How to Maintain Inline & Roller Skate Wheels?

Answer 1

As people age, they wrinkle. Oddly, the same phenomenon occurs to wheels of roller skates. After hours of rolling, sliding, jumping and grinding, coarse wrinkles criss-cross the misshapen surfaces. Old wheels must be maintained and antiquated wheels must be replaced. Here is how to do so.

Step 1: Select wheels designed for your style of skating. Wheels vary in hardness and size. They are measured on a durometric scale, 74a being the softest and 100a being the hardest. Soft wheels, appropriate for indoor rink skating and skating in the rain, have superb grip and comfort but little resistance to rough surfaces. Hard wheels withstand the rigors of aggressive or outdoor skating. Aggressive wheels are 48mm – 62mm, recreational wheels are 63mm – 79mm (regular 72mm), and speed skating wheels vary between 80mm – 110mm. The smaller the wheel, the more maneuverability; the larger the wheel, the more speed.

Step 2: Every one-to-two weeks, rotate the wheels. Generally, the two back wheels bear more pressure and are more lopsided than their front counterparts. When rotating wheels, move each one down a slot – the third becomes fourth, the fourth becomes first, and so on. Additionally, swivel the wheels 180-degrees so that pressure is evenly balanced.

Step 3: After gliding through water puddles or grimy dirt, wash and oil the bearings. Be careful to dry (either by hand or by blow-dryer) the bearings thoroughly before applying oil. Use special bearing oil or WD-40 – nothing heavier. Lightly spray oil on both faces of the bearing and then spin the wheel repeatedly.

Step 4: Wheels are attached to the frame by a simple hub-axle system and secured by bolts. Most bolt heads are designed for Allen wrenches; older models may use a Philips screwdriver. Unfortunately, with repeated abuse from constant rotation and the occasional roadside accident, the bolt head may become stripped. Simple solutions include using a threaded insert or pounding a chisel head into the bolt head, then using the chisel as an entrenched screwdriver. More complicated issues may require a specialized drill bit and screw extractor.

With proper maintenance, a set of wheels will give many hours of pleasure and enjoyment.