# Gold Center Trac or KonKave Ceramic? **URL:** \ **Category:** Looking for Help/Recommendation\ **Created:** [November 4, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898 "2013-11-04T15:28:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FoolsGoldDigger](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/foolsgolddigger/32/7928_2.png) [@FoolsGoldDigger](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/FoolsGoldDigger)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/1 "2013-11-04T15:28:00Z")
Which is better for play, and spins longer, and lasts longer before wearing out? ---
**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:** [November 4, 2013, 6:00pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/2 "2013-11-04T18:00:37Z")
> [@FoolsGoldDigger](#): > > Which is better for play, and spins longer, and lasts longer before wearing out? Better? Preference. Spins Longer? Who knows. Anybody who tells you they know doesn’t actually have the facts to back it up. Suffice it to say, they both spin long enough. Lasts Longer? Allegedly ceramic. Both will last long enough to make the question academic. What are you replacing? ---
**Author:** ![NathanC](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/nathanc/32/891_2.png) [@NathanC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/NathanC)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 6:07pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/3 "2013-11-04T18:07:58Z")
lol don’t bother with either. Buy the cheapest concave or CT bearing you can find, there’s really no difference between them all. I say this having owned massive amounts of bearings ranging from $1 to $30. Expensive bearings aren’t worth the premium and in a blind test i guarantee no one could tell the difference over a large enough sample size. ---
**Author:** ![FoolsGoldDigger](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/foolsgolddigger/32/7928_2.png) [@FoolsGoldDigger](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/FoolsGoldDigger)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/4 "2013-11-04T21:09:27Z")
> [@GregP](#): > > Better? Preference. > Spins Longer? Who knows. Anybody who tells you they know doesn’t actually have the facts to back it up. Suffice it to say, they both spin long enough. > Lasts Longer? Allegedly ceramic. Both will last long enough to make the question academic. > > What are you replacing? Im replacing a terrapin X that no longer spins ---
**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:** [November 4, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/5 "2013-11-04T21:18:52Z")
> [@FoolsGoldDigger](#): > > Im replacing a terrapin X that no longer spins Unless you have reasons not to, I would contact Terrapin; they seem to stand behind their product. Then you don’t need to buy either. :wink: ---
**Author:** ![sparhawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@sparhawk](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/sparhawk)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 11:27pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/6 "2013-11-04T23:27:51Z")
I prefer the centertrak to the KK since it has the flat middle area to allow for more layers myself ---
**Author:** ![FoolsGoldDigger](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/foolsgolddigger/32/7928_2.png) [@FoolsGoldDigger](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/FoolsGoldDigger)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 3:46am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/7 "2013-11-05T03:46:43Z")
> [@GregP](#): > > Unless you have reasons not to, I would contact Terrapin; they seem to stand behind their product. Then you don’t need to buy either. :wink: Its not Terrapins fault it stopped spinning. I got some dist or dirt I guess stuck in the bearing. You can hear the “grinding” inside the bearing as it spins. If thats the right word to use. But Im away at school so im not home to clean it. So for the times being i need a replacement. I just decided to buy 2 OneDrop 10 balls for the same price of 1 Gold Center Trac. This way I save money and have 2 great bearings over 1. and Im starting to prefer flat bearings versus concave anyway. especially after playing with a terrapin for months. ---
**Author:** ![Midlifeyoyoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Midlifeyoyoman](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Midlifeyoyoman)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/8 "2013-11-05T04:03:29Z")
> [@FoolsGoldDigger](#): > > Im replacing a terrapin X that no longer spins Did it ever dpin very good? I have a new one that only spins for 3 seconds from a flick. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2013, 4:08am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/9 "2013-11-05T04:08:50Z")
> [@FoolsGoldDigger](#): > > Its not Terrapins fault it stopped spinning. I got some dist or dirt I guess stuck in the bearing. You can hear the “grinding” inside the bearing as it spins. If thats the right word to use. But Im away at school so im not home to clean it. So for the times being i need a replacement. > > I just decided to buy 2 OneDrop 10 balls for the same price of 1 Gold Center Trac. This way I save money and have 2 great bearings over 1. and Im starting to prefer flat bearings versus concave anyway. especially after playing with a terrapin for months. Oh, OK. I thought you meant it was defective. All bearings need some maintenance from time to time. :wink: OD 10-balls are great as I’m sure you know. I hate that screechy break-in period, but then the bearing is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Bonkajenko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ea924/32.png) [@Joe\_Bonkajenko](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Joe_Bonkajenko)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/10 "2013-11-05T15:36:44Z")
I’ve got a gold center trac and one timei had a knot and was OpenGL my yoyo up and I guess apiece of dust flew cuz now it doesn’t work at all. If it was shielded this never would have happened. I’m kinda pissed that they don’t send it shielded. ---
**Author:** ![FoolsGoldDigger](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/foolsgolddigger/32/7928_2.png) [@FoolsGoldDigger](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/FoolsGoldDigger)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/11 "2013-11-05T16:11:06Z")
> [@Midlifeyoyoman](#): > > Did it ever dpin very good? I have a new one that only spins for 3 seconds from a flick. The terrapin spins fantastically. Very loud. but very good. ---
**Author:** ![FoolsGoldDigger](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/foolsgolddigger/32/7928_2.png) [@FoolsGoldDigger](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/FoolsGoldDigger)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/12 "2013-11-05T16:12:07Z")
> [@Joe\_Bonkajenko](#): > > I’ve got a gold center trac and one timei had a knot and was OpenGL my yoyo up and I guess apiece of dust flew cuz now it doesn’t work at all. If it was shielded this never would have happened. I’m kinda frustrated that they don’t send it shielded. I know. That’s kind of a bummer. You have to be extremely careful with it. The original CTX’s did not have shields and I got dust in it on the first day. ---
**Author:** ![NathanC](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/nathanc/32/891_2.png) [@NathanC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/NathanC)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 4:32pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/13 "2013-11-05T16:32:56Z")
> [@Joe\_Bonkajenko](#): > > I’ve got a gold center trac and one timei had a knot and was OpenGL my yoyo up and I guess apiece of dust flew cuz now it doesn’t work at all. If it was shielded this never would have happened. I’m kinda frustrated that they don’t send it shielded. Clean it? ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Bonkajenko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ea924/32.png) [@Joe\_Bonkajenko](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Joe_Bonkajenko)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/14 "2013-11-06T00:56:42Z")
I did but it still doesn’t play as well. ---
**Author:** ![FoolsGoldDigger](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/foolsgolddigger/32/7928_2.png) [@FoolsGoldDigger](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/FoolsGoldDigger)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/15 "2013-11-06T17:43:08Z")
You might have to be careful with what you clean it in because its gold. And DO NOT lube a gold bearing. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/16 "2013-11-06T17:55:11Z")
Gold bearings aren’t actually gold. And you can lube it if you want. Out of curiousity, if it WAS actually gold, what’s the negative effect of lube on gold? ---
**Author:** ![TyBigonet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/50afbb/32.png) [@TyBigonet](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/TyBigonet)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/17 "2013-11-06T20:23:59Z")
They are gold plated. I personally like ceramic bearings, and I do find they get notably longer spin times. I’m also curious as to why lube is bad for gold 🙂 > [@GregP](#): > > Gold bearings aren’t actually gold. And you can lube it if you want. > > Out of curiousity, if it WAS actually gold, what’s the negative effect of lube on gold? ---
**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:** [November 6, 2013, 9:21pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/18 "2013-11-06T21:21:29Z")
From YoyoWiki, which is admittedly not the be-all, end-all source of all things yoyo: > [@](#): > > Gold > The gold bearing got its name from the colour it became due to the treatment process it was given. The gold colour wears off after a few hours of play. It was commissioned by Taka in Japan and initially showed promise of being even better than the ceramic bearings. However, these bearings have shown a decrease in performance in a relatively short period of time after using them in a yo-yo and cannot be cleaned. They have only been sold at Spingear and Infinite Illusions and newly stocked at YoYoExpert at [Yo-Yo Bearings – YoYoExpert](http://shop.yoyoexpert.com/product/487/Gold-Plated-Bearings). I’m not sure why YYE has the term “gold-plated” if it’s not true; however, I’m inclined to believe the article. Why? I suspect that actual gold is too soft for the kind of abuse the inside of a bearing faces. I feel that it would wear off quickly at the points of friction, leaving debris and severely hindering performance. However, I’ve never done a test (if Wiki is right, there’s no such thing as a true gold bearing to do the test anyhow!), so I can’t say that’s a fact. Now the article references the flat bearing, but I strongly suspect that the Center Trac uses the same treatment process, producing a gold colour but not being actual gold. ---
**Author:** ![TyBigonet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/50afbb/32.png) [@TyBigonet](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/TyBigonet)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/19 "2013-11-06T21:50:22Z")
I have heard of gold plated skateboard bearings, although only in passing. I don’t believe it’s legal for them to state that it’s gold plated without it being true. ---
**Author:** ![anonyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@anonyo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/anonyo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898/21 "2013-11-06T22:27:06Z")
I was watching one of those shows, either “How it’s made” or something like that. Anyhow, I think they were talking about making something for the aerospace industry and they showed several processes to the metal part, one of the processes turned the silver-looking metal(I think it was aluminum but I could be very wrong, it’s been a long time since I saw it) into a gold color, which they said was a result of one of the treatment processes. The part didn’t look like real gold, but it did have a gold color. I think they said it was something done to increase durability or reduce wear. [Next page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/gold-center-trac-or-konkave-ceramic/60898.md?page=2)