Maintaining Your Skateboard & Freeboard.

Prepared for
Terry Smith
Prepared by
Edwin Torres, Jeremy Taylor,
Sarah Torres, and Carlos Tovar
4/22/14
Mr. Smith
TECM 2700 .028

Table of contents

iii

Table of contents
Table of contents ............................................................................................................................ iii
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... v
Materials: ........................................................................................................................................ 7
Materials Needed ............................................................................................................................ 3
Skate Board ................................................................................................................................. 3
For Maintenance ..................................................................................................................... 3
Replacing and Applying Grip ................................................................................................. 3
Free Board ................................................................................................................................... 3
For Maintenance ..................................................................................................................... 3
Pre-Instructions ............................................................................................................................... 7
Post Maintenance ........................................................................................................................ 7
Safety Procedures........................................................................................................................ 7
Tools You Will Need: ................................................................................................................... 11
The Binds ...................................................................................................................................... 11
Step 1: ....................................................................................................................................... 11
Step 2: ....................................................................................................................................... 11
Step 3: ....................................................................................................................................... 12
Step 4: ....................................................................................................................................... 12
Mounting Your Trucks ................................................................................................................. 13
Tools You Will Need: ............................................................................................................... 13
Step 1: ....................................................................................................................................... 13
Step 2: ....................................................................................................................................... 13
Step 3: ....................................................................................................................................... 14
How To Tune Your Freebord ....................................................................................................... 14
Hangar ........................................................................................................................................... 15
....................................................................................................................................................... 15
Center Wheel Height..................................................................................................................... 15
Bindings, Cont. ............................................................................................................................. 15
Skateboard Maintenance for Beginners ........................................................................................ 19
Recommended Tools: ............................................................................................................... 19
Removing the Wheels ................................................................................................................... 19
Removing Trucks .......................................................................................................................... 21
Next, .......................................................................................................................................... 22

iv

Maintaining Your Skateboard & Freebord

Removing the Grip Tape. .............................................................................................................. 22

Applying New Grip Tape.............................................................................................................. 24
Design Decisions ...................................................................................................................... 24
Applying the Grip Tape ................................................................................................................ 25
Cutting the Grip Tape ................................................................................................................... 26
....................................................................................................................................................... 27
Clean-up ........................................................................................................................................ 29
Proper Storage ........................................................................................................................... 29
Work Place ................................................................................................................................ 29
Cleaning Your Hands ................................................................................................................ 29
Trouble Shooting .......................................................................................................................... 33
Skate Board ............................................................................................................................. 33
Adjusting the Trucks .............................................................................................................. 33
............................................................................................................................................... 33
Adjusting the Truck Mounting Bolts ...................................................................................... 33
Adjusting the Axle Nuts. ........................................................................................................ 33
Cleaning Bearings .................................................................................................................. 33
............................................................................................................................................... 33
Grip Tape Cleaning & Replacement....................................................................................... 33
Overall Care ........................................................................................................................... 34
Freeboard .................................................................................................................................. 34
Baseplate, Is your castor lubed?............................................................................................ 34
Is your pivot cup good?......................................................................................................... 34
Wheel Rotating ..................................................................................................................... 34
Center Wheels ....................................................................................................................... 35
Changing Your Bearings....................................................................................................... 35
Edge Wheel Bearings ............................................................................................................ 35
Center Wheel Bearings ......................................................................................................... 36
To Put Bearings Back In ....................................................................................................... 36
Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 36

Introduction

Introduction
Our team has designed a manual to bring users an easy and helpful instruction guide so
that the consumer can enjoy their newly or previously owned skateboards. The manual
will provide in-depth instructions on maintaining two particular boards. The manual
covers all possible maintenance issues of the listed boards. We also provide detailed
images for the user to have as reference so that they follow instructions precisely. The
boards that will be covered include the Skateboard and Freebord.

Materials:

Chapter one

Materials Needed
Skate Board
For Maintenance
9/16, 1/2 & 3/8-inch Crescent or Socket Wrenches.
Phillips Head Screwdriver.
Chaz tri-tool.
Replacing and Applying Grip
A skateboard deck.
A new sheet of grip tape.
A razor blade.
o

Sharp and can cut through skin and flesh.

A screwdriver.
A pair of scissors. (for design purposes only)
Blow dryer.

Free Board
For Maintenance
Phillips Screwdriver.
10mm socket or crescent wrench.
Chaz tri-tool.

