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Presented by
This week's column:
How To Replace Boen Quad Rubbers
April 18, 2012
Hi, Bill: I am a Wollongong Illawarra Roller Derby skater and former speed skater for Oak Flats. I have an old pair of Boen racing plates. But the rubbers (aka: action rubbers or bushings) are deteriorating. I have looked for new rubbers. But the ones they make these days don’t fit the Boen plates. Do you know where I can buy replacements? - Vanessa (VishiousNess) from Australia.
Hi, Vanessa: Small world, isn't it? I was the speed coach at Oak Flats when the team ruled!
I also used to skate on Boen plates. Boen was a top speed company until inlines arrived at the World Championships in 1992.
Unfortunately, I doubt anyone in Australia still stocks the old Boen rubbers. There's not much demand for them.
But you might check with Gary Webber in Sydney or Five Ways (Currell family) in Brisbane. They were dealers during the quad era and might still have some spare parts bouncing around.
I don’t know if Boen, which is an Italian company, still makes the action rubbers for your plates. But you could check with them.
You may be able to reach them through their website.
If you still can't find what you need, try this: Buy a set of rubbers from another company, making sure they have the same size center bolt hole as your rubbers. Then grind down the new rubbers until they fit inside the holding cups of your plates.
You might want to buy rubbers made of urethane. In some cases, they are better.
Sorry I can't be more help on this. The truth is it's difficult finding replacement parts for older skates. As new technology arrives, the old stuff gets left behind.
Cheers, Bill
World renowned coach Bill Begg shares his vast knowledge of skating in his weekly advice column, "Ask Bill Begg!" ... Every Wednesday on the Inline Planet.
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