Guide to Fitting Roller Skate Wheels

This video provides a comprehensive tutorial on fitting wheels to roller skates. Whether you are swapping out your skate wheels or attaching them again after changing the bearings, this tutorial will guide you through the entire sequence. Ensure you have a skate tool nearby and enjoy the process!

Procedure for Fitting Wheels onto Roller Skates:

Begin by taking the nut off the wheel axle. If it’s difficult to remove, employ a skate tool.
Position the washer onto the axle, ensuring the rounded side is upwards.
Attach the wheel with the logo side facing upwards.
Install the second washer with its rounded side facing downwards.
Fix the nut in place. Secure it firmly using a skate tool.
Use a skate tool to secure the nut tightly, allowing the wheel to rotate freely without lateral movement.

Follow the same steps for each wheel, and your roller skates will be prepared for use!

Common Questions:

Why don’t my wheels roll when I tighten them?

You might be over-tightening them. Ensure the axle nuts are firm, but not so tight that they restrain the wheel’s motion. Consider using washers as demonstrated in the video, or incorporate a spacer within the wheel if not already present to simplify adjustment.

When is it necessary to replace my roller skate wheels?

Replacement is necessary when you observe flat areas, exceedingly blunt edges that shrink the contact patch, or any fissures in either the wheel hub or urethane. Numerous roller skaters prefer owning multiple sets of roller skate wheels of differing hardness and diameters to be adaptable for various scenarios, so save this video tutorial: it will prove useful on several occasions.

Is there a method to prolong the lifespan of wheels?

Attempt to rotate them in a criss-cross pattern periodically (for example, swap the front-left wheel of the left skate with the back-right wheel of the right skate, and the front-right wheel of the left skate with the back-left wheel of the right skate, continuing in this manner) to achieve even wear and thus extend their lifespan.

Can skateboard wheels be fitted onto roller skates?

In theory, yes, provided the wheels have a side set (where the inner bearing is aligned with the wheel) and are suitably wide for your skating preferences. We advise trying this only if you are a skilled roller skater!