Packing grease on bearings???

[Big-Bass]

Just heard from someone who said that he packs the frame, main shaft, idler, and worm gear bearings with grease using a special tool (not the spool bearings or handle bearings) on his reels and while it doesn't make the handle spin as freely without line, it does contribute to the overall smoothness of the reel under load or with simple water resistance. Is this a real thing because I always thought to oil the bearings and grease the gears. Any help is great appreciated Thanks and please let me know. Best wishes on the water!

[WRB]

The only bearings you should pack are on your boat trailer.

Tom

[Big-Bass]

How easy is it to get that grease out once it's in there?  Just curious because I never have heard of doing this before.  Thank you!

[rippin-lips]

Only thing I’m going to add is the #1 most well known reel tuner who tunes reel sent to him from all over the world... Some of which are very high end... He uses grease on a lot of the bearings and nobody complains about what he does.  As for removing the grease a mixture of simple green and water plus some time in an ultra sonic will flush them out no problem. 

[Johnbt]

I hope it's light grease and not plain old No.2 standard grease.   John

__________________

 

NLGI No. (National Lubricating Grease institute)

No.	Penetration	Consistency
6	85 - 115	Block grease
5	130 - 160	Extremely stiff grease
4	175 - 205	Very stiff grease
3	220 - 250	Stiff grease
2	265 - 295	Standard grease (85% of market)
1	310 - 340	Soft grease (for centralized lube systems)
0	355 - 385	Very soft grease
00	400 - 430	Semi-fluid grease
000	445 - 475	Fluid 'slumping' grease

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Given your trepidation over this I suggest you just fish it hard for a season and send for a deep cleaning. 

[RB 77]

Just now, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Given your trepidation over this I suggest you just fish it hard for a season and send for a deep cleaning. 

 

Solid advice.

[Deleted account]

I pack bearings with grease because I'm really bad with maintenance, and like that buttery solid feel rather than the hollow skateboard bearing feel, AND have the tools to pack and flush from the bike biz. spool bearings get crazy light oil of course. Even with salt water reels, I only do them every 3 years or so.

[FrankN209]

I only use grease on the AR bearing, the rest get oil..

[J Francho]

I have the greaser tool.  Works well for knob bearings to get a smooth retrieve, or keep them from spinning incessantly.  I have saltwater customers that request greases bearings as well.  A soak in a good degreaser, like Perfect Solution, will get the grease out, and a final bath in acetone or rubbing alcohol to finish the job.

 

In other words, if you value smoothness over speed, it's okay to grease them.  Do not grease spool bearings.  You'll severely degrade casting performance.

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, FrankN209 said:

I only use grease on the AR bearing, the rest get oil..

You'd better served with a vapor thin coating of light oil on this bearing.  Grease is a no-no on ARBs.

[Deleted account]

32 minutes ago, J Francho said:

You'd better served with a vapor thin coating of light oil on this bearing.  Grease is a no-no on ARBs.

This ^. I do my AR bearings like I do my rum and Cokes, The absolute minimum amount of ultra light coke, I mean oil.

[OnthePotomac]

Traditionally, I was taught 18 years ago by a professonal reel cleaner that the only sure bearing to be packed in grease has been the pinion bearing, the other bearing as stated above is probably the AR bearing minimally lubricated with oil or grease.  All others are a personal preference and those preferences are all over the map.  I for instance, have only ever used ReelX on the drive shaft bearing and handle bearings.  I don't have worm gear bearings on any of my Shimanos and have never felt the need to add them.  Two years ago I did make a change on my pinion bearings in that I cleaned them thoroughly and just dip them in TSI301 and it is working real well (I picked this up from the salt water guys).  When I used to pack the pinion bearings I used either Super Lube, or Yamaha Blue Marine grease, both of which I used on gears.  If you have greased bearings and you want to clean them quickly, spray them with CRC Electronic Cleaner with the red spray tube inserted and the grease will be gone in seconds no matter how thick it is.   It is also great to have on the boat. Walmart has it. With this year's cleaning I am considering cleaning the drive shaft bearings an dipping them in TSI301 also.

[WRB]

Precision reel bearings are too close tolerance to allow heavy viscosity grease to penetrate. The only grease my bass fishing reels ever see is on gears, all the bearing get light oil lubrication* and clean throughly annually or as needed. 

Tom

* BreakFree CLP for general use.

[J Francho]

6 minutes ago, WRB said:

Precision reel bearings are too close tolerance to allow heavy viscosity grease to penetrate.

Penetrate what?  They're either steel or ceramic.  Grease and oil *coat* the bearing pack.  Grease is just oil with detergent added.  There is zero harm in using it bearings.

[WRB]

Penetrate between the bearings surfaces, not into the metal or ceramic. Grease is heavy oil base usually with minerals added to maintain viscosity under pressure or temperature extremes.

Tom

[NHBull]

Dad always said.....

 

Gears get grease 

 

Everything get oil.

 

The said DVT will be getting all my reels at the end of the yr

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Penetrate between the bearings surfaces, not into the metal or ceramic. Grease is heavy oil base usually with minerals added to maintain viscosity under pressure or temperature extremes.

Tom

The tool forces the grease into the bearing. It works like a champ. You can see the grease come out the other side, through the races. It’s the same way the oil gets in there, but under pressure. 

[crypt]

8 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Given your trepidation over this I suggest you just fish it hard for a season and send for a deep cleaning. 

this and don't worry about it anymore.......

[WRB]

Same type of tool used to pack wheel bearings that have enough clearence to float the metal bearing races and balls/rollers. Precision reel bearing float on oil or dry films. Pack grease in a precision bearing and it can't spin freely, apparently some of you like that.

Each to our own.

Tom

 

[The Bassman]

I've been reading about some guys having issues with aluminum gear reels being "buzzy".  Quite a bit of discussion about using lower viscosity grease.  Just out of curiosity I ordered some TG Liquid Grease and relubed my Ald.  First impressions are promising.  Time will tell. The stuff has the consistency of honey and is very sticky.  It doesn't bog down the reel's rotation, though.    I'm sorry if this veered away from the topic but thought it beneficial.

[FrankN209]

9 hours ago, J Francho said:

You'd better served with a vapor thin coating of light oil on this bearing.  Grease is a no-no on ARBs.

Never had any problems with it, so to each their own...

[Tywithay]

I know a few guys that grease all their bearings, except for the spool bearings. Mostly for saltwater use, because it helps keep the salt from corroding the races. Levelwind bearings and line roller bearings (on spinning) especially take a beating from the moisture and debris.