Question: Why do my bearings
sound "gravelly" after a few weeks of use?
The number one cause of bearing failure is contamination,
that is dust, dirt or water. Contamination causes premature
wear inside the bearing, therefore, you hear grinding
sounds. There are many ways to avoid failure due to
contamination. The first is to use a full contact seal.
The problem with this is that it increases the drag
or torque on the bearing. The second is to use a full
pack of grease inside the bearing. The grease's role
is not only to lubricate but to protect the bearing
from contamination. Unfortunately, grease will increase
the drag on the bearing and it's life is limited.
NTN's Formula bearing with Turbo Lube™ helps
to reduce contamination in two ways: 1. better sealing
system and 2. better grease. NTN's Formula bearing with
Turbo Lube™ uses NTN non-contact seals. The non-contact-seal
is a true seal that does not contact the inner ring.
This seal runs closer to the inner ring of the bearing
than a shield thus it can keep out smaller particles
of dirt. If dirt gets by the seal then the Turbo Lube™
can sweep up the dirt. Turbo Lube™ is in part
a plastic and it will not evaporate or change shape
like a regular grease. The plastic properties of Turbo
Lube™ act like a sponge to absorb dirt that enters
the bearing. The combination of non-contact seals and
Turbo Lube™ provide excellent protection against
dust and dirt.
Proper maintenance also helps to reduce failure due
to contamination. You can wipe off the face of your
bearings periodically to help reduce contamination.
Ensure that your wheels are properly installed. The
noise you hear may be the sound of a worn axle moving
on the mounting bolt and not the bearing itself.
Question: What ABEC will allow me to roll the
fastest?
ABEC ratings guarantee dimensional tolerance...NOT
SPEED! Click here
for further information on ABEC.
Question: How can I skate faster?
To roll faster you must reduce the drag on your bearings
and wheels. To reduce drag, you will need to use oil
as a lubricant and run with the correct radial internal
clearance. Oil is very thin in comparison to grease
and therefore does not increase the drag as grease does.
Unfortunately oil does not protect a bearing from contamination
like grease and thus the bearing needs frequent maintenance.
(If you use oil, NTN recommends cleaning your bearings
after every use.) Next to your bearings themselves,
the condition of the wheel greatly affects your skate's
performance. Ensure that your wheels are in good condition.
If your wheels are worn, replace them, following your
manufacturer's instructions. Hop-up kits are also beneficial
because they keep the inner rings of the bearings stable
and locked in place. This helps bearing performance
since any slippage between mating components can cause
the bearing to slow down. Hop-up kits also space the
bearing from the rail walls and help to prevent dirt
from collecting on the bearing face. |
