Cleaning and Lubricating Bearings

[ted_ayers]

What is the best solution for cleaning bearings and good lubrication that can be found at the hardware store or around the home? Would grease be better than oil? I play indoors only on sport court. Also I use mini 688 bearings.

[MDE3]

generally the original lube takes a bit of time to heat and take a set in new bearings and is usually made up of a light grease. Cutting this with a very small amount of WD-40 will hasten the "break in" period. You can use WD 40 for cleaning as well, but it will dilute the grease to where the lube becomes much less effective, and once gone you will need to re - lube regularily. If you do this, the best way to clean your bearings is to add liberal amounts of WD-40, and then take an air needle for filling footballs, soccer balls, basketballs etc, and a mini compressor, cut the tip off the needle so the air jet is forward instead of sideways, and spray the air into the oil/grease/WD-40 mix until you can get the inner race assembly spinning freely. Once it spins at high speed and freely under the air pressure, then simply add a few drops of 3 in 1 oil or other light machine oil or regular commercial bearing lube, and get back to skating. The air serves to blow all contaminents and old lube out of the bearing, as well as to "push" the race. Once it spins freely you know all the "solid" particles are gone.

If your bearings are closed on both sides, you will have to remove the sheild on one side using a sharp pick. No need to replace the shields, as it makes it easier to clean and lube when they are open like that. The top end bearings already come that way (Boss Swiss etc).

[ted_ayers]

What about lubrication? I have read that oil doesn't last very long and the bearing must be re-lubed. I don't want to spend time re-lubing my bearings to be honest. What types of grease are recommended? (or other forms of lubricant, ie gels)

[MDE3]

the lubes offered with the sale of the BSB bearings are specifically designed for the bearings, so that's a good start. The problem is that with any of the bearings which are open on one side like many top line ABEC models or BSB bearings, some contamination will get in, or humidity, so cleaning regularily is a necessary evil, or you will be replacing them..... Even more so with minis which are much more suceptible to humidity damage than 608's.

You have to remove the bearings to lube then properly anway, so it's not a big deal to blow them clean too. Takes an additional minute per bearing maybe.