Where The Heck Are They Putting All These Bearing These Days. Baitcasters!

[Insanity]

Ok I no where they put the first five but sense they have been making reels with more. Where in the heck are they putting them all. Yea. I've never owned one with more then five bearings. And the new five bearing models are turning to crap faster then I care.

But I need five new reels. So Im back to the drawing board. They have discontinued most anything I'm used to. I haven't bought anything new in years.

Ten bearings that reel should last a life time. If oiled and cleaned. But I'm betting not. I don't keep them that clean anyway. And they sure don't stay dry.

What else do I need to be looking at here?

The BPS pro qualifier has got my attention after the member review on here. And he said it was a metal body. That got my attention. I'm getting one when they go on sale. Take it outside tear it down. Look it over. And try it on a couple of rods. If it does well I might get a few of them. Might get five. Seven bearings and metal body at that price. Humph I think I may be happy with them. Especially if I can get parts?

I'm bored so what other seven bearing models are y'all happy with? .

Mine get truck bed rash Bad. So I don't even look at the the high end stuff. Stop at $200. Unless you can prove you have tried to kill it and can't. If you've been wiping the water spots off it and oiling it every weekend. I don't care. Read my lips. I don't care.

But if you've been slinging lipless baits 70 yards into the wind with no over runs. Till your arms hurt day in day out and tearing stumps out of the bottom with hook sets.. I might entertain the idea. Least take a look. Lol.

Hopefully they still make that model. Because that's my problem now.

[iabass8]

in the handle knobs, level wind, crank shaft, under the cast control knob are among the places they put them.

 

Bearing count has very little to do with a reels longevity than it does a performance upgrade. bearings are easier to replace than a cracked/flexed frame. a 5 bearing reel /w an aluminum frame will last longer than a 10 bearing graphite frame reel.

[Raul]

There´s a lot of places where they can put bearings in a baitcaster, the reality is that with exception of the spool supporting bearings all the rest only serve the purpose of making the reel smoother during the retrieve, they can and put 2-4 bearings under the handle knobs, add another to the levelwind  and there you have spent 3-5 bearings, plus 2 supporting the spool there you have 5-7 bearings, another location is under the main gear, that makes 6-8 bearing count.

 

More bearings don´t make a reel better, it´s the quality of those bearings that will make the reel better ( plus the quality of the remaining components ). My old XLT PLUS series reels have only one bearing ( spool supporting ), they have lasted more than 20 years and have caught more 10 + lbers than the rest of all my reels put together.

[craww]

There are more than a few "10 bearings reels" that don't have 10.

[Trey Harpel]

4 in the handle

2/3 spool bearings

1/2 in the worm gear

drive shaft

ARB bearing

roller bearing above the ARB

[Insanity]

There´s a lot of places where they can put bearings in a baitcaster, the reality is that with exception of the spool supporting bearings all the rest only serve the purpose of making the reel smoother during the retrieve, they can and put 2-4 bearings under the handle knobs, add another to the levelwind and there you have spent 3-5 bearings, plus 2 supporting the spool there you have 5-7 bearings, another location is under the main gear, that makes 6-8 bearing count.

More bearings don´t make a reel better, it´s the quality of those bearings that will make the reel better ( plus the quality of the remaining components ). My old XLT PLUS series reels have only one bearing ( spool supporting ), they have lasted more than 20 years and have caught more 10 + lbers than the rest of all my reels put together.

Oh I hadn't thought about that. I'm looking for three on the spool but figured if they dropped the money for more it might hold up longer. Or be a guide to go by. Figures theres no way to no what your getting. And buy the time you find a good they change it. Humph.

Whats your take on the Pflugers have you had any dealings with them. I remember you from long ago. I value your opinion. I'm happy with an old model I got used. But it needs more cranking power. Drag sucks but most likely just dry. But it still smooth and it will not die. And it's a cheap one. Thinking it not that old. It's got my attention.

What was the XLT was that BPS brand I'm guessing?

I here you I just threw away my 20+ year old Diawa and Shimano reels when I moved this time. All still worked just sloppy. I'd like to have one make it that long again with out spending $300. Lol

[Insanity]

Ok so these bearings are certified or something. Aren't they? Which ones have the best spool bearings I wonder. That's what I'm after anyway. Long smooth cast.