I recently a acquired a PDX-yo Phidias. One of the reasons it intrigued me, was that a couple different sources mentioned it as being able to switch it’s response from unresponsive to fixed axle.
After poking around online, I couldn’t find any reference to it. Was this just a planned, proprietary mod PDX simply never got around to releasing? Has anyone out there with one of these done it? How’d you pull it off?
I found an oblique reference to bearing blanks on one search, but nothing directly relating to the Phidias, so I started with what I’ve got. I tried various responsive bearings from half-SPEC (which fit, but when both halves were together, there was a noticeable gap for the string to slip behind the bearing) to the generously lubed 10-Ball from my Deep State.
The 10-Ball kinda worked, but the Phidias just has standard pads in currently, not Flow-Groove. It’s not as narrow, either.
All I’m going off of is the bi-line on another retailer website, which mentions “From Fixed Axle to Unresponsive,” and an opening comment from Throws N’ Brews, where he mentioned something about a wooden mod being designed by PDX. Sure, it’s a bit…thin. I’m on a mission by this point. Fixie or bust!
I have a Phidias on the way so I was watching some reviews for fun and G2 Nate also talks about the wooden fixed axle kit. It sounds like they prototyped it and decided not to go to production with it.
No, I wasn’t aware silicone grease was a thing. I’ll give it a shot, though.
@Shapapy that’s what I was afraid of. In my mind, though, the yo-yo was still likely designed with the transition in mind—unless that was an after-thought, which could be the case. I wonder if something like the El Mijo’s fixed axle set up would work. Not sure if the axle is the same.
With some yo-yos you can use a shorter axle to get the half spec bearing to fit neatly in between the halves, but I can’t say if that will work for the Phidias. I’ve been interested in that one too for a long time, but have decided to get others instead. Maybe one day.
As someone who loves responsive yoyos and loves slimlines and particularly loves the intersection of the two, I took a long, hard look at the Phidias when it was released but I never pulled the trigger on it because I didn’t think it would work as well as I wanted it to as a responsive. Take what I say with a grain of salt, since I haven’t actually used one.
The things that turned me away were:
C Bearing (and apparently posts too tall for a half-spec) - I generally prefer small bearings. It just feels better to me.
C Bearing pads (narrow) - even with a half-spec bearing, I usually find 19mm pads don’t provide enough grip to work as well as some other options for responsive.
Response Bump - even though the Phidias has walls that seem high, the response bump means the binds aren’t going to be as tight and stalls may be more difficult.
If one of these things was different, I would probably own one, or at least have owned one, by now. Combined, it seems like the only options are packing the bearing with grease or trying a bearing blank, both of which seem suboptimal to me. (As a side note, similar concerns have prevented me from acquiring a Black Canon, although the flow groove might be better so I still look for one on the BST.)
None of this is to bash the Phidias. It looks cool and if you want an unresponsive slimline it is probably great.
In contrast, the El Mijo was designed with different criteria in mind.
D bearing
Wide custom response pads
The response “bump” goes halfway up the wall and then gently tapers
Came with multiple bearings and a D bearing blank to support different configurations.
Unfortunately, I would not expect the D bearing blank for the El Mijo to work well in a C bearing yoyo.
In regard to responsive lube, the aforementioned silicone grease or similar products work fine. Doc Pop likes to use the silicon grease from Traxxas (for RC cars). You can also try an R188 (2)RS bearing. I believe they are usually packed with grease and the rubber seal increases the friction a little too.
I do suspect that an El Mijo or RBC or Day Tripper would feel a lot closer to a fixed axle than this one though. But with some grease, this might be a really good semi-responsive.
I did some more digging online, and the Luftverk Bearing Blank is indeed what I found a reference to earlier. No mention at all of the fixed axle response in any official, or unofficial capacity from PDX.
It’s not a deal breaker at the end of the day. I wanted it as a nice, slimline unresponsive EDC, the whole fixed axle thing just made it so much more intriguing than others. I’m a big fan of throws that can switch between various response types.
