Kids will be kids, in that they buy stuff, play with stuff, and then eventually break stuff. My job is to repair the stuff they break. Which brings me to the Ripstik casterboard. There are three variations: Classic, Ripster, Ripstik G, and the DLX. My local group, which includes my Little Weed, rides on Classic, G, and DLX models. Two of their G models broke in the same manner, with two different boys, of different weights. My advice for Ripstik buyers is to steer clear of the G model. I apologize to all for y 6 month delay in posting this info, but I was distracted by work.
Sad is this story, for the two boys involved, because they are not rich and cannot throw money around. On their Ripstik Gs they were outside getting fresh air and exercise, but with this defect their boards are broken. They had to save up for their Ripstik G, and it was a sad day when I told them that I could not repair their boards and why. All they can now do with their Ripstik Gs are to try to find spare parts from a Classic or DLX. The Ripstik G casters have press moulded metal ball bearing housings that, once deformed through riding, can not be repaired. The only solution is to replace the complete caster. The Ripstik Classic and DLX models have a bearing housing that is tightened by a nut, which can then be tightened or loosened as required. If you for some reason lose a bearing you can loosen the housing, add a bearing and then retighten. This is impossible with the G.
Enough said. Let us see the proof, with photos. Our friend’s Ripstik G’s rear caster was rough, in like he could not spin it, making riding impossible. While riding around, the wheel stopped dead, throwing him off. On first observation, one of his bearings was wedged between the outer and the inner bearing housings. He could not push the bearing back into the housing. At our house I had to use a pin punch and a hammer to push the bearing back in, but alas, the bearing housing was loose, and we could feel the rattle. Back on the road for only a few seconds and another bearing actually fell out. This was not a one time event.
The Ripstik rear deck was carefully removed, thus exposing the rear caster.
Ripstik G rear deck removed, exposing the rear caster. Photo by Don Tai, Toronto, Canada
None of my socket set nuts were sufficiently large enough to remove the caster bolt, so I had to borrow a neighbour’s socket. Sorry I forget the size, but you need a thin walled socket. Thick walled sockets for an impact set are too thick and will not fit. We were able to remove the rear caster.
Ripstik G Rear Caster removed from the deck. Photo by Don Tai, Toronto, Canada
Once the rear caster was removed we looked for a way to tighten the ball bearing housing, so that balls would not fall out. What we observed was that the outer race housing was permanently bent, and that there is no way to tighten the housing. The housing is press bent tight at the factory and could not be adjusted in any way. I was also not able to reform the bearing housing, either by hand or by gently hitting it with metal tools.
Ripsik G rear caster: Note the top right of the bearing has a large gap vs the rest of the bearing. This is where the ball bearing can slip out. Also note the press fit housing, which cannot be adjusted. The Ripstilk Classic and DLX have a nut that you can loosen or tighten. Photo by Don Tai, Toronto, Canada
The Ripstik G’s caster has a ball bearing housing that is press fit by a hydraulic press, versus one that has an adjustable nut (Ripstik Classic or DLX). As the rider uses the Ripstik, over time this bearing loosens from its factory tolerance. Once the gap is large enough, and while the rider is on the board, flexing of the board opens the gap enough to allow bearings to fall out, wrecking the ride and therefore your Ripstik. There is no fix other than to replace the G caster with one from a Classic or DLX.
Ripstik’s parent Razor saved a couple of cents with their cheaper caster design, but in turn their G boards now do not even last a single season. This is just too bad. Now I have to try and find replacement castors or replacement boards for these two boys. This is an example of bad engineering and bad business. I could not tell this to the two local kids, for this would really hurt them.
