All Activities
Maintain your skateboard

Maintain your skateboard
Green highlight

Learn to clean, tighten, and inspect a skateboard’s wheels, trucks, bearings, and deck using basic tools, working safely under adult supervision.

Orange shooting star
Download Guide
Collect Badge
Background blob
Challenge Image
Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to maintain your skateboard

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

How Is Skateboard Protective Gear Rigorously Tested For Safety? - Skateboard Daily

What you need
Adult supervision required, bearing lubricant or light oil, isopropyl alcohol or bearing cleaner, paper towels, phillips screwdriver, skate tool or adjustable wrench, skateboard, small brush or toothbrush, small container, soft cloth or rag

Step 1

Lay a towel on a flat table and place your skateboard upside down on the towel.

Step 2

Use the skate tool to remove the axle nuts from all four wheels.

Step 3

Slide each wheel off its axle and put the wheels on the towel.

Step 4

Push the bearings out of each wheel using the axle or a bearing tool and place the bearings in the small container.

Step 5

Look at each bearing and spin it with your finger to check for rust dirt or rough spinning.

Step 6

Pour isopropyl alcohol into the container and gently shake the bearings inside to clean them.

Step 7

Take the bearings out and lay them on a paper towel to air-dry completely.

Step 8

Put one small drop of bearing lubricant on each bearing and spin the bearing to work the oil in.

Step 9

Press each cleaned and lubed bearing fully back into its wheel until it sits flush.

Step 10

Put the wheels back onto the axles and hand-thread the axle nuts onto each wheel.

Step 11

Use the skate tool to tighten each axle nut until the wheel spins freely without side-to-side wobble.

Step 12

Inspect the trucks kingpin and deck mounting bolts for cracks stripped threads or loose parts.

Step 13

Use the skate tool to tighten any loose mounting bolts and the kingpin nut until they are firm but not over-tightened.

Step 14

Take a photo or write a short note and share your finished skateboard maintenance job on DIY.org.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

Complete & Share
Challenge badge placeholder

Help!?

What can we use instead of a skate tool, isopropyl alcohol, or bearing lubricant if we don't have them?

Use a correctly sized socket and wrench in place of the skate tool to remove axle nuts, clean bearings with rubbing alcohol or a small amount of citrus degreaser if you don't have isopropyl alcohol, and substitute a drop of light machine oil (3-in-1) for specialized bearing lubricant.

My wheels wobble after reassembly or a bearing won't come out of a wheel—what should I check or do?

If a bearing won't come out, push it out using the axle as the instructions say or use a bearing puller, and if a wheel wobbles after reassembly loosen the axle nut until the wheel spins freely without side-to-side wobble and ensure each bearing is pressed fully flush into the wheel.

How can we adapt this skateboard maintenance activity for younger or older children?

For younger kids have them lay the towel, hand you the skate tool, sort wheels on the towel, and take the final photo while adults handle axle nuts and bearing cleaning, and for older kids let them perform all steps including inspecting and tightening the trucks' kingpin and deck mounting bolts with supervision.

How can we extend or personalize this activity after finishing the cleaning and lubing?

Rotate or swap wheels to even wear, keep a short maintenance note or photo log of which bearings were cleaned and any tightened bolts, consider replacing worn bearings or decorating the deck, then share your finished skateboard maintenance job on DIY.org as instructed.

Watch videos on how to maintain your skateboard

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

How To Clean And Maintain Skateboard Protective Gear? - Skateboard Daily

4 Videos

Facts about skateboard maintenance and safety

⚙️ Bearings use an ABEC rating but cleanliness and lubrication often matter more for smooth, fast rides than the ABEC number alone.

🛹 A standard skateboard has 4 wheels and 2 trucks—keeping them properly tightened helps you stay balanced and land tricks safer.

🔧 Most skateboard repairs can be done with a single skate tool (it combines common socket sizes and a screwdriver/Allen key) — no power tools needed.

🏁 Skaters tune truck tightness for purpose: loose trucks help turning and tricks, tight trucks give more stability for downhill or cruising.

🧽 You should remove and clean bearings with a safe solvent and dry them fully before re-lubing—water and dirt are bearings' worst enemies.

How do I teach my child to maintain a skateboard step-by-step?

To teach skateboard maintenance, demonstrate each step first: remove wheels with a skate tool, wipe the deck and grip tape, pull bearings using a bearing tool, soak bearings briefly in isopropyl alcohol or a safe cleaner, dry completely, then add a drop of bearing lubricant before reassembly. Tighten axle nuts and truck kingpin to the right tension, inspect hardware for rust, and check the deck for cracks. Let the child try simple tasks under close adult supervision.

What materials and tools do I need to maintain a skateboard at home?

You’ll need a skate tool (or socket set), Phillips/flat screwdriver, bearing puller or skate tool, clean rags, isopropyl alcohol or mild bearing cleaner, bearing lubricant, small brush, replacement hardware, gloves, and safety glasses. Optional items: a small tray for parts and a soft mallet. Let children do wiping and basic tightening, but reserve solvents, bearing soaking, and heavy tools for adults to handle safely.

What ages is skateboard maintenance suitable for?

Basic maintenance like wiping the deck and learning part names is great for ages 6+. Around 8–10 kids can learn to change wheels and tighten hardware with close adult help. Ages 12+ often handle bearing cleaning and minor replacements if they show good fine motor skills and responsibility. Always supervise younger children, match tasks to ability, and require safety gear and clear instructions before allowing more independent work.

What safety precautions should we follow while learning skateboard maintenance?

Work on a stable table with the board immobilized and remove it from riding areas. Wear gloves and eye protection, and keep solvents away from heat. Contain small parts to prevent choking and dispose of used solvents responsibly. Adults should handle bearing removal, power tools, and flame-risk tasks. After reassembly, double-check tightness and do a slow test ride in a safe, traffic-free area before regular use.
DIY Yeti Character
Join Frame
Flying Text Box

One subscription, many ways to play and learn.

Try for free

Only $6.99 after trial. No credit card required

To create a safe space for kid creators worldwide!

Discovery Tools

DIY Wiki

DIY TV

Creativity Tools

How to draw

Teacher Tools

SafeTube

DIY Blog

2025, URSOR LIMITED. All rights reserved. DIY is in no way affiliated with Minecraft™, Mojang, Microsoft, Roblox™ or YouTube. LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO® Group which does not sponsor, endorse or authorize this website or event. Made with love in San Francisco.

Maintain your skateboard. Activities for Kids.