How to Remove Bearings From Roller Skate Wheels
Many people have old roller skates that they no longer use. If you are someone who has these old shoes, then this blog post is for you! Today we will teach you how to remove bearings from roller skate wheels so you can repurpose them. There are many different methods for removing the bearings, but in our experience, the easiest way is with a bearing removal tool.
The bearings inside a roller skate wheel are a vital yet often overlooked component of the wheel. Because they are usually hidden from view, many people do not realize that their wheels have bearings. However, these tiny parts can make or break your skating experience!
Read on if you want to know how to remove your old bearings and install new ones into your skates! Keep reading for tips and tricks to replace those pesky little things.
10 Methods to Use: How to Remove Bearings From Roller Skate Wheels:
1. Use a Screwdriver:
With a screwdriver, you can remove bearings from wheels if they are unsecured using the tips of the screws. First, place the screwdriver’s tip under the bearing and pry it. When this is done, you should easily take out the second one with your fingers.
2. Use an Ice Cube:
Use a kitchen knife to scrape out bearings from an ice cube. You can dip the tip of the knife in warm water for a few seconds to make removing the bearings from the wheels easier.
3. Use an Allen Key:
For wheels that have Allen screws, you can use the appropriate tool to remove the bearing from the wheel. The screws will be located under a sticker between two bearings for one wheel or on both sides of each bearing if it is a double-sided wheel. If there are no stickers, you can still figure out which screws to remove by looking for the ends of the screws that protrude from a hole in the middle of each bearing. You need a key with a hex-shaped end to fit these screws.
4. Use WD-40:
To remove bearings that are stuck on wheels, the first spray WD-40 on both bearings and let it soak in for a few minutes. Then use your fingers to pull the bearing out of the wheel. If you have waited long enough, the bearing should come right out.
5. Use heat:
Heat can be used to loosen up bearings that are stuck on wheels because heat expands metal, making screws looser. You can heat up bearings by holding them with a lighter or gas stove flame for a few seconds. You can also use your blow dryer to heat up the bearing and make it easier to remove it from the wheels.
6. Use Nail Polish Remover:
Acetone-based nail polish removers are useful for more than just removing nail polish; they can also be used to clean grease off of bearings. First, apply some nail polish remover to a cotton ball to remove a bearing. Then, use an old toothbrush with soft, white bristles to brush off any wheel residue.
Put just enough nail polish remover on the toothbrush, so it’s wet enough to spread over the wheel. Then brush it over the area where you see the bearing sticking out against the wheel to get rid of the grease.
7. Use a Nut Splitter:
A nut splitter is a wrench-like instrument with two prongs that can wedge between the wheel and bearing and pry it off the wheel. Isopropyl alcohol works just as well as WD-40 but doesn’t leave a sticky residue.
8. Use Bent Needles:
If you’re having trouble getting bearings out because they’re stuck, try using a bent needle (from the inside of an old ballpoint pen, for example) to get between the bearing and wheel where there is space; then twist it back and forth while pulling gently on the bearing. The space should be wide enough for you to insert the tip of the needle into it.
9. Use a Knife:
Another option is using a knife to wedge between bearings and pull them out of the wheels. This can be difficult because it’s easy to cut the wheel while doing this accidentally, so be careful when trying it out. You can use an old knife to do this, but ensure it is in good condition.
10. Use an Electric Drill:
If you don’t want to risk hurting your bearings by removing them incorrectly, you can always take them out using an electric drill (with a 3/8″ bit, for example). Make sure that the bit is smaller than the bearing you’re trying to remove, and position a metal bar or an old skate axel across it, so it doesn’t spin.
Some Tips and Suggestions:
Here we have given some tips on removing bearings from roller skate wheels.
1. It is very important to be prepared for this task. Before starting this project, ensure you have all the necessary tools and materials.
2. Every bearing that removes bearings should be taken apart because if one bearing fails, others will too. The only way to ensure that each bearing is disassembled correctly is to take them apart yourself.
3. Ensure safety goggles when working with bearing grease or cleaning surfaces contaminated with bearing grease. The last thing you want is to get the grease in your eyes.
4. Be patient when removing bearings from wheels; it can be very slow going and tedious because bearings always seem to stick to the inner walls of the wheels because of the lubricant.
5. You may need to make yourself a bearing removal tool for easier removal if you work on more oversized bearings, though these tools are not always necessary.
6. If you are doing this project outside because there is no room in your house to work, it might be a good idea to keep a trash bin close by to throw away unusable bearings.
7. You should not take apart just one bearing and then put that bearing back into the wheel because if the first bearing fails, there will be no time to purchase another before performing a re-assembly of wheels.
Some Things to Consider When Removing Bearings From Roller Skate Wheels:
1. Take Things Slowly:
This is an easy job that’s only difficult if you rush it. If you remove the wheel axle from the bearings too fast, they’ll spin in your hands and fly out and hit someone.
2. Use Tools That Are Appropriate for the Job:
You’ll need a hammer to break the wheel axle into pieces, but you don’t want your hammer to be bigger than necessary. You’ll also need penetrating oil and pliers. A large adjustable wrench can make removing bearings from wheels with unusual shapes easier.
3. Avoid Scratching the Bearings:
The inside of a bearing is covered with a thin layer of metal. Scratching it will damage the bearing and ruin its smooth rotation. Try to avoid bumping or scraping the inner walls of the wheel while removing them. You can minimize the chances of damage by removing only one side of each wheel simultaneously instead of removing both sides of one wheel and the opposite side of the other.
4. Use Penetrating Oil:
Penetrating oil is a liquid that softens stuck objects by breaking their bond with each other, making them easier to separate. The most effective penetrating oils work fast and don’t need to be warmed up. You can find small cans of penetrating oil at your local automotive supply store.
5. Use Pliers:
Use pliers if you can’t remove a stuck object with a hammer and pry bar. Because pliers amplify the force applied to things by their handles, they’re helpful in situations where you need more leverage than what’s available from hand tools. You can find pliers at your local hardware store.
6. Use a Hammer and Pry Bar:
It would help if you used a hammer before resorting to pliers for tasks requiring brute force. The first step of using a pry bar is holding it very close to the surface you’re working on so that its handle is frozen in place against this surface. The second step is sliding the pry bar sideways under the stuck object, then lifting it directly up while keeping your hand on the handle.
Conclusion:
To remove bearings from roller skate wheels, you will need a flathead screwdriver and some patience. First, turn the wheel to rest with the bearing facing up. Next, put your hand on one of the edges of the bearing’s cage and use your thumb as leverage while pushing down firmly to pop out one-half of each side of the snap ring surrounding it.
Once this has been done, try popping off both sides using two hands pressing against opposite edges for extra force. If nothing else works, gently tap around all four corners until they start coming loose; press them inward toward each other, which should release them easily enough!
We hope this blog post on removing bearings from roller skate wheels has been helpful. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
You may also read: How to Get Bearings Out of Skate Wheels Without Tool.
