# Anybody know how to remove protostar death spacers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Yo-Yo Mods and Maintenance\ **Created:** [March 15, 2019, 1:04am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anybody-know-how-to-remove-protostar-death-spacers/300120 "2019-03-15T01:04:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnnyJ](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/johnnyj/32/94616_2.png) [@JohnnyJ](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/JohnnyJ)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 1:04am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anybody-know-how-to-remove-protostar-death-spacers/300120/1 "2019-03-15T01:04:55Z")
Without breaking them preferably. My bearing in this guy needs a solid clean but the spacers just won’t let go ---
**Author:** ![anon5341354](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@anon5341354](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/anon5341354)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 1:13am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anybody-know-how-to-remove-protostar-death-spacers/300120/2 "2019-03-15T01:13:06Z")
Pretty much impossible. I used a flat head screwdriver but it damaged them a lot. Those spacers are one of the worst designed parts I’ve seen in a yoyo. ---
**Author:** ![knowledgeablepixels](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/knowledgeablepixels/32/38636_2.png) [@knowledgeablepixels](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/knowledgeablepixels)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 1:19am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anybody-know-how-to-remove-protostar-death-spacers/300120/3 "2019-03-15T01:19:37Z")
if the bearing is stuck on the side without the axle, you can use the axle to wiggle the bearing off a bit. [the yeti video](https://youtu.be/5ID1i_gica0) has some methods ---
**Author:** ![andy569](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/andy569/32/1256_2.png) [@andy569](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/andy569)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 2:23am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anybody-know-how-to-remove-protostar-death-spacers/300120/4 "2019-03-15T02:23:20Z")
I don’t understand why YYF keeps making more runs but not updating the design. Anyway you can pry it out with a flathead or a pin, it’ll dent them a bit but won’t break them so it’ll still be usable. ---
**Author:** ![noodles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/noodles/32/36467_2.png) [@noodles](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/noodles)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 8:33am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anybody-know-how-to-remove-protostar-death-spacers/300120/5 "2019-03-15T08:33:17Z")
pliers? ---
**Author:** ![YoYoExpertGarrett](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyoexpertgarrett/32/1543_2.png) [@YoYoExpertGarrett](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/YoYoExpertGarrett)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 4:06pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anybody-know-how-to-remove-protostar-death-spacers/300120/6 "2019-03-15T16:06:24Z")
> [@Clean Northstar bearing with deathgrip spacers?](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/clean-northstar-bearing-with-deathgrip-spacers/296507/3): > > ![IMG_7645.JPG](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/c/5/1/c51b60586b0fac7e3983bbd5c0bc0accc61b6bdf.jpeg) > > ![IMG_7644.JPG](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/6/a/3/6a3922d3a0a888c90dc118bd63a230f9b011c2a2.jpeg) I shared this in another thread - Find a tiny flathead screwdriver and just pry them off gently. Like @andy569 said it may dent the spacers a little, but they’ll still work fine. ---
**Author:** ![AaronW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/aaronw/32/49251_2.png) [@AaronW](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AaronW)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 5:09pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anybody-know-how-to-remove-protostar-death-spacers/300120/7 "2019-03-15T17:09:19Z")
I just bought extras, whenever I need to take the bearing out I just replace them. Too much of a headache trying to get them off without any damage. ---
**Author:** ![yoyospirit](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyospirit/32/219875_2.png) [@yoyospirit](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/yoyospirit)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anybody-know-how-to-remove-protostar-death-spacers/300120/8 "2019-03-15T17:46:52Z")
Use a thin knife, I prefer the blade from a box cutter. Just be very careful while doing so. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/4/7/9/479964ba4aedb3cd550156ea2620b2bbf68e7d37.png) ---
**Author:** ![YoYoExpertGarrett](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyoexpertgarrett/32/1543_2.png) [@YoYoExpertGarrett](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/YoYoExpertGarrett)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 6:59pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anybody-know-how-to-remove-protostar-death-spacers/300120/9 "2019-03-15T18:59:27Z")
Wouldn’t prying with a razor blade just chip the blade? ---
**Author:** ![yoyospirit](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyospirit/32/219875_2.png) [@yoyospirit](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/yoyospirit)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 7:00pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anybody-know-how-to-remove-protostar-death-spacers/300120/10 "2019-03-15T19:00:34Z")
Depends on the type of blade. A kitchen knife might chip, but blades from box cutters are generally more flexible. ---
**Author:** ![YoYoExpertGarrett](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyoexpertgarrett/32/1543_2.png) [@YoYoExpertGarrett](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/YoYoExpertGarrett)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 7:03pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anybody-know-how-to-remove-protostar-death-spacers/300120/11 "2019-03-15T19:03:36Z")
I’ve chipped/broke a few trying to pry things in the past, but that might have just been corners now that I think about it. I always just think of them as too fragile for anything other than cutting. I’ll have to give it a shot next time.