In this video we show you how to properly install roller skate toe stops to prevent damage to the threads, plate and boot.
Hi, this is RollerGirl from RollerGirl.ca and I'm here today to talk to you about a user
maintenance problem that we've been seeing a lot lately with stoppers.
Having to do with the improper installation of the stoppers and the damage that this can cause
to your plates.
So, basically what is happening is that people are not installing their stoppers deeply enough
into the plates.
So, as you can see here, we have the threads in the plates for the stopper to thread into
And especially with a stopper like this short stem Gumball, we're seeing people only threading
their stoppers in a couple of threads.
Now, if your stopper is only threaded in a couple of threads, it makes it really easy for it to
tear those threads out.
So you're running on your stoppers or you fall and you hit the stopper from the side and it
breaks the threads inside the stopper, and tears the stopper out.
We see this happen all the time.
Now, with a plate of this sort, it actually causes quite a bit problems to have this happen
because the threads are actually, threaded directly into the plate itself.
So, if you wreck them, you can retap them but they will never be as good as they were before.
If you have a plate that's plastic, like this, it's less of a problem in that you can just remove the plate from your boot, remove the insert, from the plate, replace it with a new one and you're good to go again.
But, in any case, it's an easy problem to avoid.
You just have to make sure that you're threading your stoppers deep enough.
You want to make sure that you have at least half an inch of thread inside the plate.
So, talking about, about that much stopper bolt needs to be threaded into the plate to secure it
there, to anchor it there properly.
Now, as I mentioned before, it generally is a much larger problem when you're talking about a
short stopper, like this.
If you are skating with a stopper that has a short stem, you must thread that stopper all the
way into the plate for it to be safe.
If you have a longer stem stopper, then you can have your stopper lowered quite a bit and still
have half an inch of threads inside the plates.
While I'm here talking to you about improper installation of stoppers, I'd like to show you
another quick problem that we've been seeing as well.
It's not quite as serious as the last problem but, it still is, um, it can be annoying for some
people.
This problem is actually caused by the opposite: by people with very long stem stoppers who want
their stoppers installed all the way up into the plate.
Now I'm not installing the washer the or the Locking nut here, just so you can see more clearly
what I'm talking about.
But with a long stem stopper like this, if you thread it all the way in, all of a sudden you
have all of this exposed bolt in the back that presses into the bottom of your boot.
Now, we have replaced plates on people's skates.
Taken them off to find nearly holes through the base leather of their sole, caused by their
stopper stem being too far adjusted up.
So you want to make sure that if you do have a long stem stopper that you only adjust it to the
point where it is flush.
See, right now it is flush.
No part of this stopper stem is going to be sticking into your boot, causing you discomfort, or
damaging your boots.
So that's everything for today.
Happy skating!