FIT 500 ADULT SKATES: maintenance and repairs

There are several ways of braking with inline skates. One option is to use the rear brake pad. To do so, shift the foot with the brake on it slightly forwards and lift the front of the skate to slow yourself down. It's normal to only have a brake on one foot because you only need one foot to do this kind of braking (it's also more stable). We place the brake pad on the right foot as standard, but you can change which foot it is on.
Often, we recommend that left-handers place the brake pad on their left foot, but it's definitely a case of personal preference.

Whether you're replacing damaged wheels or adapting the size or hardness of a wheel based on the ground or your riding conditions, changing the wheels is a basic skill that everyone should master. It's one of the first things you'll need to do to look after your equipment.
But as you'll see, it's really quick and easy.

How to change the wheels on the FIT 500 adult skates
1. Start by unscrewing all 4 wheels using a multitool and an Allen key. On most skates, the brake is attached to the rear axle, so you'll need to remove this too.
2. Use the multitool to remove the bearings if you need to reuse them. If your future wheels already have bearings or you've bought different bearings, you can leave them on the wheel and remove any dust with a dry cloth.
3. Insert a bearing onto one side of a wheel then turn it over.
4. Insert the spacer (the metal cylinder) so that it's aligned with the hole on the first bearing, then insert the second bearing. If the spacer moves a little, don't worry. It'll get realigned with the bearings when you insert the axles. Using a spacer is optional but recommended because it keeps a gap between the bearings and offsets the pressure exerted by the bolt that holds the wheel in place. Most bearings can go any way around, but please check the packaging if you're unsure.
5. Put the wheels back onto the frame and insert the axle then the screw. Please note that one of the axles is bigger. This one is for the back wheel and holds the brake bracket. Remember to use the biggest axle for the back wheel.

Easy, eh? Remember to swap the position of your wheels every 3 rides or every 30 km

You might want to change the bearings on your inline skates to change the glide performance or to replace broken bearings (that won't turn properly or that are making a grating noise). It's very easy to do but you'll need the right tools to get the bearings out of the wheel cavity.

How to change the bearings on the FIT 500 adult skates
1. Use a skate multitool and a 4 mm Allen key to unscrew the axles and remove the wheels. Remember to lay the wheels out in front of you in the order they are on your skates. If you've already rotated them around a few times, it might be time to change them (see video tutorial).
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2. Insert the multitool into the centre of the bearing and push sideways to lever it out. The bearings might be reluctant to come out, but be patient and try turning the tool to exert pressure in several different places.

3. That's the hardest part over! Insert the new bearings (push them in using the multitool, if necessary) then put the wheels back onto the axle and then onto the skates.

Your new bearings are now ready and raring to go.

When riding on asphalt, the inside of your wheels will get worn away. It happens every time you brake or push off against the ground, and is an inevitable part of skating. It can reduce the wheel's lifespan and make skating less comfortable.
To reduce this wear and make your wheels last longer, we therefore recommend regularly swapping your wheels around (every 3 rides or so).

How to swap the 8 wheels around on the FIT 500 adult skates
1. Remove the wheels and lay them out in front of you in the order in which they were on your skates (front and back of the skate, inside and outside of the foot, and left and right foot).
2. Swap the back two wheels of the left skate with the front two wheels of the right skate.
3. Swap the back two wheels of the right skate with the front two wheels of the left skate.
4. Put the wheels back on in their new order, trying not to lose track of what's what (front right wheel becomes back left, its outside becomes its inside, etc.).
5. Handy tip: use thread lock to keep the screws tight and to protect the thread.

And just like that, you're ready to roll. Remember to swap the position of your wheels every 3 rides or every 30 km. Just remember, inside becomes outside, front becomes back, and left becomes right. Once you've got the hang of it, we promise it'll only take a few minutes.

If you regularly use the rear brake on your inline skates, you'll need to change it once the rubber is too worn to work effectively or the plastic of the brake bracket comes close to rubbing against the ground. Thankfully, changing a brake pad is child's play. Here's what to do.
It's worth noting that the brake pad is the rubber part of your brake. You can change the brake pad without replacing the bracket. So you don't even need to take the bracket off.

How to change the brake pad on the FIT 500 adult skates

1. Use two Allen keys to unscrew the axle that goes through the brake pad and holds it onto its bracket.
2. Insert the new brake pad.
3. Put the brake pad's axle back on and screw it into place.

And voilà! Your brake is as good as new!