Cleaning Bearings

[FatAndSlow 0]

I play a lot of outdoor inline. I have BSB Swiss bearings and they are working great. However, there is dirt and I guess rust build up on the outside of my bearings. Some even have some kind of redish brown build up on the sides (part that touches the wheel hub). I tried to wipe off the build up and reside with a towel but it's on there pretty good. Is it ok to use Sonic Turbo Wash to clean the outside of the bearings? I don't need to take them apart since they are working fine. Just need a way to get the dirt and build up off the outside of the bearings.

Thanks..

[SickLife 2]

i'd spray clean/lube if it was just the outside

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

If you use the turbo wash then you bearings will be clean but all of the lube will be gone. So you'll trash your bearings. The outsides of your bearings have no effect on the inside. You can't clean them half way...

[kovalchuk71 212]

im sure brasso would work as long as you dont get it in where the bearing itself spins. But dab a little bit on a towel and rub the bearing, and you should be fine. Dont use a lot and you dont have to worry about getting it in the bearing

[fatwabbit 93]

if it aint broke, dont fix it

[sdcopp 1]

or clean and relube them. It's really not that hard and is actually good for the life of the bearing. I remove the shields, soak in a little plastic container of WD40 for an hour or two, remove and let dry on a towel or several paper towels and relube. Not much trouble, not much mess and I don't buy bearings all that often. Rust spreads everywhere in a hurry, so I wouldn't wait and see.

[kovalchuk71 212]

DO NOT USE WD-40. It ruins the bearing.

[sdcopp 1]

DO NOT USE WD-40. It ruins the bearing.

This is quite possibly one of the funniest things I've read. You do understand what WD40 is made for, right? Cleaning and lubing moving mechanical parts, including bearings. It is a lubricant and a protectant, but I guess those people who use for things like engine bearings are wrong, right?

After soaking, I lube with household oil, which is commonly used in bearings and such for things like sewing machines. Anyone who has told you these types of things are bad for bearings is trying to sell you a product. If you wanna see something that ruins bearings in the long run, look to top level speedskaters who use acetone. Great short term, horrible long term. WD40 is fine, and will help prevent future rust.

[kovalchuk71 212]

Ok, dude I wasnt trying to be funny. The metal used in bearings is nothing like engine parts. There is a chemical in the WD-40 that screws with your bearings. Dont listen to me i dont care.

[sdcopp 1]

Ok, dude I wasnt trying to be funny. The metal used in bearings is nothing like engine parts. There is a chemical in the WD-40 that screws with your bearings. Dont listen to me i dont care.

WD40 is fine, as are the citrus cleaners. Moisture and Dirt are the two things that end bearing life most commonly. WD-40 (WD standing for water displacement) is a perfectly acceptable cleaning agent, though I don't trust it for long term lubricant (thus the 3-n-1 or household oil).

I'm not trying to be funny here either, it just amazes me how many people are misinformed and believe superstitions like this. WD-40 is also significantly cheaper than the citrus cleaners, so of course the makers of those will tell you that their product is the best and things like WD40 are bad. Carbeurator cleaner also works well as a cleaning agent. Acetone, Gasoline, Lighter Fluid, Paint Thinner/Remover should all be avoided because they actually shorten the life of the bearing because of their corrosive nature.

Whatever though, I've only had two or three bearings ever go bad on me in the last ten years on more skates than I can count, so I'll put stock in what I know and spend less money than the citrus cleaners would run me on a product that has other applications around the house.

btw, most bearings are made in the same factories as any other type of bearing, so yes they are all the same stuff.

[kovalchuk71 212]

I mean I believe you, maybe I was just misinformed. How long does it last before you have to relube the bearings again?

What products do you reccomend to lube the bearings? Would motor oil work? Just curious as I have some old bsb hockey gel with castrol in it.

[sdcopp 1]

the BSB oil is just as good as other other lube. I clean my bearings once a year, maybe twice if I'm using them outdoors a lot as the outdoor park gets really dusty here.

