In order to stay safe while riding your skateboard, you need to maintain the hardware. To maintain the hardware, you will need to tighten the screws regularly. How often should you check and tighten the hardware on your board?
Skateboard hardware should be checked often, and tightened when needed. Skateboards that are used more frequently will need to be checked and tightened more often than skateboards that aren’t used as often. For example, screws should be flush with your grip, and tightened immediately if they begin to rise.
To learn more about what to look for when inspecting your skateboard and the tools you need to tighten the hardware, keep reading. You will learn more about how to determine if the hardware on your skateboard needs to be replaced.
How to Tighten the Hardware on Your Skateboard
To tighten the hardware on your skateboard, you will need a Phillips head screwdriver and a 3/8-inch wrench or Allen wrench. You can also use a skateboard tool. Make sure you have a tool on both sides of your skateboard (i.e. below and above the deck) while tightening the hardware. The type of wrench you will need will vary depending on the hardware on your skateboard. Simply tighten the screws and bolts on the hardware of your skateboard until they stop moving or become difficult to move.
Avoid over-tightening the screws and bolts on your skateboard, as doing so can make the hardware and deck more prone to cracking and breaking.
How to Tell If the Hardware on Your Skateboard Needs to Be Tightened
To determine whether or not the hardware on your skateboard needs to be tightened, look at all of the hardware before riding your skateboard. This includes the screws on the deck of your skateboard. If the screws on the deck are poking out or seem loose, they need to be tightened.
After evaluating the screws on the skateboard deck, evaluate the trucks on your skateboard. Try to make them wiggle. If they move, tighten the bolts and screws. However, if you can’t make either one move, you do not need to tighten the bolts and screws. This means that your skateboard is ready to use!
How to Inspect the Hardware on Your Skateboard
To inspect the hardware on your skateboard, clean the trucks, screws, and bolts on the top and bottom of your skateboard. This will allow you to see what condition the hardware is in. Then, determine if the screws and bolts are tight, but not overly tight. Look at the screws on the top and the trucks on the bottom of your skateboard. If the screws or trucks are extremely damaged, they will need to be replaced before you can safely ride your skateboard. However, keep in mind that a few chips and scratches on a skateboard’s trucks is normal.
Make sure that no screws or bolts are missing from your skateboard’s hardware. Make sure all screws are in place and there are four bolts on each truck. If there are only two or three, a bolt is missing and it is not safe for you to ride your skateboard.
When inspecting the hardware on your skateboard, you will also need to inspect the wheels. Make sure the wheels are in good condition and are securely fastened to your skateboard’s trucks. After all, you do not want a wheel to fall off while you are riding your skateboard.
Essentially, to inspect the hardware on your skateboard, simply clean it, make sure everything is in place, and make sure that everything is secure. Once this is done, you will be ready to safely ride your skateboard!
Signs the Hardware on Your Skateboard Needs to Be Replaced
Sometimes, the hardware on your skateboard gets damaged to the point where it needs to be replaced. Luckily, it is quite easy to determine whether or not the hardware on your skateboard needs to be replaced.
If your skateboard’s wheels are extremely damaged or can’t be attached to your skateboard properly, they need to be replaced. Luckily, skateboard wheels are relatively cheap and easy to replace. Simply determine the size of wheels you need and purchase them from your local skateboard shop or online.
If the trucks on your skateboard are extremely damaged, dented, broken, chipped, or cracked, they need to be replaced. Purchase new ones from your local skateboard shop or online and replace them yourself. While you may only need to replace one of your skateboard’s trucks, it is best to replace both of them at the same time. Skateboard trucks often come in packs of two, and replacing both of your skateboard trucks at the same time will ensure one won’t break when the other is in perfect condition.
If the screws on your skateboard deck are stripped or part of the head of one of the screws is missing, replace them. However, if the screws on your skateboard deck are stripped, you will likely have to replace the deck as well, as new screws won’t fit in the holes very well and may come loose.
Oftentimes, the hardware on your skateboard can’t be repaired when damaged, so it will need to be replaced.
Overall, it is relatively easy to inspect the hardware on a skateboard. It is also quite easy to determine when the hardware on your skateboard needs to be replaced. I recommend inspecting the hardware on your skateboard once per week when riding it regularly. If you haven’t ridden your skateboard in a long time but will start riding it regularly soon, thoroughly inspect the hardware and make sure the screws and bolts are tight. After all, if you put your skateboard into storage during the winter, the screws and bolts could have started to become loose due to a fluctuation in the temperature.
If you inspect the hardware on your skateboard regularly, it will be quite safe to ride. However, if you neglect to inspect the hardware on your skateboard, you may get hurt while riding or doing tricks on it.
