Req 2d8 — Skateboard Maintenance
A well-maintained skateboard is safer and more responsive. Your counselor wants you to explain the three maintenance areas: cleaning, adjusting bolts, and replacing parts.
Cleaning
Bearings. Bearings collect dirt, dust, and grit that causes grinding and slows wheel spin. To clean: remove wheels, pop out bearings, remove rubber shields if present, soak in a dedicated bearing cleaner or isopropyl alcohol, agitate to loosen debris, air-dry completely, and apply 1–2 drops of bearing oil before reinstalling. Never use WD-40 on bearings — it is a solvent that strips lubrication.
Grip tape. Grip tape loses effectiveness as dirt builds up in the abrasive surface. Use a rubber grip tape cleaner (a stiff rubber block) to scrub the tape surface — this pulls dirt out of the grit. An old medium-bristle toothbrush with mild soap and minimal water also works. Allow to dry fully.
Deck underside and trucks. Wipe down with a dry cloth. Remove caked mud with a dry brush. Avoid soaking any wood components — water degrades the deck laminate.
Adjusting Bolts
Truck tightness (kingpin bolt). The kingpin controls how responsive the trucks are to lean input.
- Tighter kingpin = stiffer trucks = more stable at speed but less turning response
- Looser kingpin = more responsive turning but more wobble at high speed
Adjust with a skate tool (3/8" socket on the kingpin nut). Changes of a quarter-turn at a time let you feel the difference before adjusting further. Beginners typically benefit from slightly tighter trucks; advanced skaters often prefer looser for trick responsiveness.
Wheel nuts. If a wheel is wobbling more than normal or not spinning freely, check the axle nut tightness. Tighten if loose; loosen slightly if the bearing is being compressed.
Hardware bolts. Check hardware before each major session. Loose truck bolts cause the truck to shift under the deck, which feels unstable and can cause falls.
Replacing Parts
Wheels. Replace when wheels are worn down (smaller diameter, flat spots), cracked, or have chunks missing. Different setups for different skating: harder wheels (99A–101A) for smooth park/street, softer wheels (78A–87A) for rough pavement or cruising.
Bearings. Replace when cleaning no longer improves spin quality, when bearings are visibly rusty, or when the wheel rumbles during rolling.
Grip tape. Replace when the grit is worn smooth in key foot zones (front foot area, tail pocket) or when the tape is peeling from the deck edge.
Deck. Replace when the deck is cracked, has significant razor tail (the back tail ground to a thin point), or feels dead/soft underfoot (the wood has lost its stiffness from water or repeated impacts).