# When do replace/retire a bearing? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Yo-Yo\ **Created:** [April 13, 2025, 10:28pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/when-do-replace-retire-a-bearing/423031 "2025-04-13T22:28:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![neonfishingrod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@neonfishingrod](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/neonfishingrod)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 11:13am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/when-do-replace-retire-a-bearing/423031/21 "2025-04-14T11:13:46Z")
> [@SleeperHit](#): > > 0.24 to replace where are you getting decent bearings for 24c??? every time i order cheap bulk bearings they suck. pls share secret ---
**Author:** ![Bobparty](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/bobparty/32/302913_2.png) [@Bobparty](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Bobparty)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 11:49am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/when-do-replace-retire-a-bearing/423031/22 "2025-04-14T11:49:29Z")
I was curious as well ---
**Author:** ![Bobparty](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/bobparty/32/302913_2.png) [@Bobparty](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Bobparty)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 11:50am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/when-do-replace-retire-a-bearing/423031/23 "2025-04-14T11:50:14Z")
I have some relatively old bearings, but I feel like there are just some no matter what I do won’t get clean. Which will happen, but in theory they should last longer than I feel they are!! You do the compressed air after the lube? I thought generally it was supposed to be before? Educate me!!! ---
**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:** [April 14, 2025, 2:16pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/when-do-replace-retire-a-bearing/423031/24 "2025-04-14T14:16:07Z")
> [@Bobparty](#): > > You do the compressed air after the lube? I use the air to blow out the solvent, then I lube the bearing and use the air to spin it fast. I feel it distributes the lube and blows out the excess. ---
**Author:** ![SleeperHit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@SleeperHit](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SleeperHit)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/when-do-replace-retire-a-bearing/423031/25 "2025-04-14T16:59:13Z")
Note sure if I can mention it here (not a yoyo store but bearings that can be used for yoyos). If so, please remove. Ningbo Bearing Inc., they are on a major Chinese market site. More quiet than YYF’s, a pleasant constant rattle. $0.24 is after I optimize and subsidize the shipping with other items from China using a forwarding service. For C, you want UR188 KK, 10-ball Stainless Steel. For D you want U685ZZ. I converted a Henrys Viper AXYS to a modern response using a Yoyojoker Response Offstring Unit meant for their EX system. That way I wouldn’t have to use Turbo Discs for it (and keep them for the TK yoyos). I’ve got a Ningbo D in there for 4A since I couldn’t figure out how to disassemble the AXYS to get its bearing. Want to see it perform? I swapped the stock bearing in a Shell Yoyo 001 Plastic for a Ningbo. The yoyo feels like a beefier Stelvia X-SP with a more aggressive H shape and fatter rim. You can see it start to wobble around 4:13. [Ningbo bearing in a Shell Yoyo 001 Plastic](https://youtu.be/uKU48dlnARs) ---
**Author:** ![Yoyo\_carter](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyo_carter/32/211636_2.png) [@Yoyo\_carter](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yoyo_carter)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 10:57pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/when-do-replace-retire-a-bearing/423031/26 "2025-04-15T22:57:18Z")
I’m probably not the best person to speak on this topic but in my seven years of yoyoing I’ve never had to clean a bearing. I’ve replaced a handful as I’ve had a few break somehow. I’ve never had any issues caused by not cleaning my bearings so I will most likely continue to never clean them. ---
**Author:** ![Bobparty](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/bobparty/32/302913_2.png) [@Bobparty](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Bobparty)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/when-do-replace-retire-a-bearing/423031/27 "2025-04-15T23:03:24Z")
Never!?!?! ---
**Author:** ![Yoyo\_carter](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyo_carter/32/211636_2.png) [@Yoyo\_carter](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yoyo_carter)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 11:16pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/when-do-replace-retire-a-bearing/423031/28 "2025-04-15T23:16:05Z")
Not a single time :joy: ---
**Author:** ![GTDropKnot](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gtdropknot/32/212400_2.png) [@GTDropKnot](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GTDropKnot)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 11:30pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/when-do-replace-retire-a-bearing/423031/29 "2025-04-15T23:30:32Z")
> [@Yoyo\_carter](#): > > I’ve replaced a handful as I’ve had a few break somehow How do you know they just didnt need to be cleaned ---
**Author:** ![Yoyo\_carter](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyo_carter/32/211636_2.png) [@Yoyo\_carter](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yoyo_carter)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 11:35pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/when-do-replace-retire-a-bearing/423031/30 "2025-04-15T23:35:43Z")
They might’ve needed to be cleaned but I threw them out because I was a little too rough with pliers and damaged them ---
**Author:** ![SlowThrow](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/slowthrow/32/307451_2.png) [@SlowThrow](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SlowThrow)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 11:40pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/when-do-replace-retire-a-bearing/423031/31 "2025-04-15T23:40:14Z")
That’ll do it ---
**Author:** ![Hunto47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Hunto47](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Hunto47)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 11:57pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/when-do-replace-retire-a-bearing/423031/32 "2025-04-15T23:57:08Z")
Are they available concave? ---
**Author:** ![SleeperHit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@SleeperHit](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SleeperHit)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 2:41am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/when-do-replace-retire-a-bearing/423031/33 "2025-04-16T02:41:38Z")
Yes, the “U” in front of the standardized metric bearing ID code is their way of saying it’s concave. It is truly rounded concave, not YYF/Central Bearing’s center track (flat center area) also known as T-type. Curve radius can be and is often different from Dif-e-yo patented KonKave (since expired). It’s the method by which I usually ID bearing manufacturer (among other aspects). Ningbo’s are particularly shiny. Ningbo C: ![Ningbo C](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/2/a/b/2ab40a5bc70cf05c8221c77518c6b4da0575481c.jpeg) Ningbo D: ![Ningbo D](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/6/1/2/612c34d7e01656698e3f0118ba80bca230a85265.jpeg) [Previous page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/when-do-replace-retire-a-bearing/423031.md?page=1)