Workshop
Before you pick up a key, swap the wheels and mount the frame on screen. Nothing can strip here, and after two short tasks you’ll know the order to do it in on your own skates.
Task 1
Wheel rotation
Wheels wear mainly on the inner side, and the end wheels faster than the middle ones. Swap them so the first trades places with the third and the second with the fourth, and the worn edge ends up on the outside of the skate.
The task runs in a browser with JavaScript turned on. The same steps are described below.
On your real skates
- Get an axle key ready — usually a 4 mm Allen key or a Torx T25, depending on the model — and undo the axles on both skates.
- Take the wheels out and lay them down in the order they sat in. While you’re at it, wipe the frame and check that the bearings spin quietly.
- Swap the first wheel with the third and the second with the fourth — moving them to the other skate as you go. The worn edge should end up facing out.
- Tighten the axles with care: the wheel should spin freely with no side-to-side play.
- Repeat every 20–30 hours of skating. On three-wheel skates, move each wheel along one position and swap sides as well.
A wheel that stays slanted despite rotation, or is clearly smaller than the rest, means it’s time for a new set. More in our guide: how to choose wheels for your skates.
Task 2
Mounting the frame to the boot
Three steps: match the frame to the boot’s mounting standard, set it straight and tighten the bolts in the right order. Most problems with a skate that “pulls” start with a crookedly mounted frame.
The task runs in a browser with JavaScript turned on. The same steps are described below.
On your real skates
- Check the mounting standard. 165 mm means two points on the boot’s centre line, Trinity — three points, UFS — a flat sole on aggressive skates, 195 mm — speed skating boots. The frame and the boot must use the same one.
- Remove the wheels that cover the frame bolts. Without that you usually can’t reach them with the key.
- Put the frame in place and screw all the bolts in loosely, so the frame can still be moved.
- Set the frame straight and centred on the boot. Shifting it inwards or outwards is an adjustment for a particular foot — leave that for later.
- Tighten in turns: first get all the bolts snug, and only then tighten them fully. Firmly, but without forcing — a stripped thread in the boot means a repair at our service desk.
- Skate a short distance. If the skate pulls to one side, adjust the alignment. After your first skate, check the bolts again.
Would you rather have your skates serviced?
Both our shops have a workshop on site. Call or bring your skates in — we’ll tell you what we can do on the spot and what needs to be left with us.
Services and prices