# Measuring Gap Width? **URL:** \ **Category:** Yo-Yo Mods and Maintenance\ **Created:** [January 31, 2021, 7:38pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/measuring-gap-width/333250 "2021-01-31T19:38:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![djinni\_cake](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/djinni_cake/32/113245_2.png) [@djinni\_cake](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/djinni_cake)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 7:38pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/measuring-gap-width/333250/1 "2021-01-31T19:38:03Z")
I have a decent set of calipers (read: $40 set) with an “inner width” set of jaws, but they’re not long enough for most yoyos to measure the gap width. Am I using them wrong? Or is there a different / better way of measuring gap width? ---
**Author:** ![fatguysnacks247](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/fatguysnacks247/32/81478_2.png) [@fatguysnacks247](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/fatguysnacks247)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 7:42pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/measuring-gap-width/333250/2 "2021-01-31T19:42:47Z")
measure the width of the yoyo put together, then subtract the width of the halves ---
**Author:** ![djinni\_cake](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/djinni_cake/32/113245_2.png) [@djinni\_cake](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/djinni_cake)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 8:43pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/measuring-gap-width/333250/3 "2021-01-31T20:43:06Z")
That…sounds so simple, I feel silly for not having thought of it. Thank you!! ---
**Author:** ![fatguysnacks247](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/fatguysnacks247/32/81478_2.png) [@fatguysnacks247](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/fatguysnacks247)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 8:50pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/measuring-gap-width/333250/4 "2021-01-31T20:50:18Z")
well, it would seem so… but, when you think of it from the stacking of the bearing, the bearing seat, all these pieces parts fitting together… it can start to unravel very quickly, lol… sometimes the easiest answer isn’t always the easiest to find ---
**Author:** ![djinni\_cake](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/djinni_cake/32/113245_2.png) [@djinni\_cake](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/djinni_cake)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 8:57pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/measuring-gap-width/333250/5 "2021-01-31T20:57:29Z")
I hear that! I think I’m going to have to practice this, too. I did a couple of test measurements on some “known” yoyos and was off by as much as 0.7mm. Measuring the individual halves with the hollow cups is trickier than I’d expected. The half keeps tilting in the caliper jaws. ---
**Author:** ![fatguysnacks247](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/fatguysnacks247/32/81478_2.png) [@fatguysnacks247](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/fatguysnacks247)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 9:01pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/measuring-gap-width/333250/6 "2021-01-31T21:01:33Z")
if you’re having trouble getting the caliper to sit flush against the cup, add something thin but firm and level (think aluminum plate) for the caliper to sit uniform and flush against the entire yoyo half when you measure the yoyo half… then subtract that too… you’ll be adding an additional margin of error though… but this is the american way, a little bit’s good, more is better!! ---
**Author:** ![djinni\_cake](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/djinni_cake/32/113245_2.png) [@djinni\_cake](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/djinni_cake)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 9:12pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/measuring-gap-width/333250/7 "2021-01-31T21:12:17Z")
Thanks for all of the help with this, man! This is what happens when I play at being an engineer. ---
**Author:** ![fatguysnacks247](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/fatguysnacks247/32/81478_2.png) [@fatguysnacks247](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/fatguysnacks247)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 9:13pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/measuring-gap-width/333250/8 "2021-01-31T21:13:35Z")
engineer :wink::heart: happy to help my dude ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/8/5/3/853f249ca782bd526360f288103a90bd2dd42143.jpeg) > **[Order of the Engineer](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Engineer)** > > The Order of the Engineer is an association for graduate and professional engineers in the United States that emphasizes pride and responsibility in the engineering profession. It was inspired by the success of the Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer, a similar and much older Canadian ceremony, and has 245 active links (what the Order of the Engineer calls a chapter) across the United States. > Before joining, members must take an oath to abide by a code of ethics called the "Obligation of an Eng... ---
**Author:** ![DCM92Lude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@DCM92Lude](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/DCM92Lude)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 10:07pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/measuring-gap-width/333250/9 "2021-01-31T22:07:21Z")
Wouldn’t that be assuming the bearing seat meets in the middle? Does it? I’m not a yoyo designer and never used CAD, just something I thought of. ---
**Author:** ![DCM92Lude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@DCM92Lude](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/DCM92Lude)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 10:08pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/measuring-gap-width/333250/10 "2021-01-31T22:08:59Z")
I’ve noticed variance from manufacturers and vendors, but only by .2-.3 ---
**Author:** ![fatguysnacks247](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/fatguysnacks247/32/81478_2.png) [@fatguysnacks247](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/fatguysnacks247)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 10:25pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/measuring-gap-width/333250/11 "2021-01-31T22:25:03Z")
correct, the bearing will seat firmly against the well of each yoyo half. otherwise, the bearing posts would be essentially ‘mashed’ together, potentially damaging each other. there is also minimal contact surface there (and more on the surface of the bearing seat and the steel bearing)… also, if those two parts ( the bearing posts) were mashed together, the bearing could essentially ‘float in space’ until those to halves were crammed together just enough for it to be tight… this would give you some hella wobble had you done this, because, the bearing posts could/would’ve been misaligned. a discussion about vibe… the vibe mentioned above, caused by a misalignment of the bearing posts, can be caused by a misalignment of 1/100th mm… that is extremely negligible, but can be felt… don’t overtighten, or cram stuff… ---
**Author:** ![hobbygod](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/hobbygod/32/120997_2.png) [@hobbygod](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/hobbygod)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 12:03am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/measuring-gap-width/333250/12 "2021-02-01T00:03:04Z")
When I design throws in CAD I measure gap width from the top of the bearing seat lip (the little area that separates the bearing from the response pad) ---
**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 2, 2021, 4:21am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/measuring-gap-width/333250/13 "2021-02-02T04:21:20Z")
I’ve always used a feeler gauge set… ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/9/f/e/9fec5d2e89614605a43a27dba05deb1c28d24c4b.png) Stack 'em up, add 'em up :wink: