Bearing Break In

[BASSHUNTER1961]

I cleaned all the grease out of my Citica and Chronarch and lightly lubed them with Reel Butter, and they spin great. I was watching a video by Wicked Reelz, and they say to run the bearings dry till they break in. They claim that after they break in they will get quiet, and thats when you should add a tiny drop of oil. They seem to believe that the bearings will not break in if they are oiled.

Do you thing running them dry till they get quiet will ruin them?

[LgMouthGambler]

Umm........never run them dry.

[BASSHUNTER1961]

Umm........never run them dry.

Right...... I found it odd that they ship the reel with dry bearings, and tell you to use it like this till it quiets down then add a drop of oil. I would imagine at that point the bearings are trash.

[OnthePotomac]

I have been servicing my own Shimano reels for many years and I have never heard of "breaking in" bearings, nor have I ever heard a reel service talk of doing it. As a former tool and die maker I will tell you that metal in motion against metal needs a lubricant, or damage will occur. Clean your bearings well, dry them well then apply a tiny drop of any quality reel bearing oil. I use Yellow Rocket Fuel on my metal bearings and Oust Met Oil on my ceramic bearings. Want to run ceramics dry? Go ahead if you can stand the noise, but running them dry has nothing to do with breaking them in..