Let’s say that you’re a skateboarder. You went on a 10 mile skate and it was really wet. The next thing you know, your wheels are stiff and you’re hearing grinding noises from the bearings. Granted that your bearings may just need some lubricating, but what do you use? The typical machine oil/grease or this new lubricant every one seems to recommend is called silicone lubricant spray.
But what would be the effects of silicone spray on bearings? Is it safe? Before deciding, lets find out what a silicone spray is.
Silicone is a an organic substance we usually associate with lubrication and caulking. It is used for a number of applications, depending on how it is treated and on what chemical is added. Silicone can be produced as a cookware or pressurized into a spray. Each type is applicable to a specific need. Silicone spray can be used in different applications.
Silicone spray is commonly used as a lubricant. It is widely used because it is non-corrosive and non-reactive to most substances. When sprayed on hard surfaces, silicone spray is able to maintain its lubricating properties in a variety of temperature range and it does not oxidize. It lubricates doors, locks, hinges, belts, windows, latches, zippers, switches, tools, chains, sports equipment, lawn equipment, valves, pulleys, fans, motor bearings and more.
Aside from that, it is also extensively used for its waterproofing effects. Silicone spray is resistant to water so it can protect the items it is sprayed on from moisture. It may be used on electrical parts such as distributors, ignition wires and sparkplugs. It can also be used to protect guns, boots, tools, pool and marine equipments.
So with these obvious advantages, is silicone spray on bearings safe and effective?
As mentioned above, silicone spray is used on motor bearings as a lubricant. However, some says that silicone spray on bearings are not good because it loses its lubricant properties fairly quick. Although it does makes the bearings spin faster, more freely, you might sometimes hear noises (metal-on-metal), unlike when you use grease where it does not spin faster but noticeably smoother and quieter.
Different people have different account on the effects of silicone spray on bearings. Some good, some are not. Let’s just keep in mind that silicone spray comes in different brands and manufacturers. To tell you honestly, some are very effective and, sadly, many are not. It just depends on you to choose the right and trusted brand of spray to use.
Just some piece of advice though. If you are planning on using silicone spray on your bearings, here are tips to consider:
- When cleaning bearings after a long hard, wet ride, soak tem in a solution. Dry them out on a towel, then coat them in Silicone Spray and spin the them, getting all the nasty stuff out, which also displaces the soap with silicone lube. Then after putting them back on the board, give them another spray and hard spins laying the board deck down on the ground and spin them again.
- Silicone spray is sometimes good in places without too many moving parts like door hinges, sliding mechanisms, windows, springs and so forth. So you might want to think twice if you’re going to use it in objects or surfaces that are always moving such as the bearings of your skateboard or bike.