Upgrades for cheaper reels

[Luke Barnes]

Such as an Abu Black Max and Lews American Hero casting reels. Besides handles and grips what upgrades are out there? I'm thinking bearings and such, something that will actually make it fish better. 

 

I have higher end reels than these but I have no reason to replace them so I figured why not upgrade them. 

 

Anyone have experience doing this? 

[roadwarrior]

If you have higher end reels give that stuff away.

[Luke Barnes]

2 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

If you have higher end reels give that stuff away.

Well I don't have alot of casting reels. Two cheap and two good ones. Each for a specific purpose. So I would have to replace the cheap ones if I gave them away. There is absolutely nothing wrong with either of the cheaper ones but if I could make them smoother why not?

[MN Fisher]

By the time you spend enough to make those reels worthwhile - you could have purchased new reels better than what you made those for less cost.

 

The big problem with those is that they're 'plastic' framed - decent metal framed reels can be had as low as $60-$70 on sale.

[Luke Barnes]

Just now, MN Fisher said:

By the time you spend enough to make those reels worthwhile - you could have purchased new reels better than what you made those for less cost.

 

The big problem with those is that they're 'plastic' framed - decent metal framed reels can be had as low as $60-$70 on sale.

Then I would want to pair them with better rods. If I replace them it would be with Lews Speed Spool LFS reels because I love them. So $100 retail plus rod gets up there. 

 

Also wjere are you finding aluminum frame reels for $60?!?!

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

Also wjere are you finding aluminum frame reels for $60?!?!

Every so often you can find Diawa CA-80s on sale for around $63. It's the aluminum frame version of the CR(resin frame)/CC(Carbon frame)/CG(Graphite frame)-80s.

 

Right now, Walmart has them for $75 and E-Bay for $73

[bulldog1935]

At the cost-effective end, the latest Lew's Speed Spool LFS, is a big design step in durability with the P2 pinion.  That gives the spool a separate spool bearing from the drive bearing, and allows you to upgrade to a very light spool bearing without sacrificing drive strength. 

 

Other than end-cap bearings plus spool bearing, there aren't too many upgrades for either of your reels - no one that I know offers spools for them, and I agree if you found it, would cost more than the reel, making a new reel a better option.  

 

I upgraded the 3 bearings on my older Lew's LFS Super Duty G - unshielded hybrid ceramic HD bearings - and it fishes better for it.  The 3 bearings cost $23 from HPRbearings, but I don't see them listed that way now.  You don't have to buy Boca, check HPRbearings and SDScustom on ebay.  HPRbearings is in Florida, and you might have an easier conversation with him than our friend in Ukraine.  

You have to oil your unshielded bearings, but that's part of what makes them racy.  

[new2BC4bass]

Left or right hand?  I was going to suggest the Quantum Icon.  Search for threads on this reel and read the posts from PhishLI on the surprising build and quality of these $120 reels.   BUT no longer available at the $40 or so I paid for mine.  Best I could find is $60 for a LH model at the Vandam Warehouse.  You missed your chance this time. 

 

Used reels can be a great option.  Try $65 (in excellent condition) for a $250 reel.  Of course it helps to know what you are looking at.  This was an older blue model Patriarch XT.  My third one.  Highly under-rated reels.
 

 

Try to find deals on the less popular reels (but still of quality).  Pflueger and Okuma fit this profile.

 

Unfortunately from what I've been seeing it is more a seller's market right now.

 

Love closeouts! 

 

Do the work yourself, and it should save you money over finding new reels to buy.  But don't even think that upgrading such a reel will improve its resale value when you do decide that you can afford to upgrade to new reels.  You most likely will be doubling the original cost of those reels with no hope of getting a higher return on your investment.

 

[Luke Barnes]

So new bearings are that expensive that it's not worth it? 

 

4 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

At the cost-effective end, the latest Lew's Speed Spool LFS, is a big design step in durability with the P2 pinion.  That gives the spool a separate spool bearing from the drive bearing, and allows you to upgrade to a very light spool bearing without sacrificing drive strength. 

 

Other than end-cap bearings plus spool bearing, there aren't too many upgrades for either of your reels - no one that I know offers spools for them, and I agree if you found it, would cost more than the reel, making a new reel a better option.  

