Basic Care & Maintenance of Your Roller Skates

I've got a brand new pair of roller skates, you've got a brand new key! Modern roller skates are no longer tightened down with a key, but they do require some care and maintenance for your safety, and to ensure a long life for your skates. The tool information listed is for standard roller skate parts. Not all roller skates contain standard parts.

Care and Maintenance of Your Roller Skates

Tools you will need to do a basic tune up on your skates:

* a screwdriver (flathead or phillips, depending on the bolt in your toe stop)
OR
* a thin crescent wrench
* a 1/2" socket wrench
* a 9/16" socket wrench
(some skates will also need an 11/16" wrench)

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1) Toe Stoppers:

a) NON ADJUSTABLE: (usually present on tall boot skates) On a weekly basis it is very important to verify that the toe stoppers are tightly fastened (vibration from stopping frequently loosens the toe stopper bolts). To tighten the toe stoppers, simply use the appropriate screwdriver (usually a Phillips or a flat head) and tighten the toe stopper bolt as tight as it will go manually.

b) ADJUSTABLE 5/8": (Most Riedell skates and speed skates) This type of stopper can also come loose from vibration and use. To remove or adjust the height of these stoppers simply loosen the lock nut located on the base of the toe stop bolt using a crescent wrench. Once the lock nut is loose you can unscrew the stoppers by hand to adjust their height or replace them. Make sure to tighten the lock nuts once you're done the adjustment or they will fall off during use! Verify lock nut tightness every other week, or more often if necessary.

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2) Wheel Nuts:

Every month or so, test the tightness of the wheel nuts. To tighten the wheel nuts use a 1/2" wrench. Wheel nuts should be tightened until there is very little play in the wheel but does not hinder the wheel from rolling smoothly.

One easy test: if you skate your skates, you shouldn't hear a lot of noise (noise indicates that one or more wheel nuts is probably loose, and there is too much play on the axle)

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3) Trucks:

Deciding how tight to tighten the trucks is a personal choice. Tighter trucks feel less "twitchy" (less likely to turn your skates when you don't want them to), while looser trucks give more agility and are more responsive.

Some general guidelines: beginner skaters should adjust trucks a bit more tightly. This prevents your skates from turning on their own if you are flailing. Also, lighter skaters typically take looser trucks than heavier skaters.

To begin, put your skate between your knees - use your legs like a vice to hold the skate in place.

a) How to Adjust Your Trucks (Standard Kingpins): In order to adjust dual action trucks you must first loosen the lock nut. Use an 11/16" wrench to loosen the lock nut. Once the lock nut is loose, use a 9/16" wrench to adjust the tension on the kingpin. Turn counterclockwise to loosen and clockwise to tighten. Once the desired tension is achieved tighten the lock nut. This last step is very important it stops the trucks from loosening quickly due to vibration.

b) How to Adjust Your Trucks (Inverted Kingpins): Simply use a 9/16" wrench to adjust the kingpin nut. To loosen the trucks turn counterclockwise. To tighten them turn clockwise.

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Make sure you know what all of the hardware on your skates is called. To see a diagram of the anatomy of a roller skate, please click here and scroll to the bottom: www.rollergirl.ca/rollerskating-info.html

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RollerGirl Rollerskates Inc.
www.rollergirl.ca
[e-mail]
1-866-900-7655

Roller Skaters have more fun!