How to Get Bearings Out of Skate Wheels Without Tool
Skateboard bearings are an essential part of a skateboard. Without them, the wheels would not spin, and it would be tough to ride your board. However, they can become dirty over time which will make them harder to clean and maintain. In addition to this, the bearings may even stop working properly as grease dries up over time so getting rid of any excess dirt is essential if you want to keep skating smoothly.
This guide will show you how to get bearings out of skate wheels without tools! Bearings can become dirty from regular use on a skateboard or from being stored for a long period with debris in the area where they are kept or between their surfaces. However, it is essential to keep your bearings in good condition as the functionality of the wheels depends on them, so taking care of this component is vital if you want to keep riding smoothly.
10 Ways on How to Get Bearings Out of Skate Wheels Without Tool
1. Candle Wax
Candle wax is probably the easiest way to get bearings out without a bearing press or vice; it usually just pops right out with some light tapping. However, if you want it 100%, of course, don’t melt your wheels down too much trying to get all the glue off on their sides.
2. Hammer and Vice
Vice grip pliers also work pretty well for this task, just put the wheel in the vice, lay it on its side and start hitting the edges of it where there is no bearing with a hammer. Again, you may or may not need to hit hard; sometimes, you can wack them out without too much effort, while other times, they don’t budge until you whack them hard.
3. Using a Bearing Press
If you have a bearing press, just put the wheel in there and press it out that way! You can also use a Garbage bin or trashcan to put your wheels upside down and tap on the metal bottom with a hammer to drive out the bearings.
4. Heat and Ice
If you heat the wheel up with a heat gun, hairdryer, or radiator (be careful not to melt it), then allow them to cool down in ice water; the bearings will pop right out! This is probably the best way not to involve any heavy-duty tools or damage your wheels too much.
5. Pliers and a Vice
Again, vice grip pliers work well to remove bearings; just be sure to put the wheel in a vice, so it doesn’t go flying out on you. Just grip the sides of the bearing with your pliers and pry them out one side at a time. Again, this is also damaging to the wheels but necessary in some cases.
6. Tapping the Wheel
If you have a bearing press, put the wheel in there and tap it gently with a hammer while pressing on it to drive out the bearings. This can be very effective if you are careful not to hit them too hard or crack the outer shell of your wheels.
7. Using a Screwdriver
This is similar to tapping the wheel with a hammer and vice/press, but you use a screwdriver instead. Just put it in the vice, lay it on its side, so your hand is gripping the bearing tightly next to where it meets the edge of the wheel, then tap away gently until they come out. Again, this is pretty low damage to the wheels, so it’s a great option if you want to save your wheels instead of just replacing them.
8. Putting Them in the Dishwasher
Just put your wheels upside down on the top rack of your dishwasher and let it run through its cycle; most bearings will pop right out but depending on how they got stuck in, sometimes they may need a little extra help getting them out.
9. Boiling Water and Ice Again!
As the candle wax method, you use boiling water and ice instead to get them back together again. Put your wheels in some boiling water for a while (be careful not to burn yourself on the steam!), allow them to cool in some ice water again, and the bearings should pop right out.
10. Brute Force!
Last but not least, to get them out, use brute force! Just smack the bearings with a hammer as hard as you can until they pop out one side or the other. Of course, depending on what your wheels are made of, you may need something more substantial than a hammer; if your wheels are made of tricky, don’t try and smack some ceramic bearings out of metal wheels with just a hammer!
Some Tips and Suggestions
1. Put the wheel on some scrap wood. A piece of old particleboard will do, but we would avoid plywood with molding attached to it because of possible glue residue.
2. You can use duct tape or grip tape to hold the wheel still while you remove the bearings. However, duct tape is not recommended because it leaves residue and it is hard to clean off.
3. If someone has a tool you can borrow, that will make this a lot easier and faster, but it is not completely necessary.
4. The first time you do this, it may take an hour or longer because you have to figure out how to get those bearings out using just your hands.
5. You can use food or water to help get the bearings out of the wheels. Be careful with this because if you overdo it, you could end up with melted approaches (or beards), which will cause your wheel not to roll quite right any longer.
Conclusion
Skateboarders who need to get their bearings out of a skate wheel without any tools can do so by using a handful of household items. Though this process may seem complicated, it is pretty easy and only takes about a few minutes from start to finish. Skate wheels are the most critical part of a skateboard, and if they’re not performing correctly, you can’t ride your board.
The bearings that hold it in place are what allow the wheel to spin freely and smoothly. Unfortunately, they wear out over time which causes them to become sluggish or stop spinning altogether. We hope that you find these instructions on how to get bearings out of skate wheels without tool helpful! If you have any questions to ask feel free to comment below! Happy skating!
Louis Wein
Louis has always been fascinated by cars. He loves the way they look, the sound of the engine, and how they make him feel when he's driving. He is always keen to learn more about different mechanics of cars and how the engine contributes to other aspects of the car. As an automotive technician with over 10 years of experience, he knew how they worked and loved taking them apart to see how they went back together. He was especially interested in the mechanics of combustion engines and loved finding ways to make them more efficient. He loves to work on cars and help people keep their vehicles running smoothly. As a senior editor, he enjoys contributing to Diy quickly because it allows him to share his knowledge and expertise with others.
