Bearing flush

[Drl453]

I saw a generic bearing flushing video on YT where he removed the shields before the acetone. Do you need to do this with spool bearings? I can’t seem to find any retainer to remove them.

 

These are stock metanium MGL and curado K bearings as well if it makes any difference. 

 

 

thanks! 

[Drl453]

Nevermind! I found the answer in another post here.  Any reason why the metanium bearing has a dark inner circle ?  Never seen that before. 

[CrankFate]

Get Boca Ceramic Lightnings for the whole reel. They’re better.

[Drl453]

4 hours ago, CrankFate said:

Get Boca Ceramic Lightnings for the whole reel. They’re better.

Yes I’ve have boca before the orange seals a few years ago but didn’t notice much difference.  Have they gotten better ?? Seems like the general consensus is that the curado K bearings are the best Shimano has ever used. 

 

Ill give them a look. Also would you switch the metanium bearings with the same thing as well??

[Smelter96]

To my knowledge, Shimano uses very good bearings. Especially in upper echelon reels like a Metanium. A good flush in acetone (perhaps even aided by an ultrasonic cleaner if you have one) and a single drop of oil is all you need. Unless of course the actual bearing is trashed. I'd see no point in swapping your bearings.

[papajoe222]

I went the bearing swap route a number of years ago. Depending on what you consider improvement over stock bearings, it's difficult to actually pinpoint it. Unless the bearing fails, on a quality reel switching bearings isn't needed.

I clean and lube spool bearings twice a season. Acetone followed by a flush with water, allow to dry and a drop or two of a good oil and I'm still using reels that are over ten years old. 

[Drl453]

Sweet thanks 

[OnthePotomac]

The dark shield on the Shimano bearing means it is anti-rust and I have never bothered to upgrade them since they are excellent bearings. I have cleaning my own Shimano reels for 16 years and have never removed the shields.  I put mine in a tiny food strainer, step outside and blast them with either CRC Electronic cleaner, or Brake Kleen, give them a short soak in lighter fluid, blow dry them with a computer keyboard blower, a tiny drop of Yellow Rocket Fuel and good to go. I only use SS spool bearings.  I have never felt the need for acetone to get them clean.  I gave up packing my pinion bearings in grease years ago and after stripping them clean of grease initially by the same method I use for my other bearings, I dip them in TSI301 and it has worked really fine.  Last year I started doing the same with my crankshaft bearings,

[Drl453]

2 hours ago, OnthePotomac said:

The dark shield on the Shimano bearing means it is anti-rust and I have never bothered to upgrade them since they are excellent bearings. I have cleaning my own Shimano reels for 16 years and have never removed the shields.  I put mine in a tiny food strainer, step outside and blast them with either CRC Electronic cleaner, or Brake Kleen, give them a short soak in lighter fluid, blow dry them with a computer keyboard blower, a tiny drop of Yellow Rocket Fuel and good to go. I only use SS spool bearings.  I have never felt the need for acetone to get them clean.  I gave up packing my pinion bearings in grease years ago and after stripping them clean of grease initially by the same method I use for my other bearings, I dip them in TSI301 and it has worked really fine.  Last year I started doing the same with my crankshaft bearings,

Awesome.  I’ve always just used the bantam oil that comes with the Shimano reel on the bearings.  Is this a no no? Can’t be that big of a deal 

 

 

I’ll check out the yellow rocket fuel.  Thanks !

2 hours ago, OnthePotomac said:

The dark shield on the Shimano bearing means it is anti-rust and I have never bothered to upgrade them since they are excellent bearings. I have cleaning my own Shimano reels for 16 years and have never removed the shields.  I put mine in a tiny food strainer, step outside and blast them with either CRC Electronic cleaner, or Brake Kleen, give them a short soak in lighter fluid, blow dry them with a computer keyboard blower, a tiny drop of Yellow Rocket Fuel and good to go. I only use SS spool bearings.  I have never felt the need for acetone to get them clean.  I gave up packing my pinion bearings in grease years ago and after stripping them clean of grease initially by the same method I use for my other bearings, I dip them in TSI301 and it has worked really fine.  Last year I started doing the same with my crankshaft bearings,

I looked it up online it’s 11.99 plus 15 dollars shipping !!!! What the hell??  Any box retailers carry it ?   I’ll check eBay tonight.  

[OnthePotomac]

I buy mine from the company who makes TSI301 and it is pricy for a can, but I sure as heck did not pay $15 to get it. A can of it will last a very, very long time just dipping a bearing in it and I even rub down my guns with it with a cotton ball.  The real lubricant, TSI302 is suspended in a solvent which evaporates in seconds and this mix is TSI301, which also does some cleaning. You can also buy just the TSI302 if you wish. Any TSI product and grease of any kind are not compatible at all and until the solvent evaporates in 301 within seconds it will damage plastic.  This company developed it for NASA because you cannot use oil in space.  The stuff stays on metal forever and the salt water guys use it a lot on all of their bearings.

https://amgas.com/prodpage.htm

[JustJames]

Bantam oil is good enough for me, I’m not sure if and never seen any proof that rocket oil cast a lot further than regular reel oil in(free spin on bearing or spool alone doesn’t proof nothing). Lighter oil required frequent drop of oil, bantam oil can last for months.

[CrankFate]

On 8/14/2019 at 9:17 PM, Drl453 said:

Yes I’ve have boca before the orange seals a few years ago but didn’t notice much difference.  Have they gotten better ?? Seems like the general consensus is that the curado K bearings are the best Shimano has ever used. 

 

Ill give them a look. Also would you switch the metanium bearings with the same thing as well??

The Ceramic lightning bearings are just right for the metanium. The difference is tremendous. If you are casting over 1/2oz, you don’t need them, though.

[Shimano_1]

I personally think the bearing upgrades on most quality reels is useless.  I've use the boca ceramics and all I noticed was that they're considerably louder and way over priced.  I dont remove the shields and have never had an issue flushing them in acetone.  I've settled on as long as the bearing isnt trashed I'll flush em and oil em and let em be. The shimano oil is just fine.

[OnthePotomac]

There are several quality bearing oils on the market today, I just started with Yellow Rocket Fuel when a friend taught me how to strip and clean baitcasters many years ago and that is what he used.  There are saltwater anglers and some fresh water also who only use TSI301 and 302 on all of their SS bearings. My pinion and crankshaft  bearing dips have been so successful I may move in that direction also.

[Drl453]

9 hours ago, Shimano_1 said:

I personally think the bearing upgrades on most quality reels is useless.  I've use the boca ceramics and all I noticed was that they're considerably louder and way over priced.  I dont remove the shields and have never had an issue flushing them in acetone.  I've settled on as long as the bearing isnt trashed I'll flush em and oil em and let em be. The shimano oil is just fine.

I had the same experience.  I ordered boca orange seals for my chronarchs used em for a while and eventually went back to the stock.  The bocas are very noisy.  

 

Some people swear by them though.  Don’t think it makes much of a difference. Maybe in 40-50 dollar reels I’m sure it would be an upgrade. But I can’t imagine changing the metanium bearings. They have to be top quality.  

[iabass8]

On 8/14/2019 at 3:39 PM, CrankFate said:

Get Boca Ceramic Lightnings for the whole reel. They’re better.

OP, don't...ever...do...this. Almost all the bearings in a reel are used under such a low RPM this bearing is useless. A quality SS bearing is just as good in every aspect for anything expect spool bearings.  

7 minutes ago, Drl453 said:

I had the same experience.  I ordered boca orange seals for my chronarchs used em for a while and eventually went back to the stock.  The bocas are very noisy.  

 

Some people swear by them though.  Don’t think it makes much of a difference. Maybe in 40-50 dollar reels I’m sure it would be an upgrade. But I can’t imagine changing the metanium bearings. They have to be top quality.  

The boca ceramics aren't really an upgrade over a stock shimano bearing. Shimano uses some pretty decent spool bearings. They spin faster and give you a cute, useless freespool test but aren't anything to write home about. If you want to upgrade to a quiet, smooth bearing, go the Hedgehog ZR, ZPI SIC, or Hedgehog HD. Similiar price to bocas and a much better bearing. Shimano bantam oil is fine. you want to use the lowest viscosity oil you can. Hedgehog alchemy is great stuff, ZPI has a new one, boca rocket fuel is another. A very good, cheap alternative is REM oil. It doesn't last as long as others but it's a very good, low viscosity oil.