# Bearing maintenance
**URL:** https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259
**Category:** Yo-Yo Mods and Maintenance
**Created:** [July 15, 2020, 5:35pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259 "2020-07-15T17:35:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@PCaliyoyos](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PCaliyoyos)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 5:35pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/1 "2020-07-15T17:35:36Z")
can i use isopropyl alcohol to clean my yoyo bearings?
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### Author:  [@Yoyo\_slacker](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yoyo_slacker)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 5:46pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/2 "2020-07-15T17:46:56Z")
Yes 91%+ thats 91% alcohol and 9% water… so the higher % of alcohol the better. :+1:
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### Author:  [@PCaliyoyos](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PCaliyoyos)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 5:47pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/3 "2020-07-15T17:47:42Z")
i have 70% lmao… let me see if i have any higher.
Edit: i have some 91%. thank you!
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### Author:  [@Yoyo\_slacker](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yoyo_slacker)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/4 "2020-07-15T17:48:28Z")
Lighter fluid also works
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### Author:  [@Kyle](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Kyle)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 5:50pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/5 "2020-07-15T17:50:46Z")
i use that
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### Author:  [@TheHelveticaScenario](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/TheHelveticaScenario)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 5:55pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/6 "2020-07-15T17:55:30Z")
I’ve read on this site that many people are fans of acetone (e.g. nail polish remover) for cleaning bearings. Also worth mentioning that it is a pretty nasty chemical and should be treated as such.
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### Author:  [@PCaliyoyos](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PCaliyoyos)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/7 "2020-07-15T17:57:31Z")
thank you!
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### Author:  [@PCaliyoyos](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PCaliyoyos)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 6:47pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/8 "2020-07-15T18:47:03Z")
i can’t get the shield off… found the slot in it and have been prying at it for a half hour…
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### Author:  [@Kyle](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Kyle)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 7:19pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/9 "2020-07-15T19:19:31Z")
yup, this describes all of my bearings, the shield seems to be glued on
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### Author:  [@French](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/French)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 7:30pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/10 "2020-07-15T19:30:39Z")
I use a safety pin, and, keep in mind the ends of the C clips are cut differently. I try to get the end of the pin between the end of the clip and the inside surface of the outer bearing race. I try a couple of times, if I am unable to get it out, I switch to the other end of the C clip. Normally it just takes a few seconds to deshield the bearing.
I can try to make a video later today if you think it would be helpful.
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### Author:  [@PCaliyoyos](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PCaliyoyos)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 7:34pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/11 "2020-07-15T19:34:39Z")
that would be helpful… I tried switching pins but that didn’t help.
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### Author:  [@jeduardo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jeduardo)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 7:43pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/12 "2020-07-15T19:43:40Z")
Acetone (nail polish remover) works too.
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### Author:  [@PCaliyoyos](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PCaliyoyos)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 7:46pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/13 "2020-07-15T19:46:13Z")
thank you!
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### Author:  [@Yoyo\_slacker](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yoyo_slacker)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 7:53pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/14 "2020-07-15T19:53:43Z")
The angled cuts on c clip [15948426966201165724885|375x500](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/uploads/short-url/49uj5UR6bAwJZJV5vWtwnkslYb0.jpeg)
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### Author:  [@Mystik](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Mystik)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 8:42pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/15 "2020-07-15T20:42:27Z")
When a pin won’t work for me, I use a seam ripper/cutter. One handy sewing tool.
It’s designed to undo a bad seam by cutting the thread. Super fine tip on it.
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### Author:  [@Isaac](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Isaac)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 8:49pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/16 "2020-07-15T20:49:54Z")
You don’t need to take the shields off to clean and lube. Any debris that got in w/ the shields on will come out in the solvent w/ shields on. And you can use that same principle to lube the bearing, just set it on something, put a drop or so of lube onto the bearing (shields) and wait a bit. Wipe off the excess and you’re good.
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### Author:  [@YoyoGeezer](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/YoyoGeezer)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/17 "2020-07-15T20:55:07Z")
It is my opinion that attempting to maintain bearings is a waste of time and effort. Once you start messing with a bearing; it will never be the same.
All these problems can be solved quickly and cheaply: buy a new bearing.
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### Author:  [@Travelingyoyokid](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Travelingyoyokid)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 8:59pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/18 "2020-07-15T20:59:41Z")
I don’t clean my bearings. I just lube them. If the go out they’ll clean back up if you use them enough.
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### Author:  [@PCaliyoyos](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PCaliyoyos)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2020, 9:56pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/19 "2020-07-15T21:56:18Z")
got them off. 🙂
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### Author:  [@PCaliyoyos](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PCaliyoyos)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2020, 1:43am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-maintenance/324259/20 "2020-07-16T01:43:47Z")
the bearing spins less then before… going to try to paper method.
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