Rolling element bearing performance and longevity of a skateboard depend heavily on bearing lubrication. Lubrication helps keep moving components like raceways and rollers or balls apart to reduce friction and wear.
Top lube for your skateboard bearings is a critical technology that may make or break your experience on a skateboard while being frequently perceived by some as a dirty, ancillary activity that has been used since the Industrial Era.
One of the most frequent reasons for board bearing failure is a lack of sufficient bearing lubrication. To maintain bearings operating at their peak levels, bearing lubrication performs several roles, including:
- Protection from pollutants
- Preventing rust on surfaces
- Facilitating the transmission of heat
- Putting a barrier between surfaces that roll in contact and those that slide
This post will look into various aspects of bearing lubrication which will equip you with the knowledge to enhance your board’s bearing life.
Different Lubricant Types:
There are three kinds of lubricants on the market: dry, oil, and grease. A few aspects must be considered while choosing the proper lubricant for your application. These factors include board type, size, bearing type, temperature, load circumstances, operating conditions (such as vibration and the shaft’s vertical or horizontal orientation), speed range, and the surrounding environment.
What Qualities Should a Good Lubricant Have?
Here are some things to keep in mind as you sort through your alternatives to discover a reliable bearing lubricator:
- Lubricant Type: You will need to choose the lubrication best for you and the type of skate bearings you have. In most scenarios, oil lubricant is ideal since it is trustworthy, affordable, and useful for other things. A dry lubricant can be purchased as a backup product.
- Viscosity: Thinner and easier to flow than high-viscosity, thick compounds are low-viscosity lubricants. Lower viscosity board-bearing lubricants are preferred and used more frequently than other varieties. Be aware that viscosity will rise in colder climates and fall in warmer climates. Thus, the final choice will depend on your environment.
- The Quantity Necessary For Adequate Lubrication: Regularly lubricating your skateboard bearings is a wonderful idea, but for your work to be effective, you must do it well. Two drops of certain premium lubricants are enough to maintain a particular bearing well-oiled, whereas in the case of other products, more must be used to get the same effects.
It is best to use a premium lubricant if your bearings only require a minimal amount of the product to be suitably oiled. In the long term, top lube for your skateboard bearings often lasts longer, performs better, and costs less.
Final Thoughts:
It’s time to step away from your board and do some cleaning as soon as your skateboard bearings start making a weird noise or won’t spin freely. It is dangerous for you as the rider and the bearings to ride on an improperly oiled skateboard or unclean.
Your skateboard might break down and result in a catastrophic accident that could result in injuries. Additionally, you risk permanently harming your skate bearings, which would be expensive to replace. Don’t wait for something disastrous to transpire before you start thinking about getting proper skateboard-bearing lube.
