What is the best way to remove the caps from the aluminum peakhand? I haven’t been able to get one off with a suction cup and im a little afraid to go after it with a box cutter as i dont want to damage the caps or the anno.
I’m not sure if it’s like the Butterfly AL in that the axle hole was open into the cup. So I could take a small ball pump with a ball needle on it, wrap a little tape around the needle so it seals into the axle screw hole, give a few pumps and… POP!!
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Were you able to figure this out?
I haven’t had any success with anything. Even pushing with a steel rod from the axle hole doesn’t work. The caps just don’t budge at all
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Did you try a bike pump? What Slestak just described should work. You just need to make sure the tape surrounding the needle on the pump actually creates a firm enough seal so that the air actually pushes against the cap, instead of just blowing back out towards the pump.
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I did not, i did not have a bike pump with a needle like that and after playing the peakhand more i got used to the caps and was worried about potentially damaging it
You actually don’t need the needle, just make sure it’s sealed as tight as you can get it the air does the work
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Thanks! This works.
Previously I was taping the needle to the bearing seat, but that doesn’t seem to create vacuum.
Simply covering the needle with tape so it is snug in the axle hole works much better.
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Also I don’t have a manual bike pump. All I have is this electric-powered automatic car tire pump. That thing is super powerful and I can’t adjust the pressure down.
The cap popped off and flew across the room and scared the ■■■■ out of my dog!
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Lol paragraph 3
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FWIW, I don’t remember where the video was posted, but regarding removing Freehand AL caps the advice was to wrap everything in a towel to prevent hearing and cap (and pet) damage.
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When I use the air pump method, I place the yoyo cap-side down into a pillow. Muffles perfectly and leaves the cap exactly underneath the body.
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Something to think about if you ever decide to put in one of the new Mg caps, my caps have a small slit on the circumference where it would engage into the recess of the yoyo half. This meant that air can pass through it making it more difficult to pop out. I got around it by plugging it with bluetack and a sharp quick pump popped it out.
I happened to read this thread earlier this week and I’m glad I did! I didn’t know about the bike pump method, it’s really effective! And the caps made a really satisfying pop when they popped loose.
I have a Neon green FH1 and a blue/white FH1, and by switching the caps I was able to recreate one of my very first yoyo’s - a FHZ I bought in like 2008. Looked like this:
Here’s my FH1 now:
This gave me a happy nostalgic feeling for a time long past. 
And as an added bonus, the resulting green/white fh1 joins the green and white Freehand club!
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Some of the newer XT’s have CRAZY tight fits on their caps. I was working on modding one not too long ago, and the hand-pump and needle with tape wasn’t making a dent. I was so determined that I actually went to Target with the half and was trying to fit check it on the nozzle adapter pieces, haha.
Found a standing bike pump that had a plastic cone nozzle that JUST fit in there, which was also on sale conveniently. You talk about a loud pop, that sucker hit about 35 PSI before blowing off 
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