Endless Arc CS Setup Guide
This guide explains how to properly mount and align your new Endless Arc CS frames to you boot, and how to configure the 2-piece axles with the front and rear 76 mm wheels.
Frame Mounting
165 (Raised Heel Mount)
There are multiple mounting slots on the frame that will allow you to achieve centered and offset mounting on a variety of boots. The longitudinal slots allow for front-back adjustment so you can center the frame, or fine tune the position of the middle pivot points relative to the anatomy of your foot. Please note that very little lateral adjustment will be possible when using these slots, especially if your boot uses 5/16” frame bolts like Seba and FR. If you require lateral adjustment to correct anatomical issues like pronation or misalignment on carbon boots, the frame’s lateral slots are compatible with the rearmost threaded holes on 7-hole mounts that some boots have. We recommend always using a washer with your frame bolts, and applying fresh blue loctite every time you change your frame. This will give you the strongest and most reliable joint between the frame and boot.
For boots with only a single 165 mm frame bolt in the front and rear (like FR/Seba FRX, or Micro plastic boots): use the longitudinal slot to align the frame.
For Adapt boots: use the longitudinal slot to align the frame. You will have to remove the four Quattro mounting bolts for frame clearance. Some lateral adjustment may be possible due to the 6 mm frame bolts and float of the mounting bracket within the carbon shell.
For Rollerblade boots: use the longitudinal slot to align the frame. A small amount of lateral adjustment may be possible if your boot uses 6 mm frame bolts.
For boots with a 5-hole mount (like FR Spin): use the longitudinal slot to align the frame. Lateral offset may be achieved by using the outside threaded holes of the mounting pattern.
For boots with a 7-hole mount (like FR1, FR2, FR3, FR/Seba/Micro carbon boots): you may use the longitudinal or lateral slots to align the frame. With this mount type you have the flexibility to use 150, 165, or 180 mm spaced mounting (165 mounting is shown in the picture below). For a firmly fixed and centered mount, align the center threaded hole in the heel with the back of the rear slot, and the most forward threaded hole in the front with the front longitudinal slot. This will give you a 180 mm mount that locks the frame in all directions. Angular offset may be achieved by aligning the lateral slot with the rearmost threaded holes of the front 7-hole pattern.
Rocker Axles
Each Arc CS Frame set includes four (4) Black 2-piece Rocker Axles and (4) Silver 2-piece Rocker Axles. These allow you to configure the frame for different amounts of rocker. We call the standard setting Arc I Rocker. The Silver Axles allow skaters to explore two in between settings of increased rocker. When oriented dot down, the silver axles create a rockered experience approximating a well-worn set of wheels. We call this Arc II Rocker. The frame becomes more agile and swively at the expense of cruising stability. When the silver axles are oriented dot up, an even more aggressive rocker is achieved. The most extreme rocker is achieved when the black axles are oriented dot up.
- For the least amount of rocker orient black axle so that circular dot is facing DOWN.
- For the most amount of rocker orient black axle so that circular dot is facing UP.
- The Silver axles will give you in-between amounts of rocker.
Axle Configuration Summary
Rocker Setup | Rocker Intensity | Front Axle | Rear Axle |
Arc I | Standard (least rocker) | Black DOWN | Black DOWN |
Arc II | Moderate | Silver DOWN | Silver DOWN |
Arc III | High | Silver UP | Silver UP |
Arc IV | Extreme (most rocker) | Black UP | Black UP |
Figure Skate I | More rocker in front than rear | Silver UP | Black DOWN |
Figure Skate II | More intense version of Figure Skate I | Black UP | Silver DOWN |
We invite you to explore various combinations of dot up and down with the front and rear axles to create custom rocker profiles that suit your personal skating style. You can even mix black and silver axles for a rocker that emulates a figure skate as detailed above.
For wizard skating we recommend starting with the Arc I rocker setup.
Axle Installation
- Align the bearings, spacer, slot, and screw hole using a skate tool or a wooden pencil (see video). We recommend the Sonic Sports skate tool, which has a bearing alignment feature. When all these features are aligned, it will make inserting the axles much easier.
- Insert the black (or silver) Configuration Axle into the slot with the dot oriented up or down as required. The end of the axle should insert into the 6 mm hole on the far side of the frame, and the head should sit flush.
- Thread the 5 mm Axle Screw into the female threads of the Configuration Axle. Use a 4 mm hex key or skate tool to fully install the screw into the end of the axle. Once it stops turning easily, snug the screw about an extra 1/8th turn (see video). Do not overtighten.
- Carefully thread the three standard speed axles into the middle wheel positions. Do not overtighten.
Wheel Selection
The Arc frames use 76 mm wheels in positions 1, 3, and 5, and 68 mm wheels in positions 2 and 4. This mix of wheels gives a very low ride height and surprisingly good speed. The Arc CS will be faster than any 5x72 setup.
Through extensive testing we have concluded that the best rocker experience occurs when all five wheels have the same profile. We highly recommend that all five wheels either have a matched bullet profile, or a matched round profile. Do NOT mix wheel profiles. For example, if your 76 mm wheels are bullet profile, and your 68 mm wheels are round profile the rocker will be unpredictable and inconsistent as you transition through your edges. Matched sets of wheels can be purchased through our online store. We also recommend that the durometer (hardness) for all wheels be similar if possible.
Round profile wheels provide a little more stability at the expense of speed. Edges feel wide and continuous. Conversely, bullet profile wheels provide snappier edge transitions and faster speed.
It’s important to note that the Undercover “full” profile is different than bullet and round profiles. It has tapered side walls with a compound radius that transitions from a smaller radius on the inside/outside edges to a bigger radius on the center edge. There is presently no round profile Undercover wheel being manufactured in the U.S.A. We do not recommend mixing Undercover “full” profile with round or bullet profiles.
Recommended wheel sets:
- Bullet: Rollerblade Hydrogen or Endless 76 mm + Endless 68 mm (85A); Labeda Shooters 76/68 mm (82A); FR Junk Freestyle 76 mm (XFirm) ; Iqon Eqo 68, 76 mm (88A); Undercover Team Blank 76 mm (86A)
- Round: FR Street Invader 76/68 mm (84A); Undercover Apex 68 mm (88A)
Wheel Rotation
Wheel wear will always be unique to the way each individual uses their skates, and no two skaters will ever have wheels that looks the same after skating the same distance. The goal is to rotate wheels so that a consistent rocker and edge wear pattern is maintained before needing to replace the wheels. The more often the wheels are rotated, the more consistent the feel of the rocker will be between rotations. We recommend one of the following wheel rotation schemes:
- Flip each wheel in place to wear inside and outside edges evenly. This scheme may slightly exaggerate the rocker over time, as most skaters tend to wear their outer wheels more heavily.
- Swap 1L (front left) with 5R (rear right) and flip; swap 1R with 5L and flip; swap 2L with 4R and flip; swap 2R with 4L and flip, swap 3L with 3R and flip. This scheme will balance wear between left and right frames, and between the front and back of each frame.
Check out the following video where we discuss wheel rotation for Arc CS frames starting at 1:01:57: