Roller skating, as you know, is an interesting, healthy, and fun activity that can get your body ready for the day’s work and kick start your weekend. Apart from the expertise of the skater, roller skating is dependent on the wheels. Many skaters have complained that their skates are not moving as fast as they want it to, and the reason for that is primarily because the wheel nuts are too tight. So in this guide, you will learn how to make roller skate wheels spin faster.
Roller Skate Wheels Not Spinning Faster? What Are the Causes?
If your roller skate wheel is spinning fast, it means that the wheel nuts are not overly, which means that you are probably enjoying your high speed skating. If it isn’t, it means that the nuts are too tight, which also means that the skate is not moving fast. However, there are other things to blame for as regards the slow spinning.
First of all, let’s start with the obvious reason why your skate wheels aren’t spinning fast – the wheel nuts are too tight. When they become too tight, they will rub against the bearing, and when they do, friction occurs. As you know, friction is a force that resists motion between to bodies in contact. Friction causes both the bearings and wheels to not spin fast.
Simply put, nuts that are overly tightened are the architect of your slow speed when skating.
Most times, it isn’t the fault of the skater. Many roller skates have their wheel nuts overly tightened during production. The manufacturers prioritize the safety of the skaters, and thus, make the wheels overly tight so that they don’t fall off while skating. Have you observed that it’s mostly fresh skaters that complain of their roller skates wheels spinning slowly? That’s because their wheel nuts are too tight and these cautious manufacturers intentionally made it so for safety reasons.
The second reason why your roller wheels might not be spinning fast is the surface. Certain types of wheels work on specific surfaces, are designed specifically, and are made of different materials. For example, indoor skating requires hard wheels because the wheels will give you a better roll on smooth surfaces like the rinks. Rinks are hard surfaces and it’s only an indoor skating wheel that will guarantee a smoother ride. Outdoor skating requires soft wheels because they roll better on non-smooth or uneven surfaces. E.g. Roads, sidewalks, etc.
There are also speed wheels and derby wheels. Speed wheels, just like the name suggests are designed for speed. Most inline skates use speed wheels. The wheels and axle nuts are designed for better grip and traction and that’s why they are used by high-performance skaters. They don’t roll on all surfaces.
Derby wheels are similar to speed wheels, but are designed for Roller Derby.
You shouldn’t expect to skate very fast if you use an indoor skating wheel on uneven surfaces like asphalt. Likewise, you shouldn’t expect your outdoor roller skating wheel to spin fast if it’s used on smooth surfaces like rinks. These wheels have different diameters and level of hardness, and these two factors determine how effective the wheels will roll. Outdoor skating have 60 – 70mm diameter; indoor skating are slightly lower. Speed and derby wheels have 57mm and 62mm diameter respectively.
The third reason why your roller skate wheels spin slowly might be the age of the wheels. Are the wheels old or new? How long have you been using the wheels? Wheels wear down, and when they do, they are less likely to spin fast, which results in slower speed.
Many skaters are unaware that when a wheel wears unevenly, it would pose a problem and affect the speed of the skate when it brushes against the bearing. The first sign, apart from the slow wheels is the noticeable increase in the size of one wheel compared to the other. The wheel starts to wear out on the edges and will become excessively worn out if you don’t spot the sign early.
The fourth reason is the size of the wheel. The size of the wheels has a tremendous effect on the speed of the skate. Larger wheels spin faster than smaller wheels and cover more grounds than the latter. So if your roller skate wheels are small, don’t expect them to roll as fast as you want them.
The fifth reason could be that the wheels, the bearings, or both have become damaged. How do you know if the wheels or bearings are damaged? You should check them out. If indeed, they are damaged, then you should replace them with the correct or original parts.
Another reason why your roller skate wheels aren’t spinning fast is due to the buildup of dirt and debris in the bearing and the wheels. The buildup of dirt and debris can block the wheels from rotating properly and even affect the bearing.
Another reason that may not necessarily count in this aspect is the experience an expertise of the rider. If the rider is inexperienced or just starting out, he/she may not know the tips or tricks required to roller skate speedily.
Should My Roller Skate Wheels be Tight or Loose?
This depends on the rider. Some people would want their roller skate wheels tight, while others would want them loose.
If you want to slow down your roller skate wheels, we recommend that you tighten the axle nuts. Tightening the nuts will create more friction. However, you should be cautious while tightening to avoid damaging the bearings and if you tighten them too much, there will be too much pressure on the bearings. In essence, you shouldn’t over-tighten the axle nuts. The wheel nuts should be tight enough to the extent that it spins freely a little.
If you want to go really fast on your roller skates, the you should loosen the wheel nuts some more. You should be cautious of loosening too much. If the wheels are too loose, they will fall off in places that you would never imagine they will.