Fly chapter two

Chapter two

Pre-Instructions
Post Maintenance
Before taking any directions from the manual, minors must have a parent present with them at all
times. Those over eighteen should have a buddy around to assist them in case of an emergency or
injury. Have all tools neatly organized to keep yourself from using the wrong pieces that may
cause an incident later while skateboarding. Use a good work area to proceed with using the
manual:

Safety Procedures
As mentioned before, minors should have adult supervision at all times. If you have a previous
cut on your hands make sure to have someone look at the tools and board for any rust to avoid
infection. With this in mind it is important to wash your hands in between breaks or whenever
you step away to pick up on the maintenance process later.

Fly chapter three

Chapter three

11

Tools You Will Need:

Phillips Screwdriver.
10mm socket or crescent wrench.
Chaz tri-tool.

The Binds
Step 1:

Locate the S2 hardware pack in the bag containing your S2 bindings.

There you will find:
Mounting screws (4)
Mounting nuts (4)
Height adjustment screws (4).

Step 2:
Insert metal S2 base through plastic topper and adjust to desired height using the 4x S2 height
adjustment screws.

Figure 1 The binds: Binding: Step 2

12

Maintaining Your Skateboard & Freebord

Step 3:
Locate the pre-drilled binding mount holes on the deck.

Figure 1 The binds: Mounting your bindings: Step 3

Step 4:
Mount bindings to the deck using the diagram provided below. Make sure to tighten all nuts
firmly so that the screw heads are level with the bottom of the deck. Adjust the angle of the S2
topper to the desired position before tightening the nuts. Follow the exact same steps for the
opposite end of the board.

Figure 3 The binds: Mount bindings: Step 4

Chapter three

Mounting Your Trucks

Tools You Will Need:

Phillips Screwdriver
10mm socket or crescent wrench
Chaz tri-tool.

Step 1:
Find the eight pre-drilled mounting holes on underside of the deck.

Figure 4 Mounting your trucks: Step 1

Step 2:
Insert the four mounting bolts on one end of the board, then on the other end both through the
TOP side of the deck. Mount trucks to the bottom of the deck with the center wheels facing
inwards. Follow the exact same steps for the another side.

Figure 5 Mounting your trucks: Step 2

13

14

Maintaining Your Skateboard & Freebord

Step 3:
Tighten the eight nuts firmly (bolt heads should be level with top of deck).

Figure 6 Mounting your trucks: Step 3

How To Tune Your Freebord

Begin with conducting a safety
check on your Freebord before you
go for a ride. Check for any
damages tear on the wheels, deck,
trucks and bindings. Check all nuts
and bolts to make sure they are
tight (including wheel and kingpin
nuts). Every rider is different so
experiment with the following
tunings to figure out how to finetune your board to best fit your
riding style.

Figure 7 How to tune your freeboard

Chapter three

15

Hangar
The first thing you will want to do after you get
your Freebord is change the tension of the
hangar. This can be done by loosening or
tightening the king pin nut. If you are a smaller
rider make them looser so that it is easier to
carve/slide. If you are a heavier rider do tighten
them. Loose trucks carve more and slide less.
Tighter trucks slide more and carve less. Make
sure you have speed washers on both sides of
every edge wheel, and the edge wheel nuts are
tightened.
Figure 8 How to tune your freeboard: Hangar

Center Wheel Height

Your Freeboard comes with the center wheels adjusted furthest from the board. The center
wheels require a minimum finger widths
clearance between the wheels and the ground.
The further away the center wheel is from the
deck, the less likely the rider is to catch a
downhill edge. As the outer wheels wear down,
adjust the center wheels closer to the deck to
maintain a consistent amount of rocker. Rocker
is the downward bend of the deck in a smooth
arch. The more rocker the easier it is to slide.
Always set your two center wheels to the same
height. If there is too much rocker, experiment
by raising your center wheel one notch (towards
the deck). This will give you less rocker but
Figure 9 How to tune your freeboard: Center
wheel height
make it easier to catch an edge.

Bindings, Cont.
All screws and mounting hardware must be tighten firmly. Do not tighten them too hard into the
deck, as it could create stress fractures in the outer ply of your deck. You can adjust your
bindings vertically and rotationally to allow a more custom stance. Bindings can be mounted
according to
riders preference. If the pre drilled holes are not in the ideal spot, riders can drill new holes in
the deck to get the stance they want. The decks are very rigid and can handle multiple drilled
holes.

Fly chapter four

17

Chapter four

Skateboard Maintenance for Beginners

Recommended Tools:

9/16, 1/2 & 3/8-inch Crescent or Socket Wrenches

Phillips Head Screwdriver
Or a skate tool that combines all of the above!

