How Often Should You Replace Baitcasting Reel Bearings?

[Situize]

I'm curious how often you guys go before replacing stock bearings on baitcasting reels (the bearing on the spool near pinion, bearing inside the tension knob area, and the bearing in the break side plate.) I've noticed that my oldest baitcaster is starting to have some bearing "whine" and doesn't spin as freely as it did on day one. I know a lot of people "degrease" the bearings straight from factory when they get them and instead use oil to lubricate the bearings which allows them to spin more freely. I clean my reel regularly but haven't ever soaked the bearings in a degreaser to get rid of the factory grease inside. I only ask since my bearings are starting to get old (2-3 years) and wondered if it would be more practical to replace them all together instead of going through the process of soaking in degreaser and using oil to see marginal increase in benefit when I could just purchase new high speed ceramic bearings.

[Situize]

Also, any suggestions for good high speed bearings (3 bearings mentioned) that would work in a Lew's Tournament MB Left Hand?

[EzyEric]

Practicality also includes cost, which can be quite high for a "high speed" upgrade kit.  Hardest part is taking them out which you have to do to upgrade anyway.  I was going to do this exact thing for one of my older shimanos a few years back but then I learned how to properly clean bearings.  I soak mine in brake cleaner (in a pill bottle or other small plastic container) overnight.  The results have been as good as or sometimes better than they were new.  So I have actually never "upgraded" any yet.  

 

It's up to you of course as it is possible they are going bad and cleaning won't resolve that. I have only had this happen with a few over 10 years though.  

[Deleted account]

As required, not on a time schedule. Properly cleaned and lubed bearings are more important than "upgrades". I sell expensive bearings for a living, so don't tell the cyclists...

[Reel]

I use Shimano reels and their stock bearings are really good.  Like the poster above, I change when necessary but some of my reels have 15 or even 20 year old bearings and make no noise.  I lube them regularly ( 2/3 times a year) with a superior quality very light oil.  Doing so is very important.

[Jig Man]

I did the upgrade once.  I sent my Curados to a guy in Alabama for deep cleaning, super tuning, and ceramic bearings.  That helped some, but not a lot.  I also used to pull my bearings and soak them in naphtha or acetone to clean them, then put the latest greatest high speed oil on them.  I finally went back to Shimano oil on my bearings.  Now my regimen is when one is casting short I put a small amount of oil on the bearings and clean and oil the brake drum.  I haven’t needed to soak them for a very long time.

[MickD]

If one takes care of them he may never have to replace them.  I have never replaced them exc for one reel that I sent to be super tuned.

 

The idiot ruined a nice Calcutta 100, cost me a big chunk of money to have it rebuilt by a reputable reel servicer.  Be cautious about whom you send your reels to for super tuning.  (My experience was not with DVT)

[desmobob]

I have about a dozen Lew's reels and have replaced the stock bearings with hybrid ceramics on most of them by now, mostly because I like to tinker with my reels during the long northern NY winters.

 

In my experience, most of the times I think a bearing has gone bad it turns out to merely be dirty.  I have a very handy bearing flushing tool -just an inexpensive plastic device from an R/C shop- that allows me to really flush out bearings with a few blasts of aerosol brake cleaner.  I think this is far more effective than just soaking them, and certainly a lot quicker.  

 

Once a bearing is flushed, a couple of good spins will tell you if it's OK or if it's damaged.  If it's OK, it gets a light application of bearing oil (White Lightning, etc.) and reinstalled in the reel.  If a bearing is noisy or rough when spun after cleaning, it gets replaced.  That has happened a few times in my reels, but not very often.

 

It's satisfying to check a bearing, clean and lube it, and then see how much easier and longer it spins after maintenance.  

 

 

[Jigfishn10]

You serious, you only got 2-3 years out of your bearings? I take out and let them soak in acetone or some type of degreaser. Rinse and dry with compressed air and then a drop or 2 of reel oil. Not sure how long I got, but it's more than 2 or 3 years.

[MN Fisher]

13 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

You serious, you only got 2-3 years out of your bearings? I take out and let them soak in acetone or some type of degreaser. Rinse and dry with compressed air and then a drop or 2 of reel oil. Not sure how long I got, but it's more than 2 or 3 years.

I'm with Jig - properly cared for, you should get decades of use out of a set of bearings.

