Yoyo Lubes

In order for the bearing to last a long time, you should lubricate it. But the problem is that if you lubricate the bearing, it will rotate less and it can even make the non-responsive yoyo responsive (returns with a tug).

• Yoyers usually dry / degrease / clean / clean the bearings with technical gasoline or gasoline for lighters. The dried bearing then rotates more and is completely unresponsive, which is desired for advanced tricks.

From time to time, small debris can enter the bearing, whether it is dust, pieces of string, or particles from the bearing itself. The bearing then does not behave as it should make a louder sound than usual and does not rotate smoothly, it may jam. At that point, it is good to clean the bearing.

You can recognize this, for example, by removing the bearing and turning it with your finger. If the bearing rotates for a few seconds only, it is time to clean it.

Bearing cleaning
Prepare a small container in which you pour enough Zippo petrol into the lighters (technical petrol or kerosene can also be used) so that the bearing is completely submerged.
Unclip the bearing – use a needle or a sharp pin to release the pins that hold the sides (tabs on the sides) of the bearing. It is not absolutely necessary but it will ensure better cleaning of the bearing. Then throw the bearing into the container, shake it a little and wait a while so that any dirt can wash out. Remove the bearing, dry it in a napkin and let it dry. You can speed up the drying process, for example, by spinning the bearing on a high-speed drill (Dremmel), where the bearing dries in a moment due to the centrifugal force.
– if cleaning did not help, feel free to repeat the process several times in a row.

Removing the bearing
The bearing can be removed in several ways:

• By hand – in some yo-yos it is simply by hand or the bearing itself falls out after unscrewing.
  
• Multitool – a special tool designed specifically for this operation. Coincidentally, if the axle is in the same half as the bearing, try unscrewing the axle before removing the bearing. Take extra care not to damage the yoyo or bearing.
  The Multiool fits into the inner dimension of the bearing, place it there and then remove the bearing from side to side.
• Pliers – there is a risk of bearing damage with this method and special care must be taken. Cover the bearing with a cloth or a cloth folded several times, then press it with pliers over the cloth so that you can manipulate it and, similarly to the Multitool, gradually remove the bearing with a rocking motion. Do not press the pliers with too much force to avoid damaging or even crushing the bearing.
• String -if you don’t have a multitool or pliers, there is still a trick with a string. Unscrew the yoyo, put the used string over the bearing and then screw in both halves again. The string should stay under the bearing the next time it is unscrewed, and then all you have to do is pull hard. Sometimes you need a little more patience and unfortunately it doesn’t work in 100% of cases.