# Tuning metal unresponsive yoyos is a lie. Unless they have Side Effects! **URL:** \ **Category:** Yo-Yo Mods and Maintenance\ **Created:** [March 11, 2014, 3:51am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539 "2014-03-11T03:51:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**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 22, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/41 "2014-03-22T00:27:34Z")
This thread made for some fascinating Saturday morning reading. =) Yuki ---
**Author:** ![Apollo2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/apollo2/32/1285_2.png) [@Apollo2](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Apollo2)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 12:30am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/42 "2014-03-22T00:30:24Z")
I had a yeti with CRAZY vibe. NOTHING fixed it. After tuning its dead smooth šŸ˜ƒ explain that! ---
**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 22, 2014, 12:33am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/43 "2014-03-22T00:33:37Z")
> [@Apollo2](#): > > I had a yeti with CRAZY vibe. NOTHING fixed it. After tuning its dead smooth šŸ˜ƒ explain that! Underpants gnomes did it. Yuki ---
**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:** [March 22, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/44 "2014-03-22T00:41:50Z")
> [@Apollo2](#): > > I had a yeti with CRAZY vibe. NOTHING fixed it. After tuning its dead smooth šŸ˜ƒ explain that! Iā€™m more interested in YOU explaining that. :wink: What kind of tuning did you do? Just moving the axle? Yetis are also plastic with spacersā€¦ thatā€™s another layer of movement thatā€™s possible in a way that all-metal yoyos canā€™t achieveā€¦ the topic title refers to metal. ---
**Author:** ![Apollo2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/apollo2/32/1285_2.png) [@Apollo2](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Apollo2)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/45 "2014-03-22T00:44:20Z")
> [@GregP](#): > > Iā€™m more interested in YOU explaining that. :wink: What kind of tuning did you do? Just moving the axle? > > Yetis are also plastic with spacersā€¦ thatā€™s another layer of movement thatā€™s possible in a way that all-metal yoyos canā€™t achieveā€¦ the topic title refers to metal. Teflon taping and screwing/unscrewing ---
**Author:** ![PlasticWhip](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/plasticwhip/32/896_2.png) [@PlasticWhip](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PlasticWhip)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:42am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/46 "2014-03-22T02:42:41Z")
I currently have a theory that itā€™s because no axle is straight, and always off a varying amount. Adding tape into the mixture allows you to re-balance the axle with something that can easily be manipulated ---
**Author:** ![oldedges](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/oldedges/32/586_2.png) [@oldedges](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/oldedges)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 3:27am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/47 "2014-03-29T03:27:21Z")
In the past I have gone as far as chasing the threads in the halves with a bottom tap, running the axle through a die, measuring the axle/subtracting the width of the bearing and dividing the remainder by two then putting loctite on the axle and screwing it in exactly half of the remainder. Then trying a half dozen different bearings until I find the one that that particular yoyo likes best. So yes, in my opinion yoyos can be improved upon or ā€œtunedā€. ---
**Author:** ![modman10](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/modman10/32/874_2.png) [@modman10](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/modman10)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 5:40pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/48 "2014-03-29T17:40:58Z")
> [@oldedges](#): > > In the past I have gone as far as chasing the threads in the halves with a bottom tap, running the axle through a die, measuring the axle/subtracting the width of the bearing and dividing the remainder by two then putting loctite on the axle and screwing it in exactly half of the remainder. Then trying a half dozen different bearings until I find the one that that particular yoyo likes best. So yes, in my opinion yoyos can be improved upon or ā€œtunedā€. Another reason for me to get some taps. I learned how to use them in a college class. ---
**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, 1:32am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/49 "2014-03-30T01:32:29Z")
> [@oldedges](#): > > In the past I have gone as far as chasing the threadsā€¦ My way of doing that was to roll small wads of paper and stuff them in the hole to the proper depth, then just put the axle in as far as the wads. ---
**Author:** ![legodudester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/legodudester/32/230_2.png) [@legodudester](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/legodudester)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 9:10pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/50 "2014-03-30T21:10:26Z")
tuning wont work with a YYJ Lyn Fury šŸ™‚ ---
