# Axle stuck in Side Effects - any tips for removing? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Yo-Yo\ **Created:** [October 4, 2023, 9:05pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926 "2023-10-04T21:05:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![knotgreen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/knotgreen/32/199292_2.png) [@knotgreen](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/knotgreen)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 9:05pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/1 "2023-10-04T21:05:56Z")
![PXL_20231004_210157766](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/8/3/3/83387bf51d5c0fd7b62edecdde6bd3cd118a6d05.jpeg) I went to swap the bearing on my Markmont Classic and noticed that the axle is stuck on one of the Side Effects. I’ve tried grabbing the axle with pliers and can’t seem to twist it out. Any tips? ---
**Author:** ![CatFoodScience](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/catfoodscience/32/206708_2.png) [@CatFoodScience](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/CatFoodScience)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/2 "2023-10-04T21:10:13Z")
> [@Double Nut method to Remove an Axle](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/double-nut-method-to-remove-an-axle/26304): > > Often times, it is difficult to remove an axle from a yoyo. Some people say to use a pliers, maybe putting tape on the axle to prevent wrecking the threads. Here’s a safer method. Try the “double nut” method. You thread on two nuts, tighten them to each other, then just put a wrench on the lower one. This is done by holding the upper nut in place while tightening the lower nut to it. With the nuts locked apply force to the lower nut in the correct direction to loosen. This comes up enough that… ---
**Author:** ![venom](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/venom/32/79619_2.png) [@venom](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/venom)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/3 "2023-10-04T21:12:03Z")
Someone correct me if i’m wrong but i don’t think that the axles are supposed to come out of the SE completely. All of my SEs seem to have the axle ‘stuck’ in one half. I think its by design. ---
**Author:** ![Captrogers](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/captrogers/32/647012_2.png) [@Captrogers](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Captrogers)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 9:14pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/4 "2023-10-04T21:14:02Z")
The se’s i have I can see some red (what i assume is) loctite on one side I don’t think they come fully apart like that. ---
**Author:** ![SR1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/sr1/32/104603_2.png) [@SR1](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SR1)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 9:15pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/5 "2023-10-04T21:15:28Z")
> [@knotgreen](#): > > I’ve tried grabbing the axle with pliers Careful, you could strip the threads super easily doing this and render the SE’s useless. I have tons of SE yoyos and even more SE’s, and I believe @venom is correct - it’s this way by design. Not sure what you would need to remove it for. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/6 "2023-10-04T21:24:00Z")
One Drop uses threadlocker to keep the axle in one half of the side effects. If you insist on removing it, you would have to heat up the axle enough that the threadlocker melts. Take the O-Ring off before you do so and obviously be careful not to burn yourself. ---
**Author:** ![knotgreen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/knotgreen/32/199292_2.png) [@knotgreen](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/knotgreen)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 9:33pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/7 "2023-10-04T21:33:31Z")
Hi all, I clearly made a mistake here. I didn’t realize that the axle is to remain in one half of the SEs. Some of my SEs can be unscrewed easily from both sides of the axle, and I notice now that many do not. In my haste, I definitely marked up the threads on the axle, which really stinks. It still screws together ok but I can feel a bit of resistance from what I’ve done. I guess no harm no foul, though of course this happened with a pair of SEs I cannot easily replace! (Do OD release them ever?) Anyway, trying my first Markmont string (Night Moves) and am going to forget about this and enjoy throwing outside on this unusually balmy October evening! Thanks for the replies. ![PXL_20231004_213303348](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/5/9/3/593369d81fba4e48415ba1dee1875ee45328073b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Pun1sh3R](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/pun1sh3r/32/193125_2.png) [@Pun1sh3R](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Pun1sh3R)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 10:04pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/8 "2023-10-04T22:04:11Z")
Yes, the axel will come out of the side effect. I have removed the axel from several One Drop Side Effects without Heat. **If you ever use pliers on the threads of the Axel, without protecting the treads, plan on replacing the Axel** Using the correct tools always helps. The Double Nut Method above is the Safest. Standard Pliers are not good for this task. Look at getting a pair of these; Crescent RT24 Pliers ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/a/f/5/af54017df16fab6fc52bbf08cb0a28b7f9680112.jpeg) You can always buy another Side Effect if you damage that one. ---
**Author:** ![Shapapy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/shapapy/32/141199_2.png) [@Shapapy](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Shapapy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/9 "2023-10-04T22:25:06Z")
> [@Pun1sh3R](#): > > You can always buy another Side Effect if you damage that one. Those are Markmont SE’s. Gonna have to scour the BST for another set of those. ---
