Smooth skateboarding on the street is a desire of every skater and this desire is dependent upon components of the skateboard. Bearings are one of the most important, central and vital parts of the skateboard that keep your balance while cruising on the street or in the park. Cleaning the bearings is very essential for smooth riding and significantly maintaining your board’s performance. Sometimes dirt, dust accumulate on bearings that damage them and decrease the functionality of your boards. Cleaning the bearings regularly helps to roll fast and save your energy while riding the skateboard that you focused in front of you on the street.
In this guide, we will cover “How to clean skateboard bearings” with simple steps not only to make your rides faster and smoother but save your money as well for a long time running and avoiding the replacement of bearings.
So if you are new or experienced to the sport, you must have the skill to clean the skateboard bearings. Let’s roll into this guide and get your skateboard ready for good performance.
Table of Contents
Understanding the basic need of Skateboard Bearings
Skateboard bearings are a very important part that allow your skateboard to move freely and smoothly on the street. These bearings are made up of ceramics and steel which can fit inside the wheel. Always keep in mind when your bearings need cleaning that means your skateboard is upkeep. Regular maintenance of bearings can save your skateboard, prevent it from any damage and help it to spin freely. Understanding the functions of a skateboard can significantly impact how your skateboard lasts and performs well.
Preparation for the cleaning process
Cleaning is a crucial phase of skateboard bearings, as this stage is very important for cleaning sessions. Always keep priority safety in mind to clean bearings in open and ventilated area by using safety gloves to handle the solvents. If you don’t have a cleaning kit, make sure you have some alternative items for successful cleaning bearings. This will help you to keep your skateboard in top condition in a minimal investment.
How to use a bearing clean kit
Generally cleaning kits are made with plastic material containing screw-on-lid and has an axel attached to it. In the axle there are bearing spacers available with wing-nut to protect open ends.
Follow these steps by using cleaning kit
- Remove the skateboard wheels with a skate tool then slowly extract the bearings and lay them down carefully.
- Grit can collect in skateboard wheel bearings with all dust. So be careful when cleaning them and try to use a small piece of cloth or towel.
- Now use a small scalpel or screwdriver to open the seal of bearings and slide the tip of the scalpel on top of the bearings sideways and movement should free the seal.
- Once you open and take out the bearings, soak them on a cloth and spray a bearings cleaning solvent or let them in a bottle and keep your home clean.
- Make sure that the bottle is filled with one third fill of cleaned and secure the lid that bearings are inside the bottle.
- shake the bottle for 10 to 20 seconds and let the particles inside it settle down and soak them with cloth. Do not leave your bearings to air dry, they will rust/
- For easy bearings cleaning you could use bones bearings cleaner.
- For cleaning the dirt, try a toothbrush. It also removes any residue left from cleaning.
- Lube them with applying light oil. A couple of oil drops is sufficient to lubricate them.
- Wipe the seal of the bearings and place it on the bearing. They will easily go back with little pressure.
Reassemble your skateboard
Now your skateboard bearings have been cleaned and you should ready to reassemble them with skateboard wheels. Moving forward for the next step is configuring by using a dust shield with an axle and attached them carefully and making sure that your bearings should be secured by nuts.
This reassembling step is a great moment to apply some of the skateboards upkeep tips you have learned and check for any issue that affects your skateboard riding performance. Once you reassemble bearings, check it on a clean and flat surface that will help you to ensure everything is working properly or not. This will also give you motivation by yourself and enhance your maintenance skills without needing to purchase new bearings.
Maintenance Tips and Best Practices
Keep your skateboard in a cool and dry place to prevent it from rust and also avoid skating in wet conditions. If you skate frequently then establish a maintenance schedule for every month. These skateboard upkeep tips of clean and lubricate will help to extend the life of your skateboard. In addition to that, you will familiarize the issues and you will quickly address any problems that occur post-cleaning.
What tool do you need to clean skateboard bearings?
You will need a skateboard bearings cleaning tool kit or wrench, a container filled with solvent and a small piece of cloth for soaking bearings and light lubricant oil.
How often should your skateboard bearings be cleaned?
You should clean your skate bearings every month if you ride frequently to prevent them from rust which gives you the best experience in riding a skateboard.
How do you know if your skateboard bearings need to be replaced rather than cleaning?
If your skateboard bearings make continuous noise and also feel rough after cleaning and visible damage like cracks.
Final Verdict
Now you are aware about how to clean skateboard bearings by following all the steps which we discussed in this ultimate guide and easily you can identify the issues and know when you clean the bearings of your skateboard because it is a vital part of maintaining a skateboard. With this step by step guide you enjoy your skateboarding ride smoothly with less effort and it will directly enhance your performing experience, keep your skateboard bearings lasting and longevity and your skateboard is ready for cruise on the park or on the street.