**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 31, 2014, 2:01am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/51 "2014-03-31T02:01:54Z")
I donā€™t think anyone ever said it would. The ā€œadjustable gapā€ feature gives a wide range of positions. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/52 "2014-03-31T02:04:27Z")
> [@jhb8426](#): > > My way of doing that was to roll small wads of paper and stuff them in the hole to the proper depth, then just put the axle in as far as the wads. Iā€™ve done this, too. Strikes me as a very sensible way to create a depth stop! It didnā€™t yield any results, mind you. ---
**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 31, 2014, 2:06am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/53 "2014-03-31T02:06:50Z")
Nope. Never expected any. It was mainly done just to keep enough threads on both halves for good tightening. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2014, 2:12am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/54 "2014-03-31T02:12:02Z")
> [@jhb8426](#): > > Nope. Never expected any. It was mainly done just to keep enough threads on both halves for good tightening. Exactly why I did it, too. I did it on a Token, a yoyo already known as an easy stripper, and it has a very short axle. Might as well maximize threads per side and try to keep it in good shape! ---
**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 31, 2014, 12:42pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/55 "2014-03-31T12:42:08Z")
> [@GregP](#): > > Exactly why I did it, too. I did it on a Token, a yoyo already known as an easy stripper, and it has a very short axle. Might as well maximize threads per side and try to keep it in good shape! I hated that about the token. I never unscrewed mine. Maybe once or twice to switch out a bearing. ---
**Author:** ![rizki\_yoist](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/rizki_yoist/32/7925_2.png) [@rizki\_yoist](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/rizki_yoist)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 5:26pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/56 "2014-06-15T17:26:27Z")
Here is how I see it. The pic is a bit exaggerated, but basically I think thatā€™s the reason why some metal throws are tunable. In real world, the bearing seat and post might be only slightly off, but the whole yoyo could be totally unbalanced. This happened with my stripped supernova (you know yoyofactory are notorious for their tight bearing seat), the previous owner simply forced a bigger axle to fit, it worked but itā€™s ā€œlockedā€ in one side and not too straight, it still has vibe since the axle cannot ā€œwiggleā€, therefore itā€™s not only holding the yoyo sides together but also hold it at certain angle. Long story short I stripped that again and this time I had to drill the axle hole through and put longer axle, now it doesnā€™t vibe. This also happens on a cheap chinese yoyo I had, since the bearing seat (or post? the one that hold the bearing) is loose, I put some clear paint over the seat (or post) so the bearing fits snugly, it reduced vibe pretty dramatically. ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/4/d/6/4d6fe7855f734ab4b50ebf4cf2c111d87a677159.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![jasonwongzero](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jasonwongzero/32/725_2.png) [@jasonwongzero](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jasonwongzero)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/57 "2014-06-15T17:51:57Z")
The best technique I found for tuning yoyos was to mess with a variety of bearings. Bearings differ quite a bit both in their outer and inner diameters. Some bearings are tighter while others are looser. This made a huge difference in vibe. It was also a reliable and repeatable technique which didnā€™t require me to worry about a perfectly tightened yoyo. I ended up with a very wide assortment of bearings and just swapped them until I found something that worked. That said, I had little luck with the ā€˜aligningā€™ halves strategies. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2014, 1:53am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/58 "2014-06-16T01:53:20Z")
I think you guys are onto something with the bearing tightness. On the other hand, some yoyos feel downright ā€œlooseā€ in the bearing seat (the bearing will fall off if you invert the half) and still end up being smooth. Itā€™s all a mystery, I say. But trying different bearings is sure to help some throws. I definitely notice a difference between bearings in my new Flow. Theyā€™re ALL super-smooth, but a 10-ball gets it into ā€œare you kidding me?ā€ smoothness. ---
**Author:** ![jasonwongzero](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jasonwongzero/32/725_2.png) [@jasonwongzero](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jasonwongzero)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 2:06am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539/59 "2014-06-16T02:06:29Z")
Thereā€™s a definite correlation between a loose bearing seat and vibe. Iā€™ve reproduced this many times. Iā€™ve actually found that some of the cheap, generic concave bearings have a slightly larger outer diameter than other bearingsā€¦ those are my ā€˜ace in the holeā€™ bearings for a vibey throw. šŸ™‚ Jason [Previous page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tuning-metal-unresponsive-yoyos-is-a-lie-unless-they-have-side-effects/64539.md?page=2)