If you've ever tried to remove the cups, you know how tight of a fit they are, and it is virtually impossible to remove the cup without marring the plate and likely breaking the tips off a few tools in the process!
 |
| This little hole is our saving grace! |
Some plates have a small hole on the back side of the plate to allow you to push the cup out, but not these - making removing the plate a fruitless effort. So, how to get these cups out without damaging the plate, breaking our tool, and stabbing ourselves in the hand?
Luckily, Sure Grip was nice enough to put a small hole in the bottom of the pivot cup. This hole allows air to escape from between the cup and the plate when installing the pivot cup; but more importantly for us, it gives us a handy way to remove the cup.
 |
| Nothing like a good screw. |
First, find an appropriately sized screw. I use a standard coarse-thread drywall screw, but pretty much any similar-sized wood or sheet metal screw should work (obviously, you want to make sure it's not a self-drilling drywall screw meant for metal studs, lest you end up with a hole in your plate and sole of your skate!).
If you want to make the process a little easier, you can put a drop of bearing oil in the bottom of the cup, but it is not necessary. To begin, drive the screw into the hole using a screwdriver. The king pin will be in the way a bit, but it's easy enough to work around. (You can remove the king pin of the Invader or XK-4 if you'd like, but it is not necessary, and the kingpin of the Avenger is not removable in any case.)
Once you drive the screw through the pivot cup and it starts pressing against the metal plate, the pivot cup will start to be forced up and out of the cup. Continue to drive the screw until the pivot cup is pushed up to the point where it starts spinning (usually this happens once it gets about 90% of the way out of the cup). At this point grab onto the cup with some pliers and pull it out the rest of the way. That's all there is to it!
 |
Starting to move! |
If you want to make the process a little easier, you can put a drop of bearing oil in the bottom of the cup, but it is not necessary. To begin, drive the screw into the hole using a screwdriver. The king pin will be in the way a bit, but it's easy enough to work around. (You can remove the king pin of the Invader or XK-4 if you'd like, but it is not necessary, and the kingpin of the Avenger is not removable in any case.)
 |
| Almost there! |
Once you drive the screw through the pivot cup and it starts pressing against the metal plate, the pivot cup will start to be forced up and out of the cup. Continue to drive the screw until the pivot cup is pushed up to the point where it starts spinning (usually this happens once it gets about 90% of the way out of the cup). At this point grab onto the cup with some pliers and pull it out the rest of the way. That's all there is to it!
 |
| Ta-da! |
Until we skate again!
Shocker
