Boca Bearings

[Vinny Chase]

Just bought a few sets to replace my stock bearings, but I have never done this project yet. I have gotten mixed messages on forums - some say to put them in dry, while others say to lightly lubricate...What are your thoughts? I have some hot sauce that I can put on them.

Thanks,

VC

[Jig Man]

I use to have them in some supertuned Curados. I ran them dry. They are a bit noisey but cast farther when dry. As far as your choice of lube. I had some of that and thought it was awful so I threw it away. It actually slowed down my ABECs so I didn't try it on Bocas.

[LgMouthGambler]

Lube them. Ardent reel butter, Bantam oil, are some good choices.

[Long Mike]

Vinny, I suggest you PM Ghoti with your question. He just completed an article, yet to be published here, that discusses his experiences with super-tuning, bearings and lubricants.

[drew4779]

Bantam oil. Save the hot sauce for gears/internals. That said, I run them dry.

[Capt.Bob]

That would depend on what Boca bearings you got? they sell abec3 to abek7 maybe 9, they sell ceramic or stainless steel. the ceramic bearings can be run dry and are noisier, and really noisy if you choose to run them dry. The stainless steel all need to be lubed. the lube you use and the results you get with it totally depend on the environment you use it in. I'll put it this way, hot sauce might work for a guy in northern Michigan on a sping or fall salmon or Steelhead stream, but might not be ideal for a guy on okachobee Bass fishin in august,

[The Rooster]

Funny you should say "a guy in northern Michigan" since they got a guy from Michigan to advertise it. LOL

[Capt.Bob]

Ya no surprise, it's an ok cold weather oil, but so thin that in the warmer climates guy's have complained about it being to thin and doesn't last, requires frequent relubing, a lot of guys don't lube their equipment once the season starts, for the avid Pro that lubes them every time they go out it's probably good for high speed bearings, everything else there is better stuff. I deal with guy's that want something that last a little longer, I found better for here in northern Ohio, and around saltwater it give's no protection from what I've been told. Like I say it just depends where how and what your doing, there aint no one, wonder lube , although I am testing some stuff that is pulling rave results everywhere, like everything we'll see, time will tell.

[BassCats]

I await that article eagerly.

[Vinny Chase]

I got the OS ceramic Abec 7's...I am thinking I will start dry for now...what signs should I be looking for that will tell me to lubricate?

[J Francho]

They are like nails on a chalk board to me dry. Try Oust Metol from Smooth Drags.

[Vinny Chase]

They are like nails on a chalk board to me dry. Try Oust Metol from Smooth Drags.

Do you take the seals off? Or can I just coat the outside and it will absord into the bearing?

[J Francho]

You have to remove the seals or the oil won't penetrate. They are seals, not shields.

[.ghoti.]

Vinny, lube them. Ceramic bearings can be run dry, but the noise will drive you crazy. Unless you're deaf of course.

If you are very lucky you will get the seals off and back on. Getting them re-installed is a problem. they will normally make contact with the balls and truly degrade casting performance. Must people run them without seals for that very reason.

My advice; only remove one seal on each bearing. You can still get them clean and lubed. When you install the bearings, have the seal facing the spool.

[.ghoti.]

Forgot this; Hot Sauce is ok. Go ahead and use what you have. But when cold weather arrives get yourself some better lube. There is no "best" oil for bearings, only opinions.

Oust is good. Ardent bearing oil is good. Daiwa red oil is good, if you can find some. The needle oilers from Daiwa and Zebco are too thick for spool bearings. TSI 321 is great, but I haven't used it on ceramic bearings so I won't recommend it for you. Hot sauce is pretty far down on my list.

[Vinny Chase]

Perfect. Thanks for you help Ghoti!

