Clean bearings roll smoother, are faster and will last longer than dirty bearings. Grit and sand can cause small pits in the balls and create an uneven rotation. Below are instructions on how to clean a bearing with a removable shield. If the shield on your bearings are stationary, ignore the steps which are directed to removing shields.

If you clean and lubricate your bearing often they should last you a long time. Always avoid getting your bearings wet, and keep them free of sand! Clean and lubricate skate bearings immediately if they become wet.

Tools You Will Need:

Small bowl or metal pan
Straight pin
Bearing cleaner
Small cleaning brush such as a toothbrush. Soft or medium, nothing too hard!
Clean towels
Paper Towels

1. For removable shields: Insert the end of the straight pin into the end of the C-ring which holds the shield onto the bearing body. Very gently pry the C-ring up and towards the center of the bearing, working your way around the circle. Remove the shield slowly, always taking care not to damage it.

2. Place bearing in container or bowl and flush with bearing cleaner to remove contaminants. Citrus cleaners work well. Use the small brush or toothbrush and remove larger pieces of dirt and grime. If your bearings are particularly dirty, you may have to repeat this step. Be sure to change your solvent with each rinsing.

3. After you have cleaned the bearing, pat it gently dry with a clean, lint free towel. Place on a paper towel and allow it to air dry. Make sure that all water has evaporated and dries out completely before proceeding to the next step.

4. After the bearing has completely dried, apply 1 to 2 drops of quality lubricant to the inside of the bearing. A little lubricant goes a long way. Rotate the bearing slowly to work the lubricant in to all of the moving parts. Make sure the balls are completely covered in oil/grease.

5. Replace the shield by placing it on top of bearing and slipping the C-ring into the groove next to the shield. Then work remaining length of C-ring slowly and gently around the fitted groove until it snaps back into place.

6. Put your freshly cleaned bearings back on your skates and spin them to insure oil/greases is evenly distributed and wheels are spinning smoothly.

Warning: Always use extreme caution whenever working with any cleaning solvent. Bearing Cleaner is a toxic chemical and should be washed off skin immediately.

About the Author: Layla Dean is a skating enthusiast and contributor to SkatingInfo.info

This article may be reprinted in full as long as the resource box and live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Layla Dean.