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Fix slow skateboard wheels

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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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15 Comments on Fix slow skateboard wheels

  1. Why is my skateboard so slow??…

  2. I just bought a drop down longboard and put some Randall downhill trucks with brand new bearings but when I try to turn my longboard slows down or just completely stops. Don’t know why.

    • Systemrename087 // October 12, 2015 at 7:48 pm // Reply

      Is it possible that when you’re turning the bottom of your board is hitting the wheel/wheels on the side that your turning towards?

  3. Hi guys i left my skateboard in my room for this whole year because i buy a new one but my sister wants ti start skating two so i want to give her my old skateboard but when i tryd the skateboard it did not roll zo ik cleaned the bearing that dint hep so i boucht new ones did not help eigter put on difrent wheel dit ilso nit help its jus super slow and it wasnt a year ago hope someone can help i would aprileciate

  4. Is it possible that when a skateboard is new it is slow and when it’s old it is fast?

  5. My wheels are not spinning fast I have tried to lube them but they failed
    Please help me get better

  6. Koalas 'r us // July 2, 2015 at 5:36 pm // Reply

    My left back wheel spins slower than the other 3. I’d spin it and it would stop very fast. Is the bolt too tight? Do I need to lube it?

  7. I’ve been told that the best stuff to use is powder graphite because it’s the slickest substance you can find and it doesn’t have the problems of dealing with grime and dirt build up

    • I would check it and lube it. It happened to me too , but on the front left and back right. I just cleaned the bearings and bought some new lube to put on it. Now its working much better.

  8. can I put baby oil on them

  9. I use wd 40 all the time for my wheels and it gets the job done. Its makes my board go waaay faster

  10. Why my skateboard slow

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