Clean bearings are going to roll smoother, roll faster, and will last much longer than dirty bearings. Dirt and grime foul the bearings and can cause pitting which make rotation uneven and rough. The following paragraphs have instructions for cleaning bearings with removable shields. If you do not have removable shields, then skip the following instructions. Cleaning and lubricating your bearings often will make them last a long time. Also try to avoid getting your bearings wet or sandy, as both of those are particularly bad for bearings.
The tools that you are going to need for this process include a straight pin, a small bowl or a metal pan, a bearing cleaning product, a small brush for cleaning such as a soft or a medium toothbrush, paper towels and clean towels or shop rags.
When dealing with removable shields you are going to want to insert the very tin of the straight pin into the C-rings end, which is responsible for keeping the shield in place on the body of the bearing. You should just gently pry away the C ring toward the middle of the bearing and work the pin around the circle. Now you can remove the shield as slowly as you can, making sure that you are not causing damage.
Now place the bearing in a container and flush it with the cleaner to get rid of contaminates. Citrus based cleaners work particularly well for this purpose. Use the toothbrush to remove grime and dirt. If the bearings happen to be particularly dirty, then this step may need to be repeated. Make sure that the solvent is changed with every rinse.
Once the bearing has been cleaned, make sure that it is patted dry gently using a towel that is clean and free of lint. Place the bearings on a paper towel and give them time to air dry. Now make sure that all of the water has had a chance to evaporate away before you move on to the next step in the process.
Once the bearing is completely dry you can add between one and two drops of a high quality lubricant to the bearing’s inside. A little bit of lubricant can really go a long way. Now you should rotate the bearing in such a way that the lubricant is worked into all of the moving parts, and make sure that all of the balls have been completely and properly covered in the lubricating agent for the best results.
Now replace the shield, placing it on the bearing and allowing the C ring to slip back into the groove that is just next to the shield. Now you can work the C-ring’s remaining length gently and slowly along that fitted groove until it has completely and fully snapped back into place. Now you can put your brand new clean bearings right back on your skates. Make sure that you spin them a bit to make sure that the lubricating agent is distributed evenly and to ensure that all of the wheels are spinning as smoothly as possible.
Photo Credits: joelogon
Originally posted 2009-11-23 03:30:32. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Rollerblading Safely There are many people in the world that are taking pleasure in rollerblading for fun because it is an exciting sport and makes for a great workout. The sport is generally easy to learn, and learning the maneuvers is often also easy. Rollerblading allows you to be active physically and...... -
Skate Shoes for a Skateboarding Edge Skate boarding and the entire skater culture seems to become more and more popular every year. Twelve-year old girls who've never even stood on a skate board suddenly beg their parents for skater shoes. Shoe store employees are then faced with befuddled parents who aren't quite sure of the differences...... -
Learning to Skate Faster One question that hockey players and performance skaters often find themselves asking is how they can possibly learn how to skate faster or otherwise improve their performance on the ice. Regardless of how good a particular hockey player is, they are constantly going to try to improve their capabilities on...... -
Surfing 101 Here are some basic tips that will help you with your surfing. Surfing is a competitive sport that can be a lot of fun for everyone involved. Waves are regarded as highly coveted items, and a variety of different factors go into surfing and its success including the wind, the...... -
Common Braking Mistakes pt 2 There are a number of common mistakes in braking when it comes to skating. Here is a look at some of those common braking mistakes, and even more importantly, what it is that you can do in order to eliminate them simply by improving your form and your ability on......
Related Websites -
Boat Trailering Tips Whether you've just bought your first boat, or you are looking for ways to make it easier to transport your boat to and from the lake, there are a couple of things that you need to know. Boat trailering looks very easy, but there are actually quite a few things...... -
How to Handle Sand Traps Even the best golfers can end up at the bottom of a sand trap every once in awhile and it pays to know how to get out of one. This is probably one of the most frustrating hazards you can run into while you’re golfing, but there are some tips...... -
How to Clean your Saxophone The process of cleaning a saxophone is relatively simple, but this is provided that you have a standard half bell saxophone. Straight saxophones, on the other hand, require tools that are not touched on in this entry. This entry is designed to assist in understanding the basics and mechanics behind...... -
How to Clean Blinds There are many different types of window coverings available these days. But, one of the most popular are blinds. This is because they are simple, attractive, and work well for privacy while allowing light into the home, among other reasons. However, there is one aspect about blinds that most owners...... -
Save Time, Money and Space in Over 80 Ways If you're looking for handy gadgets, tools and various items that can save you time, money or space (or all three!) this list of more than 80 top products is just what you need. Everyone's got saving money on their minds these days- whether your at the grocery store, or......