Learning how to clean longboard wheels doesn’t need to be complicated. Many longboarders like to learn how to clean their longboards from scratch, and have offered popular longboarding video tutorials on the internet. If you’d prefer to read a detailed, step-by-step tutorial on cleaning your own longboards, a good longboarding website with a detailed tutorial on how to clean motorized longboards will offer a comprehensive tutorial below the corresponding video. Or if you prefer learning visually without reading or watching a tutorial, you can always check out any of the many longboarding blogs online.
Ø Test Your Longboards:
As with all mechanical equipment, it’s always important to start by test driving your longboards. You want to make sure that they are working correctly, and that you won’t damage your deck by driving it in ways you don’t expect.
Ø Remove the Wheels:
Once you’ve made sure that everything is running correctly, it’s then time to remove the wheels. To do this, take a pair of non-skid pliers and slowly pull on the two wheels together, making sure you loosen them enough to move them from the rear wheel to the front wheel without causing too much pressure on the wheel axle.
Ø Unbolt the bearing:
You should have a helper to help you lift the wheels while you unscrew them from the wheelbase. It may be a good idea to also wear a helmet to keep yourself safe while doing this. Once you’re sure you’ve removed all the wheels, it’s now time to unbolt the bearing and take off the wheel bolts.
Ø Remove the Wheels Bolts:
Locate the two small screws that attach the wheel to the bearing. Carefully remove the wheel bolts from the nut and discard them. You may need to pull or tug a wheelbarrow to properly loosen them. Once the nuts are free, detach the bearing from the wheel and set it aside. Using a small container or pry bar, remove the remaining nuts and bolts from the hub and remove the wheel.
Ø Remove the Caps from the back of the wheels:
If it’s necessary to remove the caps on the bearing, it can usually be done by using a plastic or metal cap screwdriver. Using a wrench, loosen the wheel nuts holding the bearing together and remove it. Once the nut is free, remove the caps from the back of the wheels and discard them. You can use a new set if needed.
Ø Determine Which Wheels were Mounted:
The next step is to determine which wheels were mounted on the hub. If you’re not sure how to do this, consult the manual and read the directions. Remember to mark the direction that the hub should be pointed when reinstalling the bearing on the other end of the axle.
Cleaning a bearing should be done with care. You don’t want to get any moisture on the bearings or they’ll swell and cause problems later. Before cleaning, you’ll need a few items to start cleaning up the debris left from the previous cleaning solution.
- First, remove the wheel cover (if applicable).
- Next, take a soft cloth or sponge,
- dip it in a good quality cleaning liquid and
- scrub the wheels until they’re nice and clean
Wax the Deck:
The cleaning solution you used will most likely leave some residue. To remove this residue, you’ll need to take a wire toothbrush and clean off the dirt with it. It’s best to only use a small amount of cleaning solution as too much can cause damage to the deck. When finished, you may want to rinse the wheels with clear water to help prevent rust from setting into them. Finally, wax the deck to protect it from future debris.
Remove the Wheel Cover and Nuts:
Now it’s time to remove the wheel cover and nuts, which are secured with a nutty plumb bolt. If there are stripped nuts, carefully remove them without applying too much pressure on the plumb bolt. Then use the same cleaning solution you used to clean the rest of the wheels; remember not to add any lubricant to the cloth as it can cause damage to it.
Final Step:
The final step in this how-to guide on cleaning longboard wheels is to assemble the deck and remove any caps before tightening the bearing nuts. Follow the same steps above, but this time make sure you’ve removed all of the caps first. When finished, check for any left-over debris by slowly rotating the bearings and wiping them down with dishwashing liquid. Use a little more dishwashing liquid than usual to ensure a thorough cleaning.
