Just Recieved My First Baitcaster...do I Lube Or Grease It Or Clean It?

[bucketmouthbeatdown]

Just got my first baitcaster BPS Pro Qualifier 4.7:1 and am wondering what I need or should do to get it ready for action??

 

When do they or should they get a bearing upgrade?

I watched a video on upgrading bearings and this guy could spin the handle and it would spin for like a minute...mine only spins for a couple of seconds....why?

[Brian Needham]

fish it like you stole this summer then have it cleaned/super tuned this winter.

[daiwaguy]

^^^^what he said.

[Mike L]

Agree

 

I'd use it a whole season first then clean it right down down to the keel. 

 

 

 

Would a bearing flush help what you're seeing now? Given

 that the factory probably over lubed it, probably. But I'd still use it a while first. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[J Francho]

Just fish it.

[Jigfishn10]

Fish it, the reel will tell you if it needs oil and lube

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Ignore those videos. They're non-sense. Fish the reel as is. Have it serviced during the off season or when it tells you too. 

[Dramer77]

I always put a drop of reel oil on the bearing even on new reels..it has always helps out some and made the reel smoother

[F14A-B]

Yep... Fish it now.... Wait till warranty expires before you spend extra$ on it... Still it's you're reel.. You're call

[.RM.]

Ignore those videos. They're non-sense. Fish the reel as is. Have it serviced during the off season or when it tells you too. 

X2.......

[Smallmouth Hunter]

I always put a drop of reel oil on the bearing even on new reels..it has always helps out some and made the reel smoother

Putting oil on top of factory grease or oil is not going to do anything to help.. It will harm the reel's performance more than anything. If you're going to oil your bearings, you should flush them out first using an ultrasonic cleaner or bearing blaster or something like that first, then apply 1 drop.

[Dramer77]

Putting oil on top of factory grease or oil is not going to do anything to help.. It will harm the reel's performance more than anything. If you're going to oil your bearings, you should flush them out first using an ultrasonic cleaner or bearing blaster or something like that first, then apply 1 drop.

A drop of oil on a bearing isn't going to hurt anything, you don't know if they actually get any oil on them from the factory.. that and how long they're just sitting on a shelf... it's helped in smoothness and casting distance in every reel I've bought/owned

[WIGuide]

Just fish it!

[J Francho]

A drop of oil isn't going to hurt a thing.

[Smallmouth Hunter]

It's not going to hurt anything, but it is not going to help is what I mean. Try it yourself. Get two identical bearings, and in one of them put 1 drop and in the other put 3. See which spins longer and more freely. Obviously this doesn't mean much in terms of performance in a reel, but when we are talking about grease, it is a whole 'nother story. Usually, the factory puts a small amount of grease on the bearings. Putting a drop of oil on top of the grease is not going to help. It is just putting more stuff on the bearing.

[doyle8218]

X2.......

X2

[Dramer77]

It's not going to hurt anything, but it is not going to help is what I mean. Try it yourself. Get two identical bearings, and in one of them put 1 drop and in the other put 3. See which spins longer and more freely. Obviously this doesn't mean much in terms of performance in a reel, but when we are talking about grease, it is a whole 'nother story. Usually, the factory puts a small amount of grease on the bearings. Putting a drop of oil on top of the grease is not going to help. It is just putting more stuff on the bearing.

My revos didn't have any grease on the bearing and it did help to put a drop of oil on them, also helped my stadic ci4+... If there was grease I'd def clean the bearing before adding oil

[J Francho]

It may actually help. The bearings may not even be greased, and need oil. Grease is just oil with detergent. The drop of oil can increase the viscosity, and improve performance. You do not want add so much that oil runs down the spool shaft and into the drag washers.

[jhoffman]

My fear of putting anything into a bearing thats never been flushed is just that, not knowing whats on it. Mixing lubes of any type in my book isnt a great idea.

[J Francho]

So put Shimano oil in a Shimano reel. It's not a mystery. Most reels are packed with the proper oil.

[5fishlimit]

My fear of putting anything into a bearing thats never been flushed is just that, not knowing whats on it. Mixing lubes of any type in my book isnt a great idea.

That's why it's good to use the oil that comes with the reel to start with, and up until you get it cleaned. Then use the oil of your choice from there on out.

Just my 2 cents.

[bucketmouthbeatdown]

Thanks.

[Hogsticker]

Prep strategies before fishing a new reel. Take the spool out or off and whisper to it. Lick the spool bearings. Rub the handle against your bare bottom. Stick the reel down your pants and dance to the Bill Dance theme song. This should make performance top notch and bring the best of luck. No, but seriously. Just fish it. It will tell you if the spool bearings should be flushed and lubed. Fish it for a season or two and have it fully serviced.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

My fear of putting anything into a bearing thats never been flushed is just that, not knowing whats on it. Mixing lubes of any type in my book isnt a great idea.

The fear of incompatibility between lubes is overblown. It's the soaps (thickeners) in greases that occasionally don't play nice together and even then the results aren't likely to be catastrophic especially in a low load application like a reel. Adding a drop of oil on top of another brand between cleanings won't hurt anything. In fact, it's preferable over letting something run dry that shouldn't.