Super Tune Your Baitcasting Reels?

[bigbill]

Does anyone here super tune your baitcasting reels like change out the standard bearings for better quality bearings? Then polish this or that for better casting performance?

[iabass8]

site sponsor DVT does it. otherwise there are countless indepth articles via google that can give you a specific step by step on how to do it. I do change out some reels bearings and polish certain reels I use. not all reels need it but it never hurts.

[bigbill]

I just ordered the ceramic bearings.

[jtesch]

I change the bearings to Boca orange seals on all my reels. Some it really helps, some not so much

[JeziHogg]

I haven't really noticed any difference on any of my GEN 3 Abu Revos

[Long Mike]

As a hobby. Ghoti has become a master at super-tuning reels.  Be sure to read the articles he has published in our "Articles" section of this site.

[rippin-lips]

The 2 that I've swapped the bearings out on didn't get hardly any increase from it but I did see a little. Biggest gain was casting effort. I got more distance out of changing the spools but it wasn't cheap.

[bigbill]

As an old gear head engine builder and drag car builder I'm interested in hopping up my bait caster.

[JD96]

Super tuning a baitcaster will do nothing unless you can absolutely free spool your reel. If you use brakes whether magnetic or centrifugal all it will do is make you turn your brakes up more.

Sounds better, might feel smoother, but no distance gain.

[Jrob78]

Super tuning a baitcaster will do nothing unless you can absolutely free spool your reel. If you use brakes whether magnetic or centrifugal all it will do is make you turn your brakes up more.

Sounds better, might feel smoother, but no distance gain.

Absolutely not true.  

[War Eagle 44]

Super tuning a baitcaster will do nothing unless you can absolutely free spool your reel. If you use brakes whether magnetic or centrifugal all it will do is make you turn your brakes up more.

Sounds better, might feel smoother, but no distance gain.

I disagree 100%. I've started to do a little "tuning" on some of my baitcast reels and I can tell a difference over the stock bearings while still using the spool brake. On 90% of my reels (Shimano's) I only use one brake block, I'm able to cast a noticeably farther distance using the one brake block and Boca Lightning 5's as opposed to one brake and the cleaned stock bearings. Nothing outrageous or anything, maybe ten to fifteen more yards if I'm really trying for max distance.

The biggest difference I can tell is in the effort it takes to make a "normal" length cast. Using upgraded bearings I'd say it's probably 25% easier to make "real world" casts. I know there are times when max distance is needed but I'm simply referring to majority of the time when max distance isn't the main goal.

 

I've just in the last two weeks started to polish some parts. I've done the spool shaft ends on a couple of reels, and the copper pressure plate that's under the cast control cap on my old Chronarch 101A. I actually think it really helped the 101A. Next time I take it down for maintenance I'm going to polish the inside of the pinion gear as well as the spool shaft. That's about all there is left to do to that reel from a performance upgrade standpoint as I've already installed a Carbontex drag, Orange Seal bearings, and ceramic line guide pawl.

 

All in all it's really fun tinkering with your reels, you should try it.    

[.RM.]

Super tuning a baitcaster will do nothing unless you can absolutely free spool your reel. If you use brakes whether magnetic or centrifugal all it will do is make you turn your brakes up more. Sounds better, might feel smoother, but no distance gain........

 

Are you kidding?

 

 

Been super tunning since the very first article came out in the 90's,

thousands of super tunned reels under my belt and no complaints just smiles...

[JD96]

People are so sensitive. Do y'all not see what I'm trying to say? The supertune will only make your reel faster and easier to backlash if you don't already free spool your reel. Yes it makes it potentially longer with no brakes but how could it

Make a reel longer without just reducing friction and needing to up your brakes to get the same control as before.

[dodgeguy]

with centrifugal brakes the spool will spin longer as the brakes back off during the cast.

[aavery2]

People are so sensitive. Do y'all not see what I'm trying to say? The supertune will only make your reel faster and easier to backlash if you don't already free spool your reel. Yes it makes it potentially longer with no brakes but how could it

Make a reel longer without just reducing friction and needing to up your brakes to get the same control as before.

 

I understand what you are trying to say and understand your reasoning.  But using that same logic would it not also be fair to say, "don't worry about cleaning those bearings, just back your brakes off a little more".  There are many benefits to super tuning a reel, have one done by someone that really knows their business and see what you think.

[bigbill]

Ok what's being said I understand. If we make the spool turn more free we then turn up the brakes to stop the over run. That the spool turning faster then the lure is going. Which turns into a bird's nest.

My question is why not back off on the brakes and apply our educated thumb sooner to control the over run so the birdsnest doesn't happen. I guess I need to re-educate my thumb brake.

