Skateboarders are always looking for ways to improve their skating experience and one of the most popular ways to do this is by upgrading the wheels on their skateboards. The perfect skateboard wheels can help skaters to go faster and perform better tricks. They can also make the skateboarding experience more enjoyable by providing a smoother ride.
There are a number of factors that could be involved in your skateboard wheels being slowed down. These can range from tightened axle nuts and tight trucks to dirt being caught up in your skateboard wheels. So, what can be the issue with your skateboard wheels? In the article below I will discuss several techniques on how to make skateboard wheels faster. Equip yourself with the information and see which technique works for you!
So, let’s get this show started!
How To Make Skateboard Wheels Faster
Whether your skateboard wheels don’t spin or they spin slowly, the problem is not always with the wheels. There are a number of other factors and hardware components that are involved in the wheels spinning.
So, what are some of the ways that you can utilize to make your skateboard wheels spin faster? Continue reading to find out!
1. Give A Cleaning To Your Skateboard Wheels
Cleaning your skateboard wheels routinely can bring a big difference in your skateboard’s speed. You might be cleaning them on the skateboard, but once in a while they should be removed and cleaned. For instance, if you use your skateboard on a daily basis, it is recommended to give a thorough cleansing to your skateboard wheels every fortnight.
To clean the wheels, you can start by leaving them in soapy warm water for some time. After that remove the sticky substances with a brush. During this process, clean the bearings too. Once you are done washing the wheels and removing the dirt, now you can proceed to dry them.
The easiest way to dry the wheels is by using dry paper towels. This is a very important step because if you install wet wheels, there is a high chance of rusting.
2. Thoroughly Clean Wheel Bearings
Wheel bearings play a critical role in spinning your wheels faster. Therefore, it is important to clean them on a regular basis too. When you remove your wheels for cleaning, you should take out the bearings too, and give them a thorough cleaning.
There are several solvents that can be used for cleaning the bearings. Generally, non-water-based solvents are recommended. These can include alcohol, mineral spirits, or acetone. You can leave the bearings dipped in the solvent for some time. If you want to reinstall them quickly, then use a brush to remove excess grease and dirt. Once you are done cleaning the bearings, pat them dry. After that, look for any damage to the bearings.
If they are perfectly fine and only dirt was the factor holding them from spinning, then simply install them back, and enjoy your ride.
3. Play With The Axle Nuts
If you cleaned the wheels and bearings just a few days back, but the wheels are still not spinning freely, then there is a high chance that the issue is with the axle nuts. So, how to know if you need to loosen the axle nut? For this, spin the wheels. If they spin freely and come to a sudden stop, then your axle nut is too tight. Therefore, use a skate tool to loosen the axle nut.
To what extent do you need to loosen the axle nut? Check your wheels by spinning them again. For perfect tightness, the wheels should spin freely but stop gradually rather than abruptly. This is the point where you should stop loosening the axle nut.
4. Try Changing Wheel Positions
Another handy way to make your wheels run faster is to swap them around every month or so. This way, every wheel will have the same amount of wear, and you will not have uneven wheels. For this, you can swap the right front with the left front and the rear ones with each other.
Another tip is to buy new wheels for your skateboard. This is the last resort when nothing else works. You might have to buy new wheels soon if you skate regularly or skate on rough surfaces.
Conclusion
So, how to make your skateboard wheels faster? Keeping your skateboard wheels in a good position is key to making them last longer. Therefore, apart from cleaning the wheels and bearings on a regular basis, it is good to loosen or tighten the axle nuts whenever needed. Therefore, if you skate regularly, it is good to keep a skate tool handy. Lastly, avoid skating excessively on rough terrain.
FAQs:
How can I make my skateboard wheels spin?
There are several ways to make your skateboard wheels spin faster. In case your wheels are clean and lubricated, then you should try loosening the axle nut a bit. This would solve the problem.
How to fix skateboard wheels not spinning?
To fix your skateboard wheels, you can start by lubricating the wheels and the axle. If this does not work, look for any excessive dirt or sticky substance present on the wheels. Give them a thorough cleaning and install them back. Most of the time, this works.
Do bigger skateboard wheels go faster?
Bigger skateboard wheels go faster than smaller ones. However, you should not buy bigger wheels just for the sake of a faster spin, instead, buy the ones that complement your skateboard and help you control your speed and spin easily.
