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Fix slow skateboard wheels

skatewheel

Q. The wheels on my skateboard aren’t spinning well anymore. Is there anything I can do to fix them or do I have to buy new wheels?
Slow Joe, Tampa, Fla.

A. We feel your pain, Slow. We have the same problem, so we asked our friend Andy Macdonald, eight-time world champion skateboarder, for the lowdown on your slow down:

“New wheels are not going to help in the least if your wheels aren’t spinning. 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. They recommend picking up a Bones Bearings Cleaner Unit at your local skate shop ($15), but a clean plastic yogurt cup and a few cotton swabs will work, too.

“You’ll need to remove the bearing shields if your bearings have them. Just poke them out with a paper clip. Then soak your bearings in acetone, nail-polish remover or rubbing alcohol. Spin them dry and make sure all the dust and dirt are out. Now you’ve removed all the dirt as well as all the lubricant from your bearings. It’s important to use a silicone-based lubricant. WD40 or others like it will dry out your bearings and attract dust and dirt. You can pick up a bottle of Bones Speed Cream at the skate shop, or try some Prolong from the auto parts store. It doesn’t take much, and the excess will just spin out when you replace your shields, pop your bearings back in your wheels and start shredding. Skate safe and enjoy your new-found speed.”


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18 Comments on Fix slow skateboard wheels

  1. i dont know if my wheels arereal or fake their rubber

  2. How can i fix my skatewheel

  3. Swagermix571 // May 1, 2012 at 3:42 pm // Reply

    Bone swiss ceramic bearings

  4. ither you have a crappy wallmarnt sate bord or you need new berings

  5. just put some wd_40 that works to

  6. i bought a new blind board for 105$ and the wheels are really slow do i buy new ones or what?

    • 80_TonyHawk_80 // April 4, 2011 at 7:17 pm // Reply

      Maybe you should just buy a new skateboard dude. I mean if tings aren’t working right with me i mean if i buy some new bearings or something and it doesn’t work, i would just buy a new one man.

    • RiseWithTheFallen // July 9, 2011 at 6:41 am // Reply

      just replace the bearings if you need faster bearings i recommend bones reds

    • cant skate // July 27, 2013 at 9:23 am // Reply

      you dont need new wheels its the bearings them self if you have some money hanging around you can get new ones or you can use liquid wrench

  7. Do I Buy a new board?:)

  8. protegy sk8ter // September 18, 2009 at 12:54 pm // Reply

    how do i fix my board i have all my bearings but im missing the thing thats in the bearing its the thin round thing that holds the wheel

  9. skatepotato // July 29, 2009 at 7:46 am // Reply

    i recommend bones swiss bearings they set the standard the are fast u dont even have toclean them and alll the pros use bones swiis so get bones!!!

  10. just get some abec 1 bearings, their cheap and work great if you clean them out

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