If you are an active skater and spend a lot of time on your favorite eight wheels, roller bearings will last you an average of 1 season.
Of course, if you provide them with good care. But there are many such people who don’t put on rollers infrequently and ride only on perfectly asphalt paths. In this case, the bearings can last for years.
You will easily understand when the time comes to change them - the wheels will just spin worse and worse every day, despite the fact that they are clean and well lubricated.
Also, if you ride in the rain and upon arrival home did nothing with the rollers, do not be surprised when after some time the wheels completely stop spinning. Here you have only one way out - to change the bearings.
So if you want to ride longer without problems, try to drive on high-quality asphalt, avoiding roads that have a lot of dust, dirt and puddles.
Characteristic
All bearings have their own standards, that is, they have the agreed sizes and characteristics. Roller bearings are most often of two types: 608 and 688 classes (the so-called micro-bearings). The most commonly used bearings are class 608. We decipher this wording.
The first digit - 6 - indicates that this bearing is of the type "single-row deep groove" (one row with a deep groove).
The second digit, 0, indicates the series of the bearing. There are several series, from ultra-thin to heavy.
The third digit - 8 - corresponds to the diameter of the inner ring.
Usually, after the type of bearing, Latin letters are written that symbolize the type of anther on it. Most commonly used:
Z - a metal boot protects the support rollers on one side.
ZZ - metal anthers are available on both sides of the bearing.
RS (rubber shild) - indicates that the bearing is waterproof (but not waterproof), that is, it has a dustproof plate coated with rubber. The plate significantly extends the life of the bearing.
2RS - closed with rubberized plates on both sides, lasts longer.
Also, bearings for rollers are classified on the ABEC scale (Eng. "Annual Council of Bearing Engineers"). The higher the ABEC number, the more accurately the bearing is made. The higher the accuracy class, the less the bearing vibrates at a high speed. There are several accuracy classes: ABEC 1, ABEC 3, ABEC 5, ABEC 7, and ABEC9.
Bearing lubrication
The ease of rotation of the wheel depends on how and how well the bearing is lubricated. If in the store the grease of the bearings is plastic (thick, consistent), then the wheel will turn a little tight, and if the grease is liquid, the wheel will easily spin. But you must take into account the fact that in the store the wheel rotates without load, on weight, and under the influence of your body weight, the position will change. The grease resource is significantly higher, and they need less maintenance. Liquid grease is more short-lived due to the fact that it can evaporate or leak out, and in this case the roller bearings wear out quickly, which causes some inconvenience, since they often have to be replaced. And this, in turn, leads to unnecessary costs.