Terrapin X A+ Beefcake (For stock FH0 Spacers)

First i’d like to state, Please, before you state that there is no difference between an ABEC, SPEC and Precision treated and cut bearing, PLEASE play something OTHER than a stock “Spec” bearing. If you have not thrown a Terrapin X of any sort then I urge you to consider, Price? Shame on you, If you want performance, you will pay for performance, Some of John’s (Terrapin X) bearings can exceed over four minutes on a DROP! (not a throw!) If you want so-so performance, you will pay for so-so performance, That stated, onto my little review.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb160/XxSuBtLexxPaInxX/YoYos/0703111051.jpg
Freehand Zero with Large Brass Spacers
I received my Terrapin X A+ Beefcake bearings that are meant for Stock FH0 Speacers, and I must say, wow. These play so amazing, I had no trouble settling with the normal Stock FH0 Spacers (A little smaller than the Large Brass Spacers)
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb160/XxSuBtLexxPaInxX/YoYos/0703111053.jpg
Freehand Zero with Medium Steel Spacers
On First throw the speed that came from my FH0 had me so impressed that I simply couldn’t just let this beautiful spin sleep, I had to throw some tricks in, so on a quick few tricks the exceedingly wide gap had me amazed, so many string layers were able to glide in and out of this gap with no problems and no response snags, and on a bind this thing snapped back to my hand with the careful precision of one of John’s S/C size C’s. Simply Amazing.
On Second Throw I simply melted and will always retain that This A+ Beefcake is the best thing to ever happen to the concept of the Beefcaked bearing. Thank You John!!!

Josh “Modriquez” -

Thanks Josh
I sent you a FHZip and then you went for the S.C and a A+.
Now the hobby store you work with got 8 TX bearing.
What can I say

I may just have to pick one of these up for my Steamroller :slight_smile:

No, you want the 5x11x5mm wing cut ceramic in that.

mmm i want some 5x11x5mm for my Foxland Precision Thunderwasp and my Foxland Precision Minotaur~! TerrapinX are THE best~!

Sorry for the necro but this is the link in the Ebay auction. I have a question.

What does this mean?

“All Terrapin X bearings are precision rated.”

Here is the Ebay link:

Sorry to Andre and Ichy if that’s not okay. Please delete it if that is so.

uses ABEC’s. Though everyone seems to argue thats Half SPEC, SPEC, ABEC etc do not even matter in throwing due to the lack of payload and torsional force on the bearings, But, John still uses ABEC bearings.

All bearings should have an abec rating. the rating has nothing to do with spin times as I have thrown an abec 3 and got just as good a spin time as an abec 7. I’m not going to argue this either. I’m just stating my facts as I find them out for myself. I usually never take someone’s word for it because I usually find them either wrong or I find that their info is somewhat correct.

Well, here’s a review with pictures. I’m still a bit confused. A lot has gone on recently in the real world.

Anyhow, today, I check the mail as I always do. Inside is a little brown packet. Hmm, the handwriting looks familiar, the address seems to be familiar too as is the name… I’m a little confused. OK, I’m a LOT confused. I don’t recall ordering anything. I do know I want to order some Terrapin X A+ Beefcake kits, but unless I’m ordering yoyos and accessories in my sleep(it’s possible, but highly unlikely)… maybe I’m just getting some strings or something. It doesn’t really feel like much of anything is in there. Gotta be strings.

Gotta open it. Like a junkie looking for a fix, I’m off to find my box cutter, which once again my wife has hidden from me… This is a never-ending problem.

Anyhow, it’s open. What’s inside? An orange hamstring and a little Terrapin X baggie with 2 bearings in it. What? What am I going to do with two A-sized bearings… this makes no… oh wait… it is… no, it can’t be… these look too slim for a regular A bearing… it has to be… the A+ Beefcake kit. OMG!! I can slam that into my FHZ Pulse and it will be dead unresponsive…

So, a few photos are in order with my family of FHZ’s:

First, face shot, nothing interesting to see:

http://www.studio42.info/yoyo/images/fhz-faces.jpg

These are the FHZ Pulse, my clear xminusmikex with silicone recess and schmoove rings and custom paint, and a fresh out of the package(well, no mods or changes) FHZ.

