How to Grease Inline Hockey Bearings

Properly greased bearings provide smoother wheel rotation and a longer life to inline hockey skates. Grease allows inline hockey skates to move fluidly, but it also prevents the bearings from becoming contaminated by water and dirt, which can get inside poorly greased bearings and erode the metal. Maintaining inline hockey bearings is simple and cost effective; all it requires is a few cheap supplies and some time. Once you have greased your bearings the benefits will last quite a while, so you will not need to perform the procedure often.

Things You'll Need

  • Flat screwdriver
  • Push pin
  • Citrus cleaning solution
  • Paper towels
  • Hair dryer
  • Bearing grease
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use a flat screwdriver to remove the bearing from the wheel. Insert the flat screwdriver into the bearing and gently pry it up at one end. Turn the wheel slightly and continue to pry the bearing up with the screwdriver until you can remove it.

    • 2

      Remove the C-clip, which is on the outer edge tucked under the bearing, with a push pin. One end of the C-clip will be bent and inserted into the bearing to lock it in place. Insert the end of the pushpin under the bent end of the C-clip and pull the locked end out of the bearing. The shield should also be released.

    • 3

      Clean the bearings with a citrus cleaning solution, which will get rid of the old grease. Clean the bearings many times with the citrus cleaner and paper towels, until you can no longer see any grease.

    • 4

      Dry your bearings with a hair dryer to ensure they are completely dry and there is no cleaning solution left behind. If there are remnants of the cleaning solution remaining on the bearings, the new grease will not last as long.

    • 5

      Lubricate your bearings with synthetic-style grease such as a lubricant gel that is made especially for greasing inline hockey bearings. Gently spread the lubricant gel onto the clean bearing where you removed the old grease.

    • 6

      Replace the shields and lock the C-clips back into place before you return the bearings to the wheels. Tighten the bolts on your wheels slightly, and twist the wheel in its place so you feel it bumping. Continue to tighten the bolts.