**Author:** ![knotgreen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/knotgreen/32/199292_2.png) [@knotgreen](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/knotgreen)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 10:35pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/10 "2023-10-04T22:35:07Z")
Yeah, they screw together fine but upon further inspection my inclination is to try the double nut method to remove the SE so as to not damage the other half with the marked up threads. I dont know if there’s legitimately any risk of my doing so, but it’s better to be safe. In the meantime, I’ve popped in a pair of ULs and it looks pretty awesome! (And ugh… if anyone is selling some Markmont SEs hit me up?) ![PXL_20231004_223215051](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/d/e/e/deecb20357cc7dda180a35fe49141df44713e07b.jpeg) ![PXL_20231004_222503313](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/3/f/d/3fd42f8e6b9173be8f68980e63975cb0e40b828e.jpeg) ---
**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:** [October 5, 2023, 12:52am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/11 "2023-10-05T00:52:58Z")
> [@knotgreen](#): > > In my haste, I definitely marked up the threads on the axle, which really stinks. It still screws together ok but I can feel a bit of resistance from what I’ve done. I guess no harm no foul, though of course this happened with a pair of SEs I cannot easily replace! (Do OD release them ever?) If you know someone with a tap and die set you should be able to run that through a die to straighten out the threads. Not sure what a die of the right size would be but check a hardware store. If that is not an option you could just buy a nut of the proper thread size and run that over the axle a few times. That may straighten them out well enough. ---
**Author:** ![knotgreen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/knotgreen/32/199292_2.png) [@knotgreen](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/knotgreen)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 1:06am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/12 "2023-10-05T01:06:09Z")
Thanks, I’m going to try the latter. ---
**Author:** ![Pun1sh3R](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/pun1sh3r/32/193125_2.png) [@Pun1sh3R](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Pun1sh3R)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 1:13am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/13 "2023-10-05T01:13:37Z")
Do NOT screw that axel back into the other half. If you look at the left side threads in that picture, they are flattened and messed up. If you scre this into the other side effect, because syeel is harder than aluminum, the axel will deform the threads. Carefully remove the axel from the side effect. Clamp/Hold with pliers. You can use Electrical tape around the alluminum to help prevent from marring it. I recommend the pliers I showed you above. The teeth are angled to aid in gripping the axel to get it to turn. You need a new axel. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![knotgreen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/knotgreen/32/199292_2.png) [@knotgreen](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/knotgreen)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/14 "2023-10-05T01:55:03Z")
Sometimes you just gotta cut your losses. WTB post forthcoming… Thanks again for the input, everyone. Lesson learned. At least the yoyo is fine! ---
**Author:** ![TheThrowingGnome](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/thethrowinggnome/32/14231_2.png) [@TheThrowingGnome](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/TheThrowingGnome)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 2:03am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/15 "2023-10-05T02:03:32Z")
As I recall the axles are secured into the SE with loctite or something. The axle should be able to be removed and replaced though. Worth a shot since Markmont SEs are hard to come by. I would email One Drop and ask them or pm @The_Machinist or @da5id. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2023, 2:24am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/16 "2023-10-05T02:24:26Z")
I can guarantee they would recommend people do not try to remove the axle 😆 But the best way I’ve found to remove them is heating up the axle with a grill lighter. It will take a couple minutes, but when the threadlocker melts the axle comes out very easily. Removing it with force and pliers will almost surely damage the side effect itself. ---
**Author:** ![TheThrowingGnome](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/thethrowinggnome/32/14231_2.png) [@TheThrowingGnome](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/TheThrowingGnome)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 2:51am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/17 "2023-10-05T02:51:08Z")
Didn’t say it would be recommended, just possible. Definitely worth a try since he already damaged it. ---
**Author:** ![knotgreen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/knotgreen/32/199292_2.png) [@knotgreen](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/knotgreen)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 2:51am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/18 "2023-10-05T02:51:51Z")
Yeah, I’m an idiot. I’ve spent a lot of time and energy futzing with this now and I realize my mistake. I do wish I’d done so with a pair that’s not going to be so challenging to replace! I need to cut my losses and so I’ve posted a WTB. I’m thankful that the yoyo isn’t damaged and I do appreciate all of the good advice here. Lesson learned 🥲 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Machinist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a4c791/32.png) [@The\_Machinist](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/The_Machinist)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 3:38am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/19 "2023-10-05T03:38:04Z")
Ugh you guys. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Machinist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a4c791/32.png) [@The\_Machinist](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/The_Machinist)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 3:40am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926/20 "2023-10-05T03:40:51Z")
Yeah they’re glued in with red loctite(generally considered non-servicable). Ping Mark Montgomery to see about buying replacements. [Next page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/axle-stuck-in-side-effects-any-tips-for-removing/385926.md?page=2)