Not exciting enough? Sorry, it doesn’t get better in this next shot,which shows things pretty good:

http://www.studio42.info/yoyo/images/fhz-facedown.jpg

Now, we can see with the FHZ Pulse, it has the aluminum spacers, which are narrower than the brass that are in the custom and stock ones. The FHZ Pulse only comes with the aluminum spacers, but what this picture was supposed to show is the difference in height. The custom and stock are the same, while the Pulse is a tiny bit shorter.

Opening them up, we can see their innards:
http://www.studio42.info/yoyo/images/beefcake-pre.jpg

We can see the stock friction stickers in the stock and Pulse FHZ, but the customizations done on the clear FHZ.

Swapping the bearings on the Pulse:

http://www.studio42.info/yoyo/images/beefcaked-open.jpg
We can see what it looks like now. Different!

Now to put them back together:
http://www.studio42.info/yoyo/images/beefcaked-capped.jpg

The Pulse is a bit taller now that the gap has been widened.

Just a couple of more pictures, mostly because I took them and don’t want them wasted:

http://www.studio42.info/yoyo/images/fhz-wings.jpg
http://www.studio42.info/yoyo/images/fhz-angled.jpg

So, how does it play?

Freakin’ amazing!! Now, it’s still a bit tug responsive, but that’s because the friction sticker is still in there and those are super grippy, but I’m sure once I put the silicone stickers in there it’s gonna be smooth as silk and dead unresponsive.

So, let’s cut to the chase:

If you have a FHZ, you NEED to get these. Short of doing any mods like I got with the one done by XminusmikeX(which I DO recommend), this is as easy as it can get. Open it open, remove the bearing, remove the brass spacers, use the aluminum spacers that they typically come with, drop in these two bearings(in the proper order: spacer, bearings, spacer), screw it down and enjoy the upgrade! I mean, unless you have some sort of muscular problem that prevents you from taking the yoyo apart, you’ll have no problem doing this. If you DO have some sort of muscular problem that is preventing you to take the yoyo apart, then BEG SOMEONE to do this for you!

It’s sort of nice to see all three. I have a stock, I have a modified one, and now I have a beefcaked one. It’s great for compare and contrasting. The Pulse FHZ for me has been terribly responsive even after the bearing was cleaned and I haven’t worn down the friction stickers yet so I don’t want to put silicone stickers in there yet. Now the FHZ Pulse is exactly where I need it to be and now totally appropriate for what I bought it for.

Worth the money? Let me put this a different way. Is it worth what he is charging for this? Oh yeah, by a LONG SHOT!! You could spend a lot of time doing your own mods and learning and wrecking yoyos, or you could send it to a modder who can charge you a fair price for the work they do(it’s worth it), or you could order this and simply do it yourself. This also has the added benefit of being reversible as you can take it out.

I highly recommend it. Most definitely. I’m contemplating order a set for my other two FHZ’s as well, but at the same time, I might leave them as-is because, well, each one has its own unique character. But, I will say this, if I ever get another FHZ, you can bet the first thing I do will be to order these A+ Beefcake kits.

Do not question it. Do not doubt it. If you have a FHZ: BUY IT. The only reason to not buy these is if you’re in jail or dead. And if you’re in jail, BREAK OUT!!

DO not mock Terrapin X A+ Beefcake for stock FHZ Spacers!

Or, here’s the short review for those with ADD:
Me like. Get them. You’re welcome.

Never let it be said that I’m not “sponsor friendly”! I’m not sponsored, but with reviews like this, I better get to ride in the helicopter you’re gonna buy with the proceeds from these bearings!

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