Are the shields on a bearing better on or off?

[yoyospirit]

I've seen bearings without it on.  Is it better on or off?

[sicyo]

It's up to personal preference. Some people keep them on all the time, some take them off just to clean, some keep them off. There's no right/wrong

[ElendilAndurilz]

To delve a little more into what Sicyo said.

Having the shields on protects the bearing from getting as dirty over time, but is a hassle to take off to clean.

Having the shields off causes the bearing to get grimy more quickly, but the cleaning process is also much easier.

It's a matter of preference. Choose what works best for you. Actual play wise, they are the same.

[BosK]

I keep one off and one on to stop any crud from getting in, but it still makes cleaning easier

[Schnayke]

To delve a little more into what Sicyo said.

Having the shields on protects the bearing from getting as dirty over time, but is a hassle to take off to clean.

Having the shields off causes the bearing to get grimy more quickly, but the cleaning process is also much easier.

It's a matter of preference. Choose what works best for you. Actual play wise, they are the same.

Have the shields off does not get the bearing more grimy.  Shields keep out large particles that would destroy the inside of the bearing.   If you look at the use of bearing outside of yoyos you will see why.   In a yoyo they don't help at all, less you are trying to keep lube in them.  In that case they work wonders.   In my experience in fact I have found just he opposite the shields actually hold onto small particles that are drawn there by the grip of the pads, is my guess.  How they get there is not the point though.  The point is if you don't have shields you will have that stuff get in then just fall out.   With shields it will get stuck.  I have spend many of year testing this theory and all my yoyo’s I keep shields on I have to clear out the string fibers and other crud on a regular basis.  The ones with out just need lube on an occasion.  And I am a custodian that gets really dirty and wet and everything you can imagine.  I come home someday and have to shake all the dirt off my cloth and still have no dirt in my bearing. I play with strings that are near black and started as a bright highlight. I still have no fouled bearings.  I even, actually wrote an email to a bearing manufacturer and they said small particles will be trapped if the bearing is not a sealed one.  (I don’t think any yoyo is currently manufactured with a sealed bearing)  So they are in fact not useful.  They also said the purpose of those shields is to keep out large particles (think router bit), and too keep in the lube.  I hope this helps anybody. 

[yoking]

To delve a little more into what Sicyo said.

Having the shields on protects the bearing from getting as dirty over time, but is a hassle to take off to clean.

Having the shields off causes the bearing to get grimy more quickly, but the cleaning process is also much easier.

It's a matter of preference. Choose what works best for you. Actual play wise, they are the same.

Have the shields off does not get the bearing more grimy.  Shields keep out large particles that would destroy the inside of the bearing.   If you look at the use of bearing outside of yoyos you will see why.   In a yoyo they don't help at all, less you are trying to keep lube in them.  In that case they work wonders.   In my experience in fact I have found just he opposite the shields actually hold onto small particles that are drawn there by the grip of the pads, is my guess.  How they get there is not the point though.  The point is if you don't have shields you will have that stuff get in then just fall out.   With shields it will get stuck.  I have spend many of year testing this theory and all my yoyo’s I keep shields on I have to clear out the string fibers and other crud on a regular basis.  The ones with out just need lube on an occasion.  And I am a custodian that gets really dirty and wet and everything you can imagine.  I come home someday and have to shake all the dirt off my cloth and still have no dirt in my bearing. I play with strings that are near black and started as a bright highlight. I still have no fouled bearings.  I even, actually wrote an email to a bearing manufacturer and they said small particles will be trapped if the bearing is not a sealed one.  (I don’t think any yoyo is currently manufactured with a sealed bearing)  So they are in fact not useful.  They also said the purpose of those shields is to keep out large particles (think router bit), and too keep in the lube.  I hope this helps anybody. 

Good info, thank you for posting. =]

[nick-m]

i keep them off, because it looks cool.

[HITMAN]

I run all my bearings with them off but at the same time I enjoy cleaning my bearings so I clean them regulary. and I agree wit the whole small particles being stuck with the shields on is so tru. I mean if u look at a bearing with shields u can see the tiny gap between the bearing track and shield.

[modernaught]

I keep them off.