But if I can make longer casts in the process then it's worth it.

Right now I think there is a fine line of adjustment between the friction knob and the magnetic brakes. I think there is a sweet spot that we can achieve. But once we fine tune it to that weight of the lure its set for that weight.

I'm just thinking out loud here. Looking for suggestions or corrections. Thank you. Bigbill

[dodgeguy]

or you can buy a abu mgx and cast freespool or close to it all day long.mine casts further than any reel I ever owned.only need to turn on brakes with light lures or lures like spinnerbaits that have wind resistance.or you could go 1 step higher and get an mgxextreme. I wish I could afford one.

[Mr_Scrogg]

Supertuning reels arent always to increase casting distances. So the whole "Its worthless, you turn the brakes up to regain control" bit is invalid.

You can also get better casting ability with lighter lures. More distance pitching, and a overall better feel.

But supertuning shouldnt stop at bearings. Drag upgrades are equally important.

[rippin-lips]

Scrogg nailed it. I can cast a weightless wacky worm with my upgraded steez a good ways.

[John G]

Jun Sonada with Japan Tackle talks about tuning your reel with a different spool on his website.

http://www.japantackle.com/Tuning_parts/Spool_tuneup.htm

[BassCats]

or you can buy a abu mgx and cast freespool or close to it all day long.mine casts further than any reel I ever owned.only need to turn on brakes with light lures or lures like spinnerbaits that have wind resistance.or you could go 1 step higher and get an mgxextreme. I wish I could afford one.

 

Better than your pfluegers you have harped on for sooo many years?

[Capt.Bob]

I have said it before, if you are not extremely efficient with a baitcaster a super tuned reel will likely cause you more problems, if you are efficient with your reel, and want more distance it will do that. But the most benefit you will gain from a properly supertuned reel is smoother cranking and drag, with less effort and more accurate cast and good distance, longer cast to those who have a well trained thumb is secondary.

[John G]

I personally would like to be in the presence of someone who is a reel xpert, pun intended lol, when they cast just say.....a half ounce jig or a Texas Rig with no brakes on their Shimano. I would like to know how they do it without an immediate backlash. Depended on what Shimano I am using and the weight of the lure, I usually have either 2 brakes on or 3 brakes on. Casting unweighted Super Flukes with a Loomis MBR783C and a Shimano Conquest 100, I have 3 brakes on. If I change to a heavier T-Rig, I can drop down to 2 brakes. A 3/4oz frog with a Shimano Citica 200E on a Loomis MBR844, it's 2 brakes on. I have tried casting with no brakes and I have to apply a ton of pressure with my thumb that it totally negates the no brake setting and I end up with no extra distance at all. That said, I am not unhappy at all with my casting. I feel that I get plenty of distance for what I do and If I do any kind of improvements to my reels like my Citicas or regular Calcuttas, it will be ball bearing handles and knobs for smoothness and upgraded spool bearings for saltwater use and upgraded drags.

[JD96]

Who wants to supertune a Curado 200E7?

 

I am tricking the work horse out, putting it to "retirement" on a flipping stick. Hawgtech handle coming soon I believe.

 

Might at well supertune it since it'll be used for 99% pitching. All I want is a monster strong drag and a smooth retrieve.

[Jrob78]

I personally would like to be in the presence of someone who is a reel xpert, pun intended lol, when they cast just say.....a half ounce jig or a Texas Rig with no brakes on their Shimano. I would like to know how they do it without an immediate backlash. Depended on what Shimano I am using and the weight of the lure, I usually have either 2 brakes on or 3 brakes on. Casting unweighted Super Flukes with a Loomis MBR783C and a Shimano Conquest 100, I have 3 brakes on. If I change to a heavier T-Rig, I can drop down to 2 brakes. A 3/4oz frog with a Shimano Citica 200E on a Loomis MBR844, it's 2 brakes on. I have tried casting with no brakes and I have to apply a ton of pressure with my thumb that it totally negates the no brake setting and I end up with no extra distance at all. That said, I am not unhappy at all with my casting. I feel that I get plenty of distance for what I do and If I do any kind of improvements to my reels like my Citicas or regular Calcuttas, it will be ball bearing handles and knobs for smoothness and upgraded spool bearings for saltwater use and upgraded drags.

I'm right there with you.  I've been using baitcasters almost exclusively since I was about 12 years old.  There is no way in the world I would attempt a cast with no brakes and the cast control set loose.  I hear people on the internet claiming this all the time, I flat out don't believe them.  If someone could cast one of my reels with no brakes and light cast control, I would eat my words, I don't see it happening though.