# Axle Preferences **URL:** \ **Category:** General Yo-Yo\ **Created:** [January 26, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660 "2013-01-26T17:54:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jbritter3](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jbritter3/32/1265_2.png) [@jbritter3](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jbritter3)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/1 "2013-01-26T17:54:19Z")
Just Wondering… What length axles do you prefer? ---
**Author:** ![GregP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gregp/32/1192_2.png) [@GregP](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GregP)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/2 "2013-01-26T18:01:00Z")
I didn’t know there were options! I would think that an axle that goes all the way to the end of the female threads, and then just shy of the end of the matching female threads on the other side (a smidgen of wiggle room so that the bearing is never loose). Sure, one side might have 1mm more bearing than the other, but I can live with that. Trying to tune a REALLY floating axle would be a nightmare anyhow. I don’t know how people do it. ---
**Author:** ![jhb8426](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jhb8426/32/631_2.png) [@jhb8426](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jhb8426)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/3 "2013-01-26T18:06:06Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever used other that what the yoyo came with. Always seemed adequate to me so why mess with it. ---
**Author:** ![jasonwongzero](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jasonwongzero/32/725_2.png) [@jasonwongzero](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jasonwongzero)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/4 "2013-01-26T18:12:51Z")
Titanium axles are kind nice because they’re hard to warp. ---
**Author:** ![jbritter3](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jbritter3/32/1265_2.png) [@jbritter3](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jbritter3)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/5 "2013-01-26T19:01:44Z")
the reason I ask length is, well on my C3 Token, the axle gets stripped easy, people say its from a short axle right? But other yoyo’s have that size axle and do fine right? Anyways, I’m about to prototype a throw, and I didn’t know if you guys would prefer longer than an 8 mm axle. ---
**Author:** ![jhb8426](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jhb8426/32/631_2.png) [@jhb8426](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jhb8426)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/6 "2013-01-26T20:30:18Z")
Oh, ok. I guess everything I have hasn’t had a problem that way. They’ve all fit right from the start. My feeling would be you need at least 3/16 inch in the thread on either side. ---
**Author:** ![jbritter3](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jbritter3/32/1265_2.png) [@jbritter3](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jbritter3)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/7 "2013-01-26T21:19:43Z")
yeah I’d agree. I have an idea to fit that with an 8mm axle, If anyone is interested I can post pictures. ---
**Author:** ![GregP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gregp/32/1192_2.png) [@GregP](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GregP)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/8 "2013-01-27T04:05:01Z")
Ah, yes… the Token has an axle that is too short. No idea why they did that to an otherwise decent little throw. If you figure out a way to rectify the Token’s “short axle problem,” I’d definitely like to hear about your success. ---
**Author:** ![YourBBQ](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yourbbq/32/7926_2.png) [@YourBBQ](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/YourBBQ)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/9 "2013-01-27T04:07:43Z")
I like the YoyoFactory 12 mm axles. They are not too long, or too short. ---
**Author:** ![Yonut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yonut](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yonut)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 6:16am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/10 "2013-01-27T06:16:17Z")
Anything titanium or with a helicoil. ---
**Author:** ![dynikus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/dynikus/32/812_2.png) [@dynikus](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/dynikus)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 8:26am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/11 "2013-01-27T08:26:00Z")
I feel the longer the better, as long as it’s not sticking out of the hubs. That said though, my delicious has the absolute shortest axle I’ve ever seen, but it still stays together fine. (unrelated, I just opened up my crucial to take pics of the axle, and a response pad fell out! guess it’s been a while since I’ve used it. haha) ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/7/e/0/7e0b8b8aa3237f15a8dfa082ca36103411deef5c.jpeg) ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/9/b/4/9b4ddf0218c508389aeeda62f7cf99a1683823f9.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![jbritter3](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jbritter3/32/1265_2.png) [@jbritter3](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jbritter3)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/12 "2013-01-31T18:28:10Z")