Removing the Wheels

1. Begin by placing your Crescent or Wrench on the nut of the wheel. For our picture
example we are using the ______.

2. Then you will turn your tool counter-clockwise or left until the nut can be removed

19

20

Maintaining Your Skateboard & Freebord

3. Place the wheel back on the skateboard truck's axle, but just enough to have the axle tip
pass the bearing. You want to hook the tip of the axle inside the bearings, only letting it
touch the bearing and not the wheel.

Figure 1: Hook on Truck Axle

4. Now, gradually, pry the wheel at a downward angle. The bearing should pop out of the
wheel, but it might not want to right away. Be careful, and go slowly. If you pry too hard,
you might damage the bearing. If you are planning to throw these skateboard bearings
away, then pry as hard as you want!

Figure 2: Slowly Pry

Chapter four

21

5. This should be the final look of your wheel pulled apart piece by piece.

Removing Trucks
1. Put the screwdriver into the screw that is inside that nut. You want both hands on either
side of the skateboard, as shown in the photo.

Figure 3: Removing the Nuts

2. Once you have the skate tools in place, hold the screwdriver still while turning the socket
wrench, and remove the nuts from the screws. Repeat this until you finish removing the
all the nuts from the screws.

22

Maintaining Your Skateboard & Freebord

Next,
1. Simply take the trucks off the screws. You will end up with a board with 8 screws
sticking up. To remove these screws simply flip the board and push against any flat
surface. The screw heads should pop right up and out.

Figure 4: Easy Screw Removal

2. Once you have removed your trunks you can proceed to do the following:
a. Remove grip tape.
b. Put new trucks on the board.

Removing the Grip Tape.

1. Once the trucks are removed, take your hair dryer and use it to blow on one end of the
board so that the grip tape begins to heat up and easy to remove. Go back and forth along
the width and curvature of the end of the board. Do this for about 30 seconds.

Figure 5: Blow dryer

Chapter four

23

2. While still blowing on the grip tape with your hair dryer, try to get a peel started. It
should be very easy if you have warmed it up enough.

Figure 6: Blow drying

3. Once you have a peel started, keep the hair dryer blowing under the grip tape and keep
peeling until the grip tape is half way off. If it has not ripped and is all in one piece, you
can grab a hold of it and peel the rest of it off. If it ripped, continue with the hair dryer.

Figure 7: Removing tape

24

Maintaining Your Skateboard & Freebord

4. If there are any little pieces of grip tape left behind, use the old grip tape as a kind of
sandpaper to scrub it off.

Figure 8: Completion

Applying New Grip Tape

Tools & Equipment:
A skateboard deck.
A new sheet of grip tape.
A razor blade.
A screwdriver.
A pair of scissors. (for design purposes only)

Design Decisions
1. Think of what type of grip tape design you want on the board, and you can always go the
traditional way and apply the grip tape everywhere.

Figure 9: Deck

Chapter four

Applying the Grip Tape

1. Begin by removing the plastic tape stuck against the grip tape.

Figure 10: Gripe Tape

2. Then place the grip tape with some of the edges hanging off by at least 2 inches. From
one end, gradually begin to press the tape flat up against the board.

Figure 11: Applying tape

25

26

Maintaining Your Skateboard & Freebord

Cutting the Grip Tape

This section requires the use of dangerous tools.
1. After placing the tape, begin to remove excess tape with your razor.

Figure 12: Excess tape

2. Grab your screw driver and scrape it around the edge of the board until it develops a
white edge so that it seals the grip tape to the board.

Figure 13: Screw drive run

3. Again, use your razor and cut along the white edge all around the board.

Figure 14: Blade Cutting

Fly chapter five

27

Chapter five

29

Clean-up
Proper Storage

Begin by placing all tools in their proper storage place. This is especially important when
dealing with bearings, washers, nuts, and screws because they are a hazard to small
children.
Try to use a small tool box that specifically holds the equipment necessary for
maintaining a skateboard because you will often need to have to do manual check-ups on
your board.
o Tool box example: Craftsman 17 Plastic h and box. This help keep things
organized.

Figure 1: 17-Inch Hand Tool Box

Work Place

Clean the countertop area where you were working on by applying a solution based on
the material of the counter top, e.g., wood, granite, concrete, laminate.
Apply the solution of the appropriate material to begin cleaning then rinse the counter top
with water if necessary.
If you worked with grease or oil solution, it is important to use the appropriate solutions
to clean them off the counter and yourself.