I’ll give the silicone grease a shot, but a Half-SPEC alone just won’t work. The bearing post (?) is too tall, so it doesn’t matter how small an axle I put in there—the stock one is already pretty small. I also didn’t know that the El Mijo was a D bearing. I’m very unfamiliar with those. I did come across an older thread here in the mod section regarding modding a C bearing type yoyo to accept a D size bearing. I could be flipping it around in my memory, though. It might have been making a D accept a C.
As far as the response pads, while it’s not a convenient conversion, and certainly not one I could do on the fly…I’d considered using these extra thick 19mm pads. I think they’re for my DV888 when it’s responsive. They’ve got extra thickness, and protrude into the gap a little. I also considered using flowable silicone, and leaving it protruding into the gap, similar to how the 19mm OD Green pads would.
It is a bit of a bummer if they just decided to not produce the official mod. I wonder what changed. Did it just not work? No demand? Not sell enough of the Phidias? Too complex, maybe?
I agree that thicker pads, particularly ones that extend into the gap, will improve response, but the pads for the El Mijo are wider than typical pads. While it might be possible to modify the response groove of the Phidias to accept wider pads, that’s well beyond what I’m comfortable with trying. In addition to not having the right tools, it is also Al 7075.
Upper left: El Mijo 6061 - D bearing, custom pads
Lower Left: Weekender - A bearing, coreco pads(?)
Right: Kommune - C bearing, 19mm pads
Side note: I haven’t used flowable silicone much and only for recessed installation. How do you get it to extend past the edge of the groove? I would have expected it to try to “settle”.
Surface tension should allow it to very slightly poke out of the gap, but it would be very tricky to apply. I sort of did this with red gasket maker (not clear flowable silicon) in a Basecamp Sherpa. But I think I just made it flush with the gap; I’m loaning it out so I can’t check.
I don’t think I’ve ever put such thought into pads before—wow.
Basically what @safetypin said. It would be able to kind of…round out a bit. I figured I’d try the flowable first since it’s by far easier to work with than my Red Gasket Maker. If I couldn’t get it to maintain the form I wanted, I’d switch to the Red, which I have in 24hr cure and 90min cure for those days I just can’t wait lol.
The 90min stuff can be a pain, though. And messy. It would give the most control over the form and mass—it can almost be sculpted. So I have options in terms of modifying response.
I haven’t gotten around to picking the silicone grease yet. Though I’ve been wondering how difficult it would be to make an actual…fixed axle mod. Along the lines of PDX-yo was probably considering. Something where you just unscrew the throw, change the axle/bearing and good to go. The step that basically juts out of the thing is prime real estate to have something…clip or snap into place over it.
Anyone with a 3D printer wanna be my friend? I have candy!
I have made a fixed axel before by taking a chunk of plastic straw or heat shrink plastic, cutting it to length, then using hair dryer or heat gun to shrink-wrap the plastic around the center of the axel.
It works. It won’t last forever and you might have to re-do it, but it costs nothing, and is quick.
I think depending on the straw, or plastic you use, durability and shrinkage are factors.
But hey, it’s worth a shot and will literally cost you no money right?
I will add a caveat, I used an old axel. This could potentially make your axel unusable if you cover too much and get the plastic on the area where it needs to thread into the yoyo.
Why not try? It might be worth the few dollar risk if were to some how ruin an axel.
It just so happens that I have an 8 Ball flat bearing that I am not using. However I do not have nail glue. Every other kind of glue…Elmer’s, three types of super glue, wood glue, SFX Makeup/Prosthetic Glue…no…nail…glue.
Le Sigh.
Acetone breaks down super glue, though doesn’t it? I’m just asking if there was another reason for not using that. Like the forces exerted during a throw would likely break the balls, or something. (Sounds super weird )
Perhaps one of my 8 Balls will be sacrificed in the name of Amateur YoYo Science! and I’ll give a couple drops of super glue a shot. I’m sure the bearing lived a good life. It’s wife and kids will understand.
Awesome idea and solution, though! I tip my hat to you, sir!
I believe super glue should be nearly the same as this nail glue stuff and also should be dissolved by acetone or other solvents! It’s an old dirty 8 ball so sacrifice it!
Even if the glue breaks up due to forces exerted on it, we can always add more!
