With the regular use of longboards, there is a vital need to clean the longboard wheels and bearings, as maintenance plays an essential role in performance and efficiency. Longboard bearings comprise different types of components, including inner and outer race, cage, and bearings. With time, dirt and debris can accumulate and cause them to slow down. So it is necessary to clean them thoroughly.
We will guide you on how to clean the longboard bearings. This involves removing the bearings from the wheels of longboards and cleaning them with proper chemicals, lubricating them, rinsing them with clean water, and then assembling them!
Materials Required for the Solvent/Process Cleaner
Longboard bearings are frequently cleaned with citrus cleaning or alcohol; the latter is safer but leaves residues. A citrus cleaner is made of water; as a result, you must ensure that your bearings are dried as soon as possible to avoid rust.
Boarding companies often utilize alcohol-based cleaners such as methyl and ethanol. Other possibilities include engine degreasers and petrol. Itās entirely up to you what you use. We, however, suggest that you take environmental measures.
Lubricant
Our recommendation for lubricants is to go with mild grease. It is entirely up to you, though. The greaseās thickness affects how quickly bearings spin.
However, they are more likely to break. Your directions will be more challenging to dirty with medium grease, but they will also turn slower. Thick oil will keep water out but attract dirt.
After cleaning longboard bearings, apply a lube so that they run smoothly; try for non-breaking types if possible.
Container
Use a safe container, not one made of easily broken glass or a plastic container that reacts with chemicals.
Knife Blade or Paper Clip
The shield will be removed with a paper clip, knife blade, or sharp object. In most situations, all that is required is something capable of removing the shield.
Cleaning Longboard Bearings Steps
Step 1 – Remove Longboard Wheels
This is usually done by unscrewing the axle nuts with a skate or socket wrench.
Step 2 – Remove The Bearings From the Wheels
Most bearings have a small retaining ring that needs to be pried out with a flathead screwdriver before the direction can be pulled out of the wheel.
Step 3 – Clean The Longboard Bearings
Soak the directions in a bowl of cleaning solvent (rubbing alcohol works well) for 30 minutes, then use a toothbrush or other small brush to scrub away any dirt or grime.
Rinse the bearings with clean solvent and let them air dry.
Step 4 – Inspect Bearings
Look for cracks, chips, or other damage on the bearing surface. If any damage is found, the bearings should be replaced.
Step 5 – Clean Dirt/Debris
Clean any dirt or debris from the bearings using a small brush or toothpick. Let your longboard bearings soak in one cup of isopropyl alcohol for at least 30 minutes.
Take out each bearing individually and use a paper towel to clean them. Then keep them dry and set them aside.
Step 6 – Rinse Bearings
Keeping your bearings moisture, dust-free, and lubricated makes them long-lasting and improves performance.
The dirt will dry the smoothness of the super finish in the bearings races, and water can cause rust and corrosion.
So to clean the bearings, use water and some detergent to remove dirt and debris to increase friction.
Step 7 – Use Lubricant
Put oil or lubricant on each bearing to get them smooth and even in look and performance. The experts of longboards suggest using skateboard lubricants like Bronson Speed Co and Bones Speed Cream in addition to super high-speed ceramic oil.
Pour 1 to 2 drops of these lubricants into the bearings and spin them for even oil distribution; for best results, repeat the process.
Step 8 – Rescrew Bearings
Pullers are standard tools to unscrew the bearings of longboards and dismount them. So it is best to use three-arm pullers instead of two-arm pullers for better stability in bearings because when they are unscrewed, the grip in them will lose.
Step 9 – Reassemble the longboard
Once the bearings are clean and dry, screw the axle nuts back on and reattach the wheels. Your longboard should now be ready to ride!
Can you clean the longboard bearings?
Cleaning your longboard bearings is essential to increase efficiency and performance. You can clean longboard bearings with many types of different materials and chemicals in the best way. However, you must go for the most and best-recommended ways to do the steps.
One of the most common ways to clean the bearings is with vinegar. You should ensure that the vinegar is white and not balsamic or cider. Using white vinegar to clean the longboard bearings is ideal because it is the most efficient.
Place the bearings in the vinegar container, and you will see the bubbles popping out. Then use a toothbrush or a rug to rub the bearings to remove debris and thus make them clean.
What should I use to clean my skateboard bearings?
Cleaning of skateboard bearings comes with an easy process and ingredients. Maintaining and cleaning skateboard bearings regularly is essential to increase efficiency and performance.
For this purpose, you will need a tray to gather your accessories, like a container or toothbrush. You must soak your bearings in the methylated spirit or any type of solvent like alcohol for half an hour.
Then with the help of a toothbrush, clean the inner and outer sides of the bearings to remove all types of dust and debris. You can also use a spray-on degreaser in the bearings to blast all the crap out of the bearings for a more significant impact. Then let it dry and grease them with a good brand of lubricant.
What should I use to clean bearings?
Whether you have longboard bearings or any other type of cleaning, the best bet is to use lemon juice and vinegar; you should soak the bearings in the mixture of these two solvents for some time.
All dirt and debris will be cleaned, and with the help of any soft, brittle brush, you can clean the impurities and residue of dirty material. After this step, rinse the bearings with clean water, dry them in the fresh air, and assemble them.
FAQs
Can You Use WD40 On Longboard Bearings?
Spray the wheel and ball bearing with some WD-40 Multi-Use Products, leave it to work for a few minutes, then wash it off. Submerge the pieces into a bowl of pure water and allow it to soak for another few minutes. Your wheels and bearings should now be clean.
Can Rub Alcohol Clean Bearings?
Fill a container halfway with isopropyl alcohol and set the bearings in it. Shake the container for 5 minutes to remove any coating on your bearings. Repeat the procedure if your bearings are still covered in slime. Let the bearings naturally dry out. Allow the bearings to dry naturally.
How Often Should I Clean Longboard Bearings?
Bearings should only be cleaned every two to three months, depending on the situation. If you skate several times, but the surface needs to be maintained regularly, your bearings may need to be polished monthly.
Can I Clean My Longboard Bearings With Dish Soap?
While you work, soak your wheels in a pail or clogged sink with some dawn dishwashing soap while removing each one and washing the bearings. Remove the bearings from the wheels before using the soap to dissolve any buildup in the bearing bays.
How Can You Tell If Bearings In Your Longboard Are Damaged?
Squeaking, wheels that donāt spin for more than a few seconds, and pushing like crazy on your local skatepark indicate that your longboard bearings must be replaced. So when should your bearings be changed? When they stop rotating, after cleaning and relubrication, replace them.
Final Verdict
The bearings of the longboard accumulate a lot of grime and debris due to regular use, so cleaning them to improve performance and efficiency is essential. The blog above will be helpful to you in knowing how to clean a longboard, skateboard, or any other type of bearing.Ā
So cleaning the bearings is not a difficult task but is highly effective; moreover, cleaning them improves longevity and speed and reduces the natural wear and tear on your longboard.
It is usual practice to clean bearings with alcohol or a citrus cleaner; the latter is safer but more likely to leave residues. Since a citrus cleaning is water-based, you must quickly dry your bearings in order to prevent rust.