 

I upgraded the 3 bearings on my older Lew's LFS Super Duty G - unshielded hybrid ceramic HD bearings - and it fishes better for it.  The 3 bearings cost $23 from HPRbearings, but I don't see them listed that way now.  You don't have to buy Boca, check HPRbearings and SDScustom on ebay.  HPRbearings is in Florida, and you might have an easier conversation with him than our friend in Ukraine.  

You have to oil your unshielded bearings, but that's part of what makes them racy.  

I have the latest Speed Spool LFS and see no reason to upgrade it. If the American Hero fished like it I would love it.

[bulldog1935]

I was offering that reel for a smart buy, especially if you hunt some of the discount ebay sellers. 

But my point stands about lighter, lower-inertia spool bearing if desired, e.g., throwing 1/8 ounce to reliable distance.  You can't go bad swapping the mass of a shielded stainless steel spool bearing for an equivalent-service lighter hybrid ceramic - you can further speed it with lower-viscosity bearing oil.  

The P2 pinion lets you leave the heavier shielded bearing in the drive position with factory lube - that bearing doesn't affect the spool.  

 

If he's going to keep and fish the older reels, bearings are the baseline improvement. 

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

I have the latest Speed Spool LFS and see no reason to upgrade it. If the American Hero fished like it I would love it.

You're never going to get a graphite-frame reel (Hero) to perform as well as an aluminum-frame reel (LFS) no matter how much you toss into it.

[JustJames]

49 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

So new bearings are that expensive that it's not worth it? 

Your logic seems a little off. A good set of ceramic bearing is about 25 bucks to upgrade 50 dollars reel. That 50% value of the reel, I doubt you would see performance increase not even 5%. Same concept when you bashed Scorpion MGL but praise Curado K which basically the same reel and scorpion got better spool that would cover more techniques and even more beautiful color.

?????
 

Just keep the reel as is and use it where you think might damage your higher end reel, or make it as a loaner reel.

[new2BC4bass]

42 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

So new bearings are that expensive that it's not worth it?

No.  Probably can get some for around $10.  Last time I sent reels out for cleaning and upgrading, the bearings ran $32 and $34.  Sounded like bearings weren't the only item you were thinking of upgrading which is why I mentioned the possibility of doubling the original price of the reel.

 

Also bearings may or may not give you a significant increase in performance.  I've seen some claims that sure didn't match my results.  Going from poor bearings to good ones are obviously going to show the greatest improvement.

 

I get about the same distance as before (maybe a bit better), but it is done easier.  I usually can also lower my brake settings after a tune which is also a gain.

[Michigander]

8 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Every so often you can find Diawa CA-80s on sale for around $63. It's the aluminum frame version of the CR(resin frame)/CC(Carbon frame)/CG(Graphite frame)-80s.

 

Right now, Walmart has them for $75 and E-Bay for $73

And I've picked up a Fuego for $72 on Amazon. Deals are out there if you have the time to wait for them.

[Hammer 4]

personally, I would polish the spool shaft on both ends. I do that to all my reels, it does help with casting some.

[Tail Slap]

I agree with others.  I save my money to improve higher end reels.  Budget reels such as those I see as use as is and dispose of once the wear out.  If I was going to upgrade I would do the handle and grips and chose them based on parts I would want on my next premium reels.  That also will mean bearings or higher end bearings in them.  That way it's not bound to a reel that is not worth sinking $$ into.  On my higher end reels I tend to upgrade spool bearing "If I feel it will improve performance in a real world way.  I will also replace bushings for bearing as I feel bearings offer better support even though they may not make a noticeable improvement in use performance.   

 

One thing I have learned; in, most all, my endeavors it rarely pays to polish a turd.

[garroyo130]

I'll go against the crowd on this one. Upgrade them away. Learning about reels is going to cost you one way or another and it's much better to crack open a $40 reel and learn than to take a chance on something that isn't as easily replaced.