 

I've got one reel here that I don't use anymore, mainly because it's all plastic (even the spool), super-low IPT, and heavier than any of my other reels...but I could use it if needed. 40 years old, original bearings, and it's still functional.

[gim]

34 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Not sure how long I got, but it's more than 2 or 3 years.

I have some bait casters that are 15 years old and have never replaced the bearings.  I do take them in for a "deep cleaning" every few years though.  I'm sure some people get them cleaned annually.  It probably depends on how often you use them and in what kind of conditions they get used.

 

Preventative maintenance is the solution.  I'd rather just keep them in good operating condition than start replacing parts...or buying a new reel.

 

Wayzata Bait & Tackle just did 5 of mine this past February for about 110 bucks.

[DaubsNU1]

All my reels are close to 30 years old -- Shimano. I clean and oil every spring. Never even thought about replacing bearings...they work just fine.

[FishTank]

I replace them by feel and sometimes just for the fun of it but when a bearing needs to be replaced there are several things that could cause it. Most bearings go bad from not being cleaned and oiled. Some get abused by just how you fish. Another factor to me is braid. It carries more water back into the reel and if the water is dirty so is your reel. This build up of gunk and dirt eventually works its way into the inside causing multiple issues.  An extra cleaning or two can keep your bearings going for years. One of the Calcuttas I have, has the original bearings that are 15+ years old.

 

There are other factors that cause a reel to whine besides the spool bearings.  Depending on the reel...  the brake racing could need oil, spool shaft could be worn, the spool or the frame has a bad spot, the spacer under the cast cap could be shot, spool support bearing (x-ship in Shimano reels), etc. 

 

I'd say test them on a pencil after cleaning,  then swap the spool bearings from another reel and see if you still have it.

[cyclops2]

I never oil, almost never, any reels. UNLESS  I drop the rod into the water .  Geezer !!  

[Situize]

3 hours ago, desmobob said:

 I have a very handy bearing flushing tool -just an inexpensive plastic device from an R/C shop- that allows me to really flush out bearings with a few blasts of aerosol brake cleaner.

Could you link where to get one of these? Looking to clean my bearings this weekend and sounds like this would be helpful.

[desmobob]

51 minutes ago, Situize said:

Could you link where to get one of these? Looking to clean my bearings this weekend and sounds like this would be helpful.

 The brand and model I have is "RPM Bearing Blaster" and it can be found on eBay and Amazon.

[J Francho]

A Bearing Blaster is nice if you have bearings packed in grease.  I always soak them in acetone and then a final soak in alcohol before reinstalling.

[desmobob]

12 minutes ago, J Francho said:

A Bearing Blaster is nice if you have bearings packed in grease.  I always soak them in acetone and then a final soak in alcohol before reinstalling.

I believe the Bearing Blaster and aerosol spray is more likely to dislodge bits of dirt or sand that may be fouling the bearings, while also being quicker than soaking.  On the other hand, it is a bit fidgety to use.  

 

And a BIG caution when using aerosol brake cleaner:  keep it away from sensitive surfaces and materials!  

 

I turned a section of the paint on an expensive reel's side plate to "wrinkle finish" by letting it come in contact with a rag that was damp with brake cleaner.  I also destroyed the finish on the front of my coffee table when I decided to do some bearing maintenance while watching TV in the living room. 

?

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

9 minutes ago, desmobob said:

I believe the Bearing Blaster and aerosol spray is more likely to dislodge bits of dirt or sand that may be fouling the bearings, while also being quicker than soaking.  On the other hand, it is a bit fidgety to use.  

 

And a BIG caution when using aerosol brake cleaner:  keep it away from sensitive surfaces and materials!  

 

I turned a section of the paint on an expensive reel's side plate to "wrinkle finish" by letting it come in contact with a rag that was damp with brake cleaner.  I also destroyed the finish on the front of my coffee table when I decided to do some bearing maintenance while watching TV in the living room. 

?

Different brake cleaners have different chemicals like naphtha heptane toluene. There is one CRC brakleen that has just acetone in it that is what I get for use with the bearing blaster.

Nice little tool to have.

 

 

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

There is one CRC brakleen that has just acetone in it that is what I get for use with the bearing blaster.

Good to know, thanks!

[Bankbeater]

I've never replaced bearings in any reel.  I soak them in rubbing alcohol for a couple of hours and then let them air dry.