How to Make Roller Skate Wheels Spin Faster
Like we have stated, to make roller skate wheels spin faster, you need to loosen the wheel nuts. By doing that, you are sure of riding at a much faster speed.
You will need a wrench or a skate tool to loosen the wheel nuts. Pliers is another optional tool, but isn’t as reliable as the other two tools. You should only use it if the other tools are unavailable.
Turn the wheel nuts a little bit to the left to loosen the wheels. Doing otherwise will tighten the wheels.
If the wheels and the bearings have come of age, you should start thinking of replacing them. The longer you wait, the more they wear out and the more they put your life at risk.
Don’t forget to lubricate the wheels and the bearings to avoid friction and if you should notice any dirt or debris in the bearings, clean them up. We will explain the steps you should follow to lubricate the bearings as well as how to clean the bearings.
How to Loosen Roller Skate Wheels Without Tools
Loosening roller skate wheels is made possible with tools, but do you know that you can loosen the skate wheels without tools? Yes, you can, but that’s if the wheel nuts are loose. You will find it difficult loosening the wheels if they are tight without tools. We will show you how to loosen roller skate wheels without tools.
If the nuts are not so tight, you can use your hands to loosen the nuts. If it’s a skateboard, all you need to do is to apply some pressure on the wheels and they will snap off from its position.
How to Clean and Maintain Your Roller Bearings
Apart from the wheel nuts, bearings also play an important part in the spinning process. Generally, they last for a very long time, but that’s if they are well then care of. Just like most mechanical parts, bearings need some maintenance to prolong their lifespans. Most of you must have ridden your skates in the rain, sun, and through puddles and it’s possible that the bearings might have gotten really dirty. Isn’t it right to clean them once in a while? Cleaning them will enhance their performance and also prevent them from rusting.
How often you clean your bearings depends on how often you use them and the surface that they roll on. If you skate very often outdoors, let’s say four or five times a week, expect your bearings to become dirty, irrespective of how clean the surface is. That means you should try cleaning them at least, once every week or two.
But if you skate indoors, and in the same frequency, you shouldn’t bother yourself about cleaning your bearings everyday or even every week. Most bearings on indoor skates may only need cleaning once in every four or five months – and replacement should take place yearly.
If you bearings on your outdoor skates are deteriorating or have used them for more than 6 months, it’s best you replace them to avoid further complications.
If you notice the following signs, it is an indication that your bearings need a replacement.
- You feel some resistance when turning the roller skate Wheels by hand.
- They make a screeching noise when you are skating.
- One of the bearings is hot after skating.
These signs are indications that your roller skate bearings are in need of a change or some cleaning.
In order for you to clean the bearings, you just first of all, take out the wheels and the wheel nuts. This is how to do it.
- Use a skate tool or socket wrench to remove the axle nuts. The axle nuts hold the wheels in place.
- Take the wheels off the axle nuts. Better still, slide the wheel along the axle to reveal the bearing.
- Force open the bearing out of the wheel. You may need to flip the wheel over and repeat the same process.
- If it’s easy to dent the cover of the bearing, it’s an indication that it’s worn out. Now that you have removed them, you should get on with cleaning it.
- Some people would love to take the bearings apart and deep clean the innermost parts. While this is good, you should avoid dismantling them to the latter, especially if you are time-conscious or not savvy when it comes to loosening and assembling machine parts. You can just clean the bearings like that without deep cleaning it. But if you want, take the shield off carefully, so that you get into the cartridges (the balls and the cage)
- Remove the old grease and anything that you can find in the bearing. For better cleaning, avoid using lubricants like WD-40 on your bearings. At least, not at this stage. Instead, soak them in alcohol, citrus bearing cleaner for a couple of minutes, or better still, use methylated spirit to clean them.
- Try spinning your bearings. If you don’t hear any screeching sound or don’t encounter any major resistance, the bearings are okay and ready to be put back.
- Put them in the sun to dry for a few minutes or use a clean cloth or over towel to clean them up.
- This is where you apply some grease or oil to lubricate the bearing. Apply a little lube on it, so that it doesn’t become a problem in the long run.
- Press the bearings back into the wheels. Make sure you put the best and fastest bearing in the front and relegate the older ones back. Also, the best wheels should stay at the front. Screw the wheel nuts tightly, but not overly tight.
Should You Replace the Wheel Nuts If They Are Worn Out?
Once you discover that the nuts are loosening themselves on their own accord, and maybe you have taken them off and put them back repeatedly, then it speaks of one thing only – replacement.
Conclusion
Roller skating is an essential part of the human life and is ultimately loved for its health benefits. If you are having problems with your skates spinning slowly, all you have to do is make a few adjustments to the wheel nuts and the bearings. The nuts and the bearings form an essential part of your skates’ performance, and as such, should be treated with utmost care and priority.
