Inline Skate Bearings and the ABEC Scale

If you think you need new bearings for your inlineIt takes a lot of effort to pick up and maintain speed
skates, it's best to check your bearings for wear usingwhen you skate
the tests provided in this article. Your bearings are atYour bearings are hot to the touch after a roll
the core of your wheels and reduce friction so youYou may also want to replace your inline skate
can skate smoothly and efficiently. Hence, they needbearings if you decide to switch to a different type of
to be maintained properly from season tobearing. You may want to change from shielded
season.Checking for Wearbearings to sealed or racing bearings.Learning the
The following are indications of major, bearing wearABEC Scale
from a no-load, finger-flick, spin test:Bearings are rated on the Annular Bearing Engineering
One or more of your wheels stick(s) periodicallyCouncil (ABEC) scale. Ratings are numbered 1, 3, 5, 7,
One or more of your wheels (is) are seizedand 9 on the ABEC scale. The higher the number is,
One or more or your wheels require(s) a lot of forcethe greater the manufactured precision of the
to spinbearing.However, there are no required materials to
One or more of your wheels spin(s) freely for only ameet the ABEC specifications. The bearings only have
second or twoto be made to a certain precision. That's all!Servicing
In addition, the following are signs of major, bearingyour Bearings
wear from a spin test with the skater as the load:Inline skate bearings usually come in sets of four to
While out skating you hear a loud, grinding noise fromeight.
your bearings