Cleaning Your Hands

Using TRI-FLOW, WD-40, or motor oil requires that you follow the proper procedures
to remove these substances from your hands.
o Apply olive oil direct to your hands
o Rinse hands under hot water.
o Then dry your hands completely with a clean hand-towel.

Fly chapter six

31

Trouble Shooting

Chapter six

33

Trouble Shooting
Skate Board
Adjusting the Trucks
When determining whether to tighten the truck, keep in mind that a beginner will prefer tighter
trucks, as it prevents the trucks from veering to different directions. On the contrary, an
experienced rider may want the trucks to be looser so that the skateboard is properly navigable.

Adjusting the Truck Mounting Bolts

In order to adjust the Truck Mounting bolts properly,
use Philips head bots or an Allen head. The trucks are
designed to attach to the deck with 4 bolts and
4 nuts. If the nuts loosen, tighten them with caution, as
over tightening could damage the board.
Figure 1: Screws and nuts

Adjusting the Axle Nuts.

There is one nut that attached the wheels to the axels. In order to properly adjust the Axle nut,
tighten the nut until the wheel can barely spin.

Cleaning Bearings
The primary bearings that come with the SkateXS boards
are going to either be Mini-Logo bearings or Bones bearings.
Both of these styles of bearings can be properly cleaned and
returned back to their usage. Because the procedure to
properly clean the bearings can be a difficult one, it is
suggested to only clean them if the wheels are not able
to spin at all. One replacement to cleaning the bearings
would be to purchase new ones.

Figure 2: Bear Space balls Ceramic

Skateboard Bearings

In order to accurately clean the bearing(s), first remove the axle nut and the wheel. Then,
carefully remove the bearings out of the wheels using an exposed axle.

Grip Tape Cleaning & Replacement

There are multiple ways to clean the grip. For example, use a specific eraser to remove
marks, or use a moist toothbrush to have better control. Afterwards, be sure to dry it
with a towel, making sure not to get any other parts of the board wet. Another solution
to dirty grip is to re-grip the skateboard. First, heat of the grip and being to pull it off.
Clean the top of the board and apply the new grip.

Figure 3: Grip tape

34

Maintaining Your Skateboard & Freebord

Figure 3: Skateboard Griptape Black

Overall Care
Although most skateboards are durable, avoid getting water on the skateboard, as this will evade
the possibility of damage to the deck. That being said, SkateXS Bamboo boards are specially
made and can last longer than the average maple short board. Both the trucks and wheels of the
SkateXS can last for many years and surpass most boards because many parts are disposable and
can easily replace themselves.

Freeboard
Baseplate, Is your castor lubed?
A quick glob of Vaseline will do the trick. Use
a petroleum based product. While your base is
off, check to see if the cam axle is centered, and
that your center wheel points straight.
Also check to make sure your cam is still eggshaped and in one piece.
Is your pivot cup good?
Figure 1 Freeboard: Baseplate
Check to see that you have a pivot cup, and
secondly that it is intact. A missing or damaged
pivot cup will significantly affect your boards
turning ability. The baseplate must have the springs, and leave them on.
Wheel Rotating
Edge Wheels
You will have to replace your wheels over time. Wheels last around 2 weeks to 4 months
depending on the following:
How often you ride as well as the type and steepness of the pavement you ride.
How much you slide.
Your weight.
To help the wheels last longer, switch them after every ride.
1. First Identify your heel and toe edge wheels.
2. Then cross the wheels in the shape of an X.
3. Now your rear heel edge wheel will be your front toe edge and your front heel
edge wheel will be your rear toe side wheel, etc.

Chapter six

35

Center Wheels
If one center wheel is wearing out faster than the other, you should switch it out with an different
center wheel to counter the wear.
Changing Your Bearings
If your bearings are not spinning like they used to there are a few options.
1. If you have removable shields like the Bones Reds then getting some bones speed cream
will be the best option of re-lubing your bearings. You can also use other products such
as:
a. TRI-FLOW
b. WD-40
Note: You will have to apply these solutions more than once.
2. If you have sealed bearings then you can immerse them in a container of motor oil for 24
hours, and the oil will work its way inside the bearings.
Note: The oil process can be used with any bearing type, sealed or not.
Edge Wheel Bearings
1. Start by unscrewing the wheel nut and removing it.
2. Take your washer off the top of your bearing and place it with your nut (so you wont
lose it).
3. Now pull the edge wheel up just enough so that only the bottom bearing is still on the
axle. Torque the wheel in a rocking motion as if you were giving a motorcycle some gas.
The bearing should pop out of the wheel and will stay on the axle. Flip the wheel over
and repeat.

