# Bearing Shields **URL:** \ **Category:** Yo-Yo Mods and Maintenance\ **Created:** [March 28, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002 "2014-03-28T21:59:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yoyobrandon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyobrandon/32/1407_2.png) [@yoyobrandon](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/yoyobrandon)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/1 "2014-03-28T21:59:09Z")
Are the bearing shields necessary? Do yoyos play better with out them? ---
**Author:** ![yuki\_onitsura](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yuki_onitsura/32/1162_2.png) [@yuki\_onitsura](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/yuki_onitsura)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/2 "2014-03-28T22:03:32Z")
Doesn’t affect the play of the yoyos at all. Basically, their entire job is to keep dust and grit out of the bearing as much as possible. I’ll usually leave mine on unless I need to clean out the inside of the bearing at which point they’re removed and pretty much tossed in the trash because I’m really too lazy to put them back in. Yuki ---
**Author:** ![Erik\_kerber](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/erik_kerber/32/7939_2.png) [@Erik\_kerber](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Erik_kerber)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 10:06pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/3 "2014-03-28T22:06:01Z")
It doesn’t matter if the shields are in or out the yoyo play’s the same. The only thing removing the shields doe’s is make it easier to clean the bearing. I have removed all the bearing shield on my yoyo’s but it really doesn’t matter if there in or out unless your planning on cleaning your bearing. ---
**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:** [March 28, 2014, 10:28pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/4 "2014-03-28T22:28:55Z")
without shields can make it spin a tad longer and makes them a little quieter, I play all mine without shields ---
**Author:** ![Yoyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/41988e/32.png) [@Yoyo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yoyo)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/5 "2014-03-29T00:05:05Z")
> [@jbritter3](#): > > without shields can make it spin a tad longer and makes them a little quieter, I play all mine without shields Only if they are slightly warped. ---
**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:** [March 29, 2014, 12:07am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/6 "2014-03-29T00:07:25Z")
> [@Yoyo](#): > > Only if they are slightly warped. no, it doesnt matter if they are warped or not, it’s still slight added friction which can slow it down just a tad and makes it louder. ---
**Author:** ![yuki\_onitsura](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yuki_onitsura/32/1162_2.png) [@yuki\_onitsura](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/yuki_onitsura)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/7 "2014-03-29T01:44:44Z")
I’m sure deshielding would make it spin a teeny tiny bit longer but I seriously doubt that anybody would notice a difference in spin time of less than 1 second. Yuki ---
**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:** [March 29, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/8 "2014-03-29T01:45:31Z")
> [@yuki\_onitsura](#): > > I’m sure deshielding would make it spin a teeny tiny bit longer but I seriously doubt that anybody would notice a difference in spin time of less than 1 second. > > Yuki true, i think itd be more than a second, but yeah i meant a tiny bit ---
**Author:** ![Pajamas](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/pajamas/32/1486_2.png) [@Pajamas](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Pajamas)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 2:02am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/9 "2014-03-29T02:02:47Z")
Theoretically the shield doesn’t touch anything except the outer race as seen here ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/4/d/c/4dce5aff669ed9a79f5f2e788b1939f97fbc12f8.jpeg) So theoretically there isn’t any friction between the shield and anything. We don’t live in a perfect world though, so there probably is some but nothing to realistically increase/decrease spin times. If there was then everyone would be using deshielded bearings. ---
**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:** [March 29, 2014, 2:13am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/10 "2014-03-29T02:13:21Z")
That’s a good point. Mostly I don’t use shields cuz the bearings I use don’t come with them and they’re quieter without. ---
**Author:** ![yoyobrandon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyobrandon/32/1407_2.png) [@yoyobrandon](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/yoyobrandon)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/11 "2014-03-29T17:21:09Z")
Thanks everybody! ---
**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:** [March 30, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/12 "2014-03-30T01:27:47Z")
> [@jbritter3](#): > > That’s a good point. Mostly I don’t use shields cuz the bearings I use don’t come with them and they’re quieter without. Frankly I think that’s just your perception. Shields are not a noise generator in any form. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2014, 1:30am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/13 "2014-03-30T01:30:58Z")
> [@jhb8426](#): > > Frankly I think that’s just your perception. Shields are not a noise generator in any form. maybe your right, maybe i’m just a little stubborn, i’d rather hear it from you than anyone else :wink: ---
**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:** [March 30, 2014, 1:33am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/14 "2014-03-30T01:33:36Z")
I have been known to be wrong a couple of times in my life. :wink: ---
**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:** [March 30, 2014, 1:35am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/15 "2014-03-30T01:35:14Z")
> [@jhb8426](#): > > I have been known to be wrong a couple of times in my life. :wink: a lot of people are wrong when they are 5 :wink: anyways, i’m always glad to hear you chime in with your opinion. ---
**Author:** ![MattB](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/mattb/32/14529_2.png) [@MattB](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/MattB)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 2:12am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/16 "2014-03-30T02:12:41Z")
Great for fine tuning the weight on a yoyo. :wink: ---
**Author:** ![northstarrocks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/839c29/32.png) [@northstarrocks](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/northstarrocks)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/17 "2014-03-30T16:03:05Z")
I would say they might affect the yoyo a wee little bit. Especially if they were warped. ---
**Author:** ![atomictoyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@atomictoyguy](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/atomictoyguy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/18 "2014-03-30T17:07:13Z")
As someone who knows a thing or two about bearings from purchasing them for industrial maintenance. The shield is there to do just as it’s name suggests, shield the bearing. Shield it from contaminants. Do you need it in your yoyo? To keep your bearing performing at it’s peak the longest it would be best to keep them in. But if you are like me and travel with your yoyo in a dedicated holster rather than your pocket or backpack then you are likely ok to rock it with out. As in those conditions your throw is much less likely to pick up dust, dirt and lint. Do I use shields? No, I generally find that they are more work than they are worth to pull out and put back in every cleaning. So mine go in the trash. I figure it doesn’t actually take that long to clean a bearing and the time saved of not having to deal with them is a bonus. I do keep shields on until their first cleaning though. If you carry your throw in your pocket, backpack or other place that might have other items and debris tossed in with it then in that case I would totally recommend keeping shields on. ---
**Author:** ![Pajamas](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/pajamas/32/1486_2.png) [@Pajamas](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Pajamas)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/bearing-shields/65002/19 "2014-03-30T17:14:35Z")
I would think much could get in there anyways, between the yoyo halves covering nearly the entire bearing and the sting wraps doing the same.