[Capt.Bob]

you won't hurt them if you run ceramics dry. Just most like J Francho said can't stand the noise. I think it makes the reel seem - not smooth - for lack of a better description. I would use them dry first, just so YOU KNOW the difference, and then add "ONE DROP" of the lube you choose, as .ghoti said and I earlier, opinions, and all work most at different times are better. I use Rocket Fuel T&Y mixed, and you will see for yourself. A word of advice if this is your first go with Hybrid Ceramics, take it easy the first couple cast and add a brake or two till you are sure your ready to unleash the beast!

[Vinny Chase]

you won't hurt them if you run ceramics dry. Just most like J Francho said can't stand the noise. I think it makes the reel seem - not smooth - for lack of a better description. I would use them dry first, just so YOU KNOW the difference, and then add "ONE DROP" of the lube you choose, as .ghoti said and I earlier, opinions, and all work most at different times are better. I use Rocket Fuel T&Y mixed, and you will see for yourself. A word of advice if this is your first go with Hybrid Ceramics, take it easy the first couple cast and add a brake or two till you are sure your ready to unleash the beast!

I cannot wait!

[KevO]

I have them in 10 reels from curado D's, E's, Chronarch 50mg, E's, through Core 100mg's I run them all dry. The noise isn't as bad as others say, the casting disance is noticable thought when running them dry vs oiled in my opinion. When I did oil them I used the shimano oil that comes with their reels.

[Capt.Bob]

I have them in 10 reels from curado D's, E's, Chronarch 50mg, E's, through Core 100mg's I run them all dry. The noise isn't as bad as others say, the casting disance is noticable thought when running them dry vs oiled in my opinion. When I did oil them I used the shimano oil that comes with their reels.

The Shimano oil would slow them down, the "Oust Met-OL" that Ghoti referenced, is much thinner and made to work with ceramic bearings, Tournament Rocket Fuel is another that shouldn't slow them down, but requires reaplication much more often.

I have one reel with Orange Seals, there sweet but I won't put them in my reels again, there just isn't enough gain to justify their price to me over the same quality abec7 stainless bearings, with the proper lubes from the same supplier, and I love (S concept) strong, Silent, smooth, not to mention reliable, and the Stainless are half the price. I think you will find there are several lubes on the market that will work well with ceramic bearings and won't hinder there performance, but they don't give these lubricants away. Some not so experienced users may spend less time trying to keep from making birds nest, and be better off by taming the bearings down with a little heavier lube until they get used to "real free spool", and that is when you turn all their brakes and tension off. When you get everything "tuned" you should be able to run with no braking and no tension on you spool, for some it may be running dry ceramics, and that's great, for most lube will help, the heavier the viscosity the better the braking. but you haven't found your TUNE till your running a completely free spool. Like I said, since this is Vinny's first Boca OS adventure, it would be very wise to turn on an extra brake or two the first few cast!

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Although the seals on Boca OSC bearings are intended to be "non-contact" that is often not the case especially after reinstalling. I run them open and dry for max performance and oil lightly to quiet or tame them.

[roadwarrior]

I might be interested in sacrificing a little performance

to reduce or eliminate the noise. To "oil lightly" does

the seal or shield have to be removed and then reassembled?

Also, does the oil just go on the outside of the bearing,

not in the middle?

[J Francho]

You can remove a metal shield, but I don't recommend it. Seal must be removed, since you want the oil to penetrate the cage and ball bearings, as well as the inner races. Any incidental oil on the outside of the races will aid in easy removal and installation.

Here's a cutaway so you can see the inner workings:

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I might be interested in sacrificing a little performance

to reduce or eliminate the noise. To "oil lightly" does

the seal or shield have to be removed and then reassembled?

Also, does the oil just go on the outside of the bearing,

not in the middle?

If memory serves, the bearings in your reels are already open. You don't even have to remove them. Just open the side plate / cast control & put a small drop right on the race (side) of the bearing. Being open all the oil penetrates immediately so use very sparingly the lightest oil you can find. The Bantam should be ok if you already have it.

[roadwarrior]

Thanks!