How to Spring Clean Your Skateboard

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Gather all your tools and towels and other items.

   These are listed below under "Things You'll Need.
2. 2

   Step 2: Remove the grimy old wheels.

   The biggest part to a smooth running skateboard is clean, functional bearings, so grab your wrench, and unscrew the bolts. , There are a couple ways to get the bearings out of the wheels, but they're all pretty similar.
   
   Make the skateboard work for you – use the tip of the trucks, and carefully but firmly pry them out.
   
   You can put a lot of weight on the board that you can't get with a wrench or screwdriver.
   
   Note: a little olive, sunflower, or canola oil around the outside of the bearing helps shimmy it out! , CAUTION:
   If you use water or WD-40, your bearings will rust and not work for long! WD-40 is only good to get parts unstuck, not to grease them up for extended use. , Roll them around a little.
   
   Get them moving again and use a cloth or paper towel to rub them off.
   
   Tapping some of the dirt out of them works a little bit too.
   
   And depending on the bearing construction, a cotton swab is a good idea to get in the groove to reach spots that a towel can't get to. , The easiest way to get the bearings in the wheels again is using your skateboard.
   
   Place the bearing face down on the trucks' wheel post and then push the wheel over it, squeezing the bearing into the wheel.
   
   Do this until all the bearings are in.
   
   Note: if your bearings have metal spacers make sure you put them in before you put both bearings in your wheel. , And clean off the posts of dirt and grease from last summer. , Time to readjust your trucks' King pin.
   
   This is the mega-screw in the middle of your trucks.
   
   It adjusts how stiff or loose your turning is.
   
   Note:
   If you're new to skateboarding, try a firm setup.
   
   If it's too loose, your ride will be wobbly. , (They're the screws that hold your deck to the trucks.) They should be nice and tight. , Your wheels should be spinning much smoother and faster now.
3. 3

   Step 3: After you have the wheels off

4. 4

   Step 4: you'll need to get to the bearings.

5. 5

   Step 5: Once all of the bearings are out

6. 6

   Step 6: fill a dish with olive

7. 7

   Step 7: sunflower

8. 8

   Step 8: or canola oil and drop them in to soak for a little while.

9. 9

   Step 9: Now that the bearings are lubed up

10. 10

    Step 10: clean all the dirt and sand off them.

11. 11

    Step 11: Start the reassembly.

12. 12

    Step 12: Before you screw the wheels back on

13. 13

    Step 13: if you have washers to put on the outside and inside

14. 14

    Step 14: do that now.

15. 15

    Step 15: So your skateboard is all back together.

16. 16

    Step 16: Make sure you check your hardware screws too.

17. 17

    Step 17: Ride off into the sunset!

Detailed Guide

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