Wheels are attached to the axels with a single nut (1/2″) per wheel. The nuts should be tightened as far as they can be without impeding the spin of the wheel. Generally you should feel only a very minor amount of play if you try to move the wheel side to side.
How freely should skateboard wheels spin?
Give your skateboard wheels a free spin to see if it works as intended. Remember to aim for 10 to 30 seconds spinning skateboard wheels. In other words, your skateboard wheels should spin freely for at least 10 seconds without stopping. If it stops spinning before 10 seconds, your wheels are tightly placed.
Why do my skateboard wheels rattle?
The noise comes from your wheel seats, it’s the space between the outer ring of your bearings and the inside of your wheels. If you’ve been skateboarding for a while and haven’t replaced your wheels yet the seating can develop gaps. If your bearings can move in their seating you just found your problem.
Is your skateboard supposed to be loose?
A wobbly skateboard isn’t a bad thing, some actually like to ride their trucks super loose. Beginners will have a harder time learning to ride a skateboard with loose trucks. After all, a more stable board will help you keep your balance. Just be sure to break bushings in and don’t tighten them until you squish them.
Should skateboard wheels have wiggle room?
Most importantly, they should be tight enough to resist wheel bite and speed wobbles. This makes for a smoother and safer ride. If you enjoy flexing tricks on the skate ramp as much as we do, keeping your wheels moderately tight is the way to go. Learning to flip a skateboard is probably every rider’s aspiration.
How long does it take to break in skateboard wheels?
Ride on your board for five to 10 miles, going as fast as comfortably possible but without attempting any slides. This initial ride begins to wear off the wheels’ oily outer layer.
Why is skateboarding so loud?
So, why is my skateboard so loud?, you might ask. You just need to assess your skateboard. It could be from dry bearings, unstable washers, flat-spotting on the wheels, damaged pivot cup and bushings, or loose screws.
Is it normal for a new skateboard to squeak?
If you hear new skateboard trucks squeak, check for any loose screws or pivot cups. It’s an easy repair. You can reduce the noise by tightening all the screws. Other than that, you may check out the pivot cup.
Why is my new skateboard creaking?
When you hear your board squeaking, it is usually the rubbers in the truck that are too dry. The hanger of your trucks turns in the pivot cup and that makes the noise. It is also possible that the bushings are too dry.
Is it better to skate loose or tight?
The faster you intend on riding, the tighter your trucks should be. Tight trucks provide stability at higher speeds, reducing the likelihood of catching the dreaded speed wobbles. If you’re considering riding downhill, or if a vert ramp session is in your future, consider tightening your trucks for safety’s sake.
Why does my skateboard wobble when I go fast?
A common one being loose trucks. Loose trucks can give you too much turning ability, making your set up hyper-responsive for any speed over 10-20mph. If you’re going faster than that, then you just might want to tighten your trucks.
Can you skate without spacers?
Bearing spacers are totally optional; longboarders and casual skaters likely won’t put enough pressure on their boards to ever need them, though they are definitely a good investment if you want to slide, do a lot of tricks, and generally skate hard.
Why are my skateboard wheels so slow?
Chances are you just have to clean and lubricate your bearings. Remove your wheel and pop out the bearings with the edge of your axle. Bones Bearings pretty much set the standard in the skateboarding world as far as bearings go.
How long should a skateboard last?
The average lifespan of a skateboard is 1 to 2 years. Some skateboarders were able to use their boards for as short as five months, but others could manage to use them for a couple of years.
Should you grease skateboard bearings?
This is crucial because skating a dry bearing will create damaging friction. We recommend using a skate-specific bearing lubricant like Bones Speed Cream or Bronson Speed Co. High Speed Ceramic Oil. Drip 1-2 drops of lube into the bearing, then spin it to evenly distribute the oil.
Do bearings get faster?
New bearings require the freshly milled and polished steel balls/races to roll against each other and settle lube into their surfaces. Once a bearing is ridden a few miles, the surfaces will be completely saturated with lubricant. This almost always makes the hand spins faster.
Why is my skateboard clicking?
Clicking most often comes from one of the washers on the kingpin moving around when it’s not supposed to. Most commonly, the problem comes from the roadside (top) washer sticking to and releasing from the kingpin nut (like tectonic plates).
Why is my skateboard turning by itself?
Your skateboard turns on its own because of bad bearings, squashed bushings, coned wheels, loose screws, loose trucks, bent axles, or it could even be your skateboard deck. Some boards turn to the right where others turn to the left on their own.
What size wheel is best for street skating?
between 52-54mm
Wheel Size
A lower millimeter wheel is usually preferred for street skating, as they are lighter for flip tricks but more difficult to ride on rougher surfaces. The most popular street skating wheel sizes are between 52-54mm.
Can you use WD40 on skateboard bearings?
Using some WD-40 Specialist® Degreaser , spray the entire surface of the wheel and ball bearing, and leave it to work for a few minutes. Next, submerge the parts into a bowl of clean water, and leave them to soak for an additional few minutes. Your wheels and bearings should now be grime free.
Can you use WD40 on skateboard trucks?
You should never use WD40 to clean skateboard bearings . This is a product designed specifically made for removing rust and grime, not as a lubricant or cleaner for bearings. It works wonders at first, but you’ll find yourself reapplying more and more as it dries out bearings.