> [@GregP](#): > > Ah, yes… the Token has an axle that is too short. No idea why they did that to an otherwise decent little throw. > > If you figure out a way to rectify the Token’s “short axle problem,” I’d definitely like to hear about your success. I feel like it’s possible to drill each side a little deeper and throw in a little longer axle. ---
**Author:** ![Schnayke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Schnayke](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Schnayke)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/13 "2013-01-31T19:14:50Z")
I like the axle hole to have not threads at first, like the side effects have, or like a fhz style. ---
**Author:** ![GregP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gregp/32/1192_2.png) [@GregP](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GregP)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/14 "2013-01-31T19:24:32Z")
> [@Schnayke](#): > > I like the axle hole to have not threads at first, like the side effects have, or like a fhz style. Imagine if all manufacturers used side effects? Wonder if there’s enough room in the side effects form factor (ie. taking out the tapped threads) for a Spin Dynamics helicoil insert…? 🙂 Every yoyo that supports side effects could then also get helicoil inserts… There is so much potential in the SE design… ---
**Author:** ![Schnayke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Schnayke](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Schnayke)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/15 "2013-01-31T19:55:53Z")
I have a mg with helicoils, love those things. ---
**Author:** ![jbritter3](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jbritter3/32/1265_2.png) [@jbritter3](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jbritter3)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/16 "2013-01-31T21:06:38Z")
> [@GregP](#): > > > [@Schnayke](#): > > > > I like the axle hole to have not threads at first, like the side effects have, or like a fhz style. > > Imagine if all manufacturers used side effects? Wonder if there’s enough room in the side effects form factor (ie. taking out the tapped threads) for a Spin Dynamics helicoil insert…? 🙂 Every yoyo that supports side effects could then also get helicoil inserts… > > There is so much potential in the SE design… what are helicoil inserts? ---
**Author:** ![GregP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gregp/32/1192_2.png) [@GregP](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GregP)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/17 "2013-01-31T21:10:35Z")
Basically threaded inserts. Instead of tapping the threads directly into the halves to accept an axle, you tap for (or otherwise affix) an insert with threads. In the case of Spin Dynamics, they use stainless steel inserts, which should ideally wear longer and resist stripping. The axle is generally made of a metal of the same hardness (or could be softer) than the stainless steel; whereas often an axle is stronger than 6061 aluminum, meaning that for your typical 6061 metal yoyo, you’ll damage the harder-to-fix aluminum rather than the axle. ---
**Author:** ![jbritter3](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jbritter3/32/1265_2.png) [@jbritter3](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jbritter3)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/18 "2013-01-31T23:10:22Z")
> [@GregP](#): > > Basically threaded inserts. Instead of tapping the threads directly into the halves to accept an axle, you tap for (or otherwise affix) an insert with threads. > > In the case of Spin Dynamics, they use stainless steel inserts, which should ideally wear longer and resist stripping. The axle is generally made of a metal of the same hardness (or could be softer) than the stainless steel; whereas often an axle is stronger than 6061 aluminum, meaning that for your typical 6061 metal yoyo, you’ll damage the harder-to-fix aluminum rather than the axle. very interesting. how do the inserts stay in? ---
**Author:** ![jhb8426](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jhb8426/32/631_2.png) [@jhb8426](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jhb8426)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/19 "2013-02-01T00:43:17Z")
> [@jbritter3](#): > > very interesting. how do the inserts stay in? Generally the hole is tapped for the OD of the insert, then the insert is screwed in. They are actually used in a lot of non-yoyo related application. It’s a very old solution to the thread stripping problem. In fact I nursed my old lawn mower along for another 5 years by using helicoil inserts for the head bolts. ---
**Author:** ![jbritter3](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jbritter3/32/1265_2.png) [@jbritter3](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jbritter3)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 3:11pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660/20 "2013-02-03T15:11:49Z")
> [@jhb8426](#): > > > [@jbritter3](#): > > > > very interesting. how do the inserts stay in? > > Generally the hole is tapped for the OD of the insert, then the insert is screwed in. They are actually used in a lot of non-yoyo related application. It’s a very old solution to the thread stripping problem. In fact I nursed my old lawn mower along for another 5 years by using helicoil inserts for the head bolts. hmm that’s pretty cool, though, with the extra machining costs to do that… I think I’d rather have the usual system and just buy another axle, especially if you get them in bulk and an axle is 5 cents. [Next page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-preferences/48660.md?page=2)