Bearing cleaning troubles

[MrHafleflaf]

So my bearings (abec 7's) were in a bad needing of a cleaning, I removed the seals with a safety pin they got a little bent up in the process, however i was able to flatten em out again. I used the paint thinner soak (4 hours) then rinsed them in 99% iso, after drying them out with a hairdryer and spinning them they seemed alot cleaner and spun way longer. I didn't have any grease so just to see how one would go i put the seal back on. It would hardly spin after i put the seal back on, is this because the seal got bent up? How would i do it next time as not to bend the seals? Can you just buy seals seperatley or am I screwed and need to buy new bearings?

[cabbageboy]

So my bearings (abec 7's) were in a bad needing of a cleaning, I removed the seals with a safety pin they got a little bent up in the process, however i was able to flatten em out again. I used the paint thinner soak (4 hours) then rinsed them in 99% iso, after drying them out with a hairdryer and spinning them they seemed alot cleaner and spun way longer. I didn't have any grease so just to see how one would go i put the seal back on. It would hardly spin after i put the seal back on, is this because the seal got bent up? How would i do it next time as not to bend the seals? Can you just buy seals seperatley or am I screwed and need to buy new bearings?

Hello

It is hard to say for sure without seeing them, but if they rolled nice before you put them on, it is probably the shields. What I usually do when I take them off is to cut the tip of a safety pin(making it flat-tip), and then carefully push the shield out from the backside(careful, so you dont poke a hole in the shield).
When I needed extra shields, I just went to my local skate shop and asked if he had anything laying around(they usually have some old bearings).

Looks like you can get loose shields here(sure other places too), Champion Bearing - Shields & Seals , but I have experienced that a different brand doesnt always fit(cant remember which brand I tried).
If you cant get it at your skate shop, e-mail these guys and check:

That was the first hit(on google) I checked, so I am sure you will find another shop if you cant find it here. (google is your best friend)

Hope you get it right=)
haveAnice1

[jaytoo]

As is oft repeated, how your bearings spin in your hand has nothing to do with how they'll spin when riding. Shields will always restrict free spin a little bit - this is normal, and you'll never notice it when riding. As long as the shields aren't coming into contact with the balls, you should be fine.

You definitely need lube before you ride, though. Running bearings dry works, but it'll kill them quick.

[EBasil]

A dry bearing with slop in it will spin so fast and long, without a load on it, but will bind and slow once you're standing on the board and even more when turning. Lube'em! If you don't have skate-branded lube, use oil-based chain lube for bikes (not wax-based), like Tri-Flow or Pro-Link Gold.

If you've gacked up some of your shields, check this out: you only need one per bearing. Put the "open" side toward the interior of the wheel and you're fine. It's also easier to clean them the next time.