I only trust a lightweight oil like the BSB, or the household oil from any grocery store (motor oil's just too thick) or a skate cream like Bones. I also use an old toothbrush for the first cleaning as many bearings come with a cream/grease type lube and I prefer oil.

Like I said earlier, after watching the world team speedskaters many years ago using acetone for single huge races, I've been really wary of anything similar since busted bearings usually followed a few weeks later.

oh, I also just ues the WD40 as a soak and spin it all out and let the bearings dry before I put oil in them, otherwise you can get the slick wheels from excess bleeding out onto them.

[kovalchuk71 212]

My bsb is "Professional Hockey gel" though, ive never used gel (always oil), will it gunk up my bearings?

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

WD40 is water-based. Thats why it isn't recommended to be used. I clean my bearings every week, heres what I do:

1- Fill a bowl with rubbing alcohol. Place bearings, without shields into bowl.

2- Use a tooth brush to get all of the major "junk" out of the bearings.

3- Fill up Sonic Cleaner Washer with rubbing alcohol, place bearings in and give it a few shakes. Let it sit for about five minutes.

4. Take out bearings, place on paper towel face down.

5. Place bearings on a plate, face up(bearings exposed) and I use a hair dryer to perfectly dry them.

6. Grab 4 bearings at a time and use 4-5 drops of Bones Speed Cream on each bearing.

7. Use a needle and place clean shields back on lubed bearings.

Only takes about 30 minutes to do 16 bearings. I'll never use WD40 on these bearings. I use Bones Swiss and they have survived playing in the rain and lately in the snow, for 6 months and not a speck of rust.

[kovalchuk71 212]

Thanks datsyuk, thats what I was trying to think of.

[sdcopp 1]

WD40 is water-based. Thats why it isn't recommended to be used. I clean my bearings every week, heres what I do:

1- Fill a bowl with rubbing alcohol. Place bearings, without shields into bowl.

2- Use a tooth brush to get all of the major "junk" out of the bearings.

3- Fill up Sonic Cleaner Washer with rubbing alcohol, place bearings in and give it a few shakes. Let it sit for about five minutes.

4. Take out bearings, place on paper towel face down.

5. Place bearings on a plate, face up(bearings exposed) and I use a hair dryer to perfectly dry them.

6. Grab 4 bearings at a time and use 4-5 drops of Bones Speed Cream on each bearing.

7. Use a needle and place clean shields back on lubed bearings.

Only takes about 30 minutes to do 16 bearings. I'll never use WD40 on these bearings. I use Bones Swiss and they have survived playing in the rain and lately in the snow, for 6 months and not a speck of rust.

What does WD-40 contain?

While the ingredients in WD-40 are secret, we can tell you what WD-40 does NOT contain. WD-40 does not contain silicone, kerosene, water, wax, graphite, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), or any known cancer-causing agents.

No water in it, in fact the WD stands for Water Displacement. It removes moisture, it would make no sense to contain water since that leads to rust, which kills bearings and other metal surfaces.

[G60 0]

WD-40 should NEVER be used as a bearing lubricant.

it is probably harmless as a cleaner, as long as you let it dry completely and not leave any in the bearing. WD-40 removes grease and lubricants, and if you mix it with bearing lubricant, it will pretty much negate any effects the lubricant has.

for cheap cleaners, carb or brake parts cleaner would get my vote, that stuff works some magic, and feels crazy on your hands, you can tell it's serious stuff. don't know the effect these heavy-duty cleaners would have on bearings with delrin or other non-metal bearing spacers inside.

for cheap lube, radio shack sells silicone lube in a little syringe, silicone lube works great in bearings.

to clear up any confusion, it's ok to clean bearings with WD-40, but DO NOT use it to 'lube' them.

also, if you can't completely take the bearings apart, don't try to clean them. you run a high risk of pushing dirt inside the bearing case that otherwise wouldn't get in there.

[fatwabbit 93]

I used to work in a lab in school. Used the ultrasonic cleaner they had there... just put everything in, filled up with cleaning solvent, then pulsed them for the whole day.

After that, relubed and all set