New season, new wheels? Maybe not.
Didn’t get new skating wheels for your birthday or take advantage of seasonal deals on wheels? Don’t worry; there’s a second chance for your skating wheels. Keep reading…
What do you need?
- Dry and wet towels to clean your skates
- A hex key, Allen key, or “T” tool to remove the wheels
- Skate bearing lubricant (optional but highly recommended)
All hands on deck!
Rotate your wheels with these 5 simple steps:
- Inspection: Take a few minutes to look carefully at the current condition of your skate wheels. Evaluate each one; remember, wheels must have normal wear and tear (not excessive use) to qualify for a safe second-use option.
- Cleaning: Use dry towels to remove any dust that may be on both boots and skate frames. Make sure to eliminate any dust and dirt stuck to the skates from previous rides.
- Wheels: Use a hex key, Allen key, or “T” tool to remove the wheels. Also, be especially careful when using dry and wet towels (alcohol pads); do not touch the core of the wheels with the wet towels. Instead, gently remove any dirt on them with dry towels.
- Rotation: Follow the infographic below to help you rotate each wheel on any skate with a 4-wheel configuration. As seen in the image, the rear wheels move to the second position of the opposite skate (from top to bottom order), and the front wheels are rotated with the wheels that are in the third position of the opposite skate. These changes apply to inline skates with a 4-equal-sized wheels configuration only (left image). For a 4-different-sized wheels configuration, the front wheels rotate with the rear wheels of the opposite skate, and the middle wheels rotate with the opposite skate. These wheels keep their respective positions (right image). Optional: apply lubricant for skate bearings during rotation. This step is optional but recommended to improve and extend the life of your skates’ wheels and their performance. Bearing oil should be applied to bearings after cleaning.
- Quality Check: Double-check there are no loose wheels, and all of them rotate properly without restrictions. You can also perform a final cleaning, and everything will be ready to keep you skating with these simple tips.
Please note that you may need to skate a few miles before you feel the usual firm and linear displacement of all wheels. Depending on your wheels’ wear and tear, you will need to roll for just a few minutes or a couple of miles.
About the Author:
Gerald Prado is an inline speed skater who started skating when he was 4 years old. He holds international dual accreditation as a certified skating instructor (Levels 1 and 2) and speaks English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
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