 

In my opinion there's a couple of ways to go into it

 

Level 1 (tune up)

- Clean reel

- Re-oil bearings with TSI321

- Regrease gears with Cals

- Regrease drag with Cals

 

Level 2 - All Level 1 plus

- upgrade bearings to higher ABEC or ceramic

- upgrade drag to carbon fiber

 

Level 3 - All Level 1 and 2 plus

- polish spools shaft ends as @Hammer 4 said

- polish metal drag discs 

- polish inside of pinion gear

- polish gear teeth

 

As for bearings, it doesnt have to be expensive. Print out the Boca sheet to measure them and go wild.

https://www.avidrc.com/product/8/metric-bearings/

[ironbjorn]

The logic appears to be that the reels are already bought and owned. Like a parent insisting that a child drinks their cereal milk so it isn't "wasted" doesn't make any sense because it's already used and whether it's drank or in the sink it's all the same, neither does it make sense to tell someone not to upgrade parts of their cheap reel to make it better because the money is already spent. The fact doesn't change that at the end of the day 25-50 bucks in upgraded parts is still significantly cheaper than buying a whole new more expensive reel when the cheap reels work perfectly fine.

[cottny27]

If you take care of these cheap reels you can get 10+ yrs out of them. I have BPS Prolites that are almost 15yrs old and they still work like new. 

[jbrew73]

PM me. I think I still have some upgrade bearings for Lews and they probably fit abu too.   You can have them if you pay shipping.  

[cottny27]

Here’s my cheapy BFS reel from China. I believe I paid $55 for it and love it!

[JustJames]

1 hour ago, ironbjorn said:

The fact doesn't change that at the end of the day 25-50 bucks in upgraded parts is still significantly cheaper than buying a whole new more expensive reel when the cheap reels work perfectly fine.

But would those spending make the reel feel more expensive? Would it work better than what he has already spent?

You are right “the cheap reels work perfectly fine no need to waste any more money. He got higher end reels (curado K and Chronarch MGL, I believe) do you think which reel he is going to use more in future?

Your logic is kind of off too, drinking milk already bought so it doesn’t go bad and spending even more money on cheap reel, total difference thing.

[Cigarguy]

Personally I would not spend good money on cheap/bad gear.  I would invest the time in elbow grease and a little oil and reel grease and stop at that.  Sure I would maintain and tinker the heck out of it but cheap gear will always be cheap gear. 

 

This year I took advantage of Cabelas and BP's Spring sale and trade-in program to convert cheap reels and rods into Stradics, Nasci, Ultegra and Avids.  Nothing wrong with my old cheap gear and they were working as good as new when I traded them in but they don't compare to the better stuff.

[MassYak85]

I think it's good for everyone to tinker with their reels at some point. I'll pony up the money for nice gear where it makes sense. But honestly, most of the time, reels aren't one of them. I fish the Tatula/Feugo platform for most of my reels. The Fuegos can be had for 80 bucks on sale a lot of times and are very easy to work on so I upgrade them where it makes sense. Cheaper reels are a nice way to learn anyways in case you make a mistake.

 

I'm not familiar with your reels but some things you can (probably) do...

 

- Carbontex drag washers + Cals drag grease

- Uprade the spool bearings + a low viscosity oil like TSI

- Upgrade any bushings in the handle or levelwind to bearings 

- If you haven't cleaned it since you bought it already and are comfortable doing it, tear the reel down to the frame. It will give you good experience knowing how it goes together plus you can go easy on the grease when you relube everything. They usually pack it in there more than they should from the factory to get it past the warranty period.

- New handle. You can go as crazy as you want. There's cheap carbon ones out there or you can get some really nice handles that will cost you. 

- New spool, there's aftermarket ones out there for not too much. You can make a BFS reel if you really wanted. 

 

 

- 

 

[MassYak85]

13 hours ago, BaitFinesse said:

For like $30 you can make a Fuego into a reel that will beat the pants off a stock Pixy, Curado 50e or Casitas MGL as a finesse baitcaster.  Those Ray's spools are no joke.  It at least matches my Yumeya spool Scorpion 1000XT and Airy Red Pixy.

I've been meaning to do this to one but don't have a rod or technique in mind to do it with. 

 

I really love the fuegos though. With the malformed brakes they're really great value for the money and are a workhorse.