eye protection
- Cleaning solution
- Can of compressed air
Member Comments