Inline Skate Bearings and the ABEC Scale
Jim Safianuk
If you think you need new bearings for your inline skates, it's
best to check your bearings for wear using the tests provided in
this article. Your bearings are at the core of your wheels and
reduce friction so you can skate smoothly and efficiently. Hence,
they need to be maintained properly from season to season.
Checking for wear
The following are indications of major, bearing wear from a
no-load, finger-flick, spin test:
One or more of your wheels stick(s) periodically
One or more of your wheels (is) are seized
One or more or your wheels require(s) a lot of force to spin
One or more of your wheels spin(s) freely for only a second or
two
In addition, the following are signs of major, bearing wear from
a spin test with the skater as the load:
While skating you hear a loud, grinding noise from your bearings
It requires a lot of effort to pick up and maintain speed
Your bearings are hot to the touch after a roll
You may also want to replace your inline skate bearings if you
decide to switch to a different type of bearing. You may want to
change from shielded bearings to sealed or racing bearings.
Learning the ABEC Scale
Bearings are rated on the Annular Bearing Engineering Council
(ABEC) scale. Ratings are numbered 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 on the ABEC
scale. The higher the number is, the greater the manufactured
precision of the bearing.
However, there are no required materials to meet the ABEC
specifications. The bearings only have to be made to a certain
precision. That's all!
Servicing your bearings
Inline skate bearings usually come in sets of four to eight.
Before you head out to your favorite sporting goods store, write
down the information that’s shown on the outer shields of your
bearings. Don’t forget to flip the bearing over and include the
text that's inscribed on the other side.
If you’re happy with the original bearings that came with your
skates or the last set you installed, by all means buy the same
bearings. If you have serviceable bearings like TwinCams or YAKs
and you don’t mind doing your own cleaning and lubrication than
you may want to stick with the double-shielded type, especially
if they are the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) that your
skate manufacturer recommends.
On the other hand, if you have non-serviceable or sealed bearings
and are squeamish about doing your own cleaning and lubrication,
even periodically, you may want to stick with this type of
bearing and just replace them when they need to be changed.
In addition, if you have shielded bearings with pop-out caps,
like Powell Swiss or Black Hole brands, and like them for their
ease of maintenance, it’s probably best to go with this kind of
bearing again.
Buying new bearings
My K2 skates have 8-mm, TwinCam, ABEC-1, double-shielded bearings
with the following inscribed on the casings:
TwinCam
ABEC-1
608 ZZ
Normally, the manufacturer or brand doesn’t make a lot of
difference within the three categories of shielded, serviceable
bearings, shielded, serviceable bearings with pop-up caps, and
sealed, non-serviceable bearings. A bearing size of 8 mm and the
608 designation are fine for recreational, inline skaters. The
ABEC rating is another story!
ABEC-1, 3, and 5 are the most common bearings that come with
inline skates, as well as the newer ABEC-7s, which are gaining in
popularity. Whether a skater can go faster with ABEC-5 bearings
versus ABEC-1 bearings has never been proven, scientifically or
otherwise.
Furthermore, the higher precision may not make a significant
difference for the recreational skater who travels in the 10 to
20 mph range. The average skater doesn’t require a higher-rated
bearing because the difference in performance is so minimal that
it would only become apparent at speeds an inline skater never
attains.
In addition, the higher precision eventually deteriorates down to
ABEC-3 or 1 due to dust, dirt, and regular wear and tear. To
increase your skating speed, you’d be better off to improve your
technique and learn how to cut down on wind resistance. These are
proven ways to make you a faster and more efficient skater.
So, get the most affordable ABEC-1 or ABEC-3 inline skate
bearings you can find, clean and lube them with oil or grease on
an annual basis, and you’ll be just fine.
Summing Up
When it comes time to purchase new bearings for your inline
skates, make sure you write down the information that's inscribed
on the outer casing of your bearings before you head to your
local, skating shop. In addition, beware that an ABEC rating is
nothing more than a bearing precision. If you find a set of
bearings at the right price that are suited for your skates, but
they have a lower ABEC rating, go for it anyway! You'll probably
never notice the difference.
Jim Safianuk is the writer and publisher of the three-part,
inline skating series entitled Skating Lessons, as well as the
two-part, maintenance series named Skate Maintenance. He is also
the developer of the Inline Skating Center, a site which serves
as a hub for the adult, recreational, inline skating community.
To visit their Skate Maintenance department, click here:
http://skatemaintenance.inlineskatingcenter.com/
Copyright 2005, by JKS Publishing. All Rights Reserved
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