HSPIN NVX Bearing Issue

[dt0xin]

Hey guys,

I picked up and hspin nvx a while ago and I'm super happy with it. Very nice to throw.

I noticed on the box it said to use some clean fuel or spirit to clean the bearing out for 'experienced' users. I wasn't going to clean it out but it was just WAY too grabby out of the box. I could get it to come up at a light tug which is disappointing for unresponsive play.

I went out and grabbed some lighter fluid (zippo premium) as I've seen lighter fluid recommended at many places and the box also said to use a clean fuel.

Anyways, this bearing has a bit of plastic in it on the side wall.. I know that lighter fluid and spirits can damage plastic but I figure it must be some resistant form of plastic in the bearing as it said right on the hspin box to do that.

I dropped the bearing in for about 30 - 1min and I swished it around and such.

Threw it back on, and man... total crap! It's noisy, that's to be understood, but it is so grabby now it's unreal. It comes up at the slightest tug. I popped it back out again and put it on the end of a pencil to try and spin it.. I spin it as hard as I can with my finger and it doesn't even spin for a second once I stop.so I thought, hmmm maybe something is in there and if I keep spinning it will come out. Threw it back in the yoyo and just started throwing down for a good 20-30 minutes. Nothing... even worse... sleeps for maybe 15 seconds with a HARD throw and comes up at a twitch.

Any suggestions? Is this bearing borked? Did I do something wrong?

I've cleaned my center trac bearing on my dv888 like this times before and no issues what so ever...

Any help or suggestion is appreciated.

[Schnayke]

If it is a lubed bearing you really should leave it in longer, take the shields off (if they are on) and re-lube with light lube, some go as far as putting it on the head of a pin and just wiping the pin around in the bearing.   
I don't personally clean bearings, i have found that simply taking the shields off and playing it for an hour or two will do  the trick, and if I want too speed up the process just dropping a drop of thin lube(Yoyojam) in the bearing and play it out, switch the string often during this time since it soaks up the lube, cotton also helps. 

[Namtaro]

It seems to me that the problem is when you cleaned the bearing, you didn't remove the shields, otherwise all the gross stock lube inside would've been cleaned off. Take off the shields, pop it back in lighterfluid and shake vigorously for a minute. Then do the usual stuff. Spin on a pen to make sure it's cleaned and spinning, put a pin sized drop of lube and you're done.

Here's a video on how to clean bearings. (Shows how to remove shields) If your bearing is the type that doesn't have c-clips, you'll have to get a flathead screwdriver (jeweller's type which is just a really small one) jam it in the edge (not too deep), then pry it out.

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[dt0xin]

Thanks for the info guys.

However, this bearing does not have shields on it. When I spin it it feels like it's grinding on something. Even when you spin it slow with your finger on it... very distinct grinding feeling. Looking inside the balls look fine..

Does that info help?

[dt0xin]

Just thought I'd add an update.

I took your advice Schmaybe and I cleaned it once again - but this time I left it in for longer. I did this a bunch of times actually, then I would spin it on a pen, back in the fuel for a few min, spin on a pen. After doing that about 5 times it was running like a dream. Good finger spin would give me about 4-5 seconds or so of bearing spin.

Let it dry out, threw it back in to my yo... played great for about 20 minutes... then all of the sudden it got A LOT loader and made a wirring noise - like it was snagging on something. Took it apart, sure enough the bearing is barely moving...

It's really weird.. currently back in the fuel for a bit to see if it resolves it..

[vegabomb]

It sounds to me like the bearing is bad. I'm afraid you may have to replace it.

[dt0xin]

vegabomb,

This is what I'm starting to think. I just repeated the process now, and it spins no problem... smooth as butter... but I have a feeling when I throw it back in to my yo after about 20-30 mins it will go back to the same.

I've ordered two konkave bearings for it already. But they won't be here for about 10 days still.

It's just such a shame, I LOVE this throw. The only other one I own is a dv888, and while I love it for it's speed.. it doesn't compare when it comes to quality. The finish on the nvx is by far supreme, the throws feel so much nicer...  the H shape is so easy to land...

I'll report back after I finish this cleaning once more.. Maybe I will let it sit in the fuel overnight...

[Namtaro]

Have you been adding a small amount of lube after you clean the bearing? It looks like it's locking up due to playing it 'dry'.

[dt0xin]

I wiish I could...

I don't have any lube at the moment. I've ordered some, but much like my bearings they are going to be about 10 days

[Namtaro]

I think we found the problem !
You can use household lube like sewing machine oil, as long as it's a pin sized drop, it should protect the bearing enough that it won't lock up.

[dt0xin]

I'll head over to the store tomorrow and grab some sewing machine lube. From what I've seen it's just a drop on the needle head then touch a ball bearing with it and done...

Thanks guys. REALLY appreciate the help. I was just thinking about how ------- it would be to have this awesome throw and not be able to use it for the next week and a half.

We need more suppliers in Canada. So many yoyo manufacturers are in canada... yet we have no good resources for parts...

[finbie]

I have an NVx too and it's a lovely yoyo. I hope you get your problem fixed soon.

I just wanted to say that leaving the bearing in fuel over night is not going to help. A minute or so should be well enough. Lube might help, so let us know what happened after you've tried. It will most likely make it very responsive for a while - especially if the lube you buy is thicker than YYJ thin oil or One drop lube. Adding as little oil as possible and taking your time to play with if after the lubing should fix this, though.

However, if it appears that there's something wrong with the bearing itself, I recommend you take your time and get another bearing for it. I find the Hspin bearings absolutely wonderful, and I've never personally had any problems with them. The good thing about them is that they are way less loud than your regular bearings. Of course there can always be quality control issues with any manufacturer and you might just have been unlucky...

[vegabomb]

I play all of my bearings dry. I don't think lube is going to help. I've had what dt0xin is describing happen to several bearings. They all ended up in the garbage I'm sorry to say.