After some time, after about 3 hours of pure yo-yoing time, it is good to replace the string. The old string no longer has such a strong color as the new one, it is greasy, dirty, inflexible and overall looks a lot used. You can tell easily, with a used string you are no longer feeling well. Try to untangle the knots as soon as they form. If this is not possible, replace the string.
Once you have determined that the string needs to be replaced, here’s how to do it. You grab the yoyo in your left hand and start untangling the string near the yoyo with your right hand. After a while, the eyelet around the bearing should be visible as it gradually enlarges. When the eyelet is wide enough, you can take it off the yoyo. So you don’t have to unscrew the Yoyo at all and it will last you much longer. Perform the same procedure with a new string. You grab it by the right end (not the one with the loop) and start twisting it slowly until a small eyelet appears at the end, which you then drag over the yoyo. You then roll the string back on the yoyo.
Sometimes it’s a good idea to shorten the string, especially to smaller yoyers, so that they don’t hit the ground so much and can yoy at all. The recommended length of the string is from the navel to the ground, for smaller yoyers, on the other hand, we recommend having the string a little longer. When the yoyo with the string is lying on the ground, grab the string by the navel and fold it. At this end, you make a classic knot so that the loop that is created there is neither too long nor too short, about 2 cm. Tighten the knot tightly and cut off the excess end. This created a new loop for you to pass through the rest of the string, and now you have a tightening loop that you attach to your finger.
If your bearing jams, growls, doesn’t spin as it should or is completely responsive (returning to a jerk though it shouldn’t), it’s most likely dirty . Don’t worry, this is a normal thing that happens to all yoyers. After a certain time, dirt, dust, a piece of string or hair gets into the bearing and it is necessary to clean it. After cleaning, the bearing should rotate easily, long and unresponsively (yoyo with a clean bearing should not return). Also, the clean bearing will not rotate completely quietly but will make a more or less loud sound when rotating.
To clean the bearing (in addition to the bearing itself) you will need: technical petrol for lighters (can be purchased at any newsagent), a smaller clean container with a lid, tweezers, a pin, a napkin or a piece of toilet paper and oil.
First remove the bearing from the yoyo. The bearing has sidewalls at the edges, which we recommend (it is not necessary) to put away so that all dirt from the bearing can get out. Take a pin and use it to remove a tiny wire from the bearing side that holds the side panel in place. One end of the wire is adjusted so that it points away from the bearing, so find it and take the wire out with a pin. Watch your fingers! You do not have to return the sidewalls with the wires to the bearing at all, because it is good to clean the bearing regularly, so you will save work next time. Put the encapsulated bearing in a container in which you pour a little technical petrol so that the entire bearing is below the surface. Shake the glass and let it stand for a while (approximately 15 minutes). Then use tweezers to remove the bearing from the container and place it on a napkin to dry. After a while, place the bearing on the tweezers and turn it as much as possible. If the bearing rotates properly, for a long time, does not rattle and does not brake, congratulations, you have cleaned the bearing correctly. If not, clean the bearing once more, even several times, until the bearing is properly cleaned. At the end, you can drip a few drops of oil into the bearing . The bearing will run smoother and not so noisy, it will also last longer, but it will rotate a little less. So if you want your bearing to be responsive (it returned a yoyo to jerk your hand), lubricate it a lot with oil.
The bearing needs to be removed if you are going to replace or clean the bearing. There are two basic ways to remove a bearing from a yoyo. You can use Yoyofactory Multitool or suitable pliers.
Carefully rock the bearing from side to side until it falls out. Sometimes it can happen that the bearing holds very firmly on the yoyo. In that case, you have to use a little more force and shake a lot more. If you use pliers, you can put a cloth between them and the bearing to avoid scratching the bearing or yoyo. The basic advice is to be very careful, the bearing and the surface of the yoyo can be easily damaged. When returning the bearing, place the bearing lightly on the yoyo and squeeze it with your thumb.
Then, after screwing in the yoyo, be very careful again. Tighten the Yoyo firmly, but not too much to avoid damaging the thread. Never drag a yoyo!
After a moment of yo-yoing, the string happens tangled. And that’s not good, then the yoyo is harder to wind and spin, and most importantly, you’ll just never do any tricks with a tangled string. And so here is this tutorial that will teach you how to untangle a string. The easiest way, especially suitable for beginners, is to take the string from your finger and grab the yoyo in your hand so that the string hangs freely under it. The string unravels nicely on its own. You can still grasp the string between your thumb and forefinger of your other hand and go from top to bottom on the string.
There are two other ways for more advanced yoyers. The first of them is probably the most used. Throw the yoyo into the Sleeper, hold the string in your non-throwing hand. It is important that you do not hold the string firmly, but have it just a finger hooked, it must move freely. Then just pull the throwing hand up and at that moment put the other hand next to the yoyo. The string begins to untangle. This method goes both ways, so after one attempt to untangle, check to see if the string has actually untangled. If not, untangle it on the other side, so put your hand on the other side next to the yoyo. The last method is suitable for very advanced yoyers. The string is unwound using a UFO trick, Sidewinder, etc.
The same check of the string applies to all methods to ensure that the string is unwound correctly. You can tell this by putting a yoyo and the end of a string with a loop like on. If the string does not twist, you have won.
The return system in the yoyo is a very important thing to take care of. Different names of return systems are used, such as pads, stickers or snow tyres. These vary according to thickness, width and manufacturer. In all cases, it is a small wheel that sticks on one side and is coated on the other side with a special rubber that allows the yoyo to be returned to the hand.
It is best to remove the old pad with something sharp, but be careful not to scratch your yoyo. Once the pad is out, you need to check the groove for old glue, pieces of string or any other dirt. If there is such a thing left, it is important to clean the groove properly so that the new return system sticks as well as possible. Then take a new pad, peel off the paper from the adhesive side, and gently stick the pad into the groove. Finally, you can swipe your finger across the pad to hold it firmly. Do it like this on both sides of the yoyo and you’re done.
And how to know when the return system needs to be replaced? It’s simple, the yoyo spins a little and returns poorly. If you change the pad, always take a look at our site to find out what your yoya uses for a particular return system.