Figure 15 Wheel rotating: Edge wheel bearings

36

Maintaining Your Skateboard & Freebord

Center Wheel Bearings

1. First, remove your centers wheels and one edge wheel.
2. Now Place the center wheel on the axle of your hanger.
3. You will notice that the spacer in the center wheel will not go over the axle, so push
down and it should pop the bearing out on the side touching your hand.(Make sure when
you press down your hand is clear of the top bearing)

To Put Bearings Back In

1. Place both bearings onto the axle.
2. Now take the edge wheel, graphic
side down, and push it down onto
the axle to get the top bearing seated
in to the core of the wheel.
3. Flip the wheel over and push the
remaining bearing in.
4. At this point you should have your
wheel on the axle the correct way
with both bearings in and a speed
washer between the hanger and
inside bearing. Now just put the
outer speed washer on and tighten
down your nuts. (This process is
faster than a bearing puller and you
never have to touch the bearings so
changing them on the road doesnt
have to be such a dirty process.

Figure 3 to put bearings back in

Conclusion
We hope that you are now ready to proceed to the streets and begin riding your fixed or new
board. Remember to be aware of any problems that might arise while riding on your board. This
guide can always be a good reference for future maintenance or even beginning on a new project.
Please feel free to contact us at (972) 356-2254 for any questions regarding the material in the
manual.

37

Index for Commonly Used Words

Adjust, 11, 16, 37
Angle, 12, 21
Apply, 33
Axle, 20, 37, 38, 40, 41
Bamboo, 38
Baseplate, 39
Bearing, 20, 21, 37, 39, 40, 41
Beginner, 37
Binding, 12
Blow Dryer, 3
Board, iv, 7, 12, 13, 15, 16, 23, 24, 26, 27,
28, 29, 33, 37, 38, 39
Bolts, 13, 15, 37
Breaks, 7
Center Wheels, 14, 16
Change, 15
Cleaning, 33, 37
Clockwise, 20
Core, 41
Correct, 41
Crescent, 3, 11, 13
Damage, 21, 37, 38
Deck, 3, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 26, 37, 38
Design, 3, 26
Directions, 7, 37
Edge, 15, 16, 28, 29, 39, 40, 41
Emergency, 7
End, 12, 13, 23, 24, 27
Equipment, 33
Example, iv, 19, 33, 38
Experienced, 37
Final, 22
Flat, 23, 27
Flip, 23
Follow, v, 33
Freebord, iii, 15
Grip, iv, 3, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 38
Hands, 7, 22, 33
Hangar, 15
Hardware, 11, 16
Hazard, 33
Height, 11, 16

Holes, 12, 13, 16

Ideal, 16
Incident, 7
Infection, 7
Injury, 7
Instruction, v
Level, 12, 14
Maintenance, v, 7
Manual, v, 7, 33
Maple, 38
Material, 33
Months, 39
Motorcycle, 40
Mounting, 13, 16
Nut, 15, 19, 20, 22, 37, 40
Oil, 33, 39
Pavement, 39
Peel, 24, 25
Philips, 37
Picture, 19
Piece, 22, 25, 38
Pivot Cup, iv, 39
Ply, 16
Procedure, 37
Razor, 3, 26, 28, 29
Remove, iv, 23, 28, 33, 37, 38, 40
Replacement, 37
Requires, 33
Rider, 15, 16, 37
Road, 41
Safety, 15
Sandpaper, 25
Scissors, 3, 26
Scrape, 28
Screw, 12, 22, 23, 28
Screwdriver, 3, 22, 23, 26
Shape, 39
Sheet, 3, 26
Shields, 39
Side, 13, 14, 22, 39, 40, 41
Skate, 19, 23
Skateboard, 3, 20, 21, 22, 26, 33, 37, 38

38
SkateXS, 37, 38
Socket, 3, 11, 13, 23
Solution, 33, 38
Speed Washers, 15
Springs, 39
Steps, 12, 14
Storage, 33
Style, 15
Surface, 23
Tape, 3, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
Tension, 15
Tighten, 12, 15, 16, 37, 41
Time, 39
Tip, 20

Maintaining Your Skateboard & Freebord

Tools, 7, 23, 33
Topper, 11, 12
Towel, iv, 33, 38
Trucks, 13, 15, 23, 24, 37, 38
Tune, 15
Washer, 40, 41
Water, 33, 38
Wear, 16, 39
Wheel, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 37, 38, 39, 40,
41
Wood, 33
Work, 7, 39
Wrench, 3, 11, 13, 23