Upgraded bearings

[BassSteve]

So I ordered a couple sets of hybrid ceramic spool bearings for two of my reels. They are the ones with the orange side covers.

 

It has instructions that come with them that say do not open the side covers, that if you do want to add oil, just add half a drop on the outside and it will work it's way in.  Otherwise according to the description these bearings are ok to be run "dry". Should I add the half drop of oil, or just install them as is? Thanks 

[iabass8]

Remove the rubber orange seal and throw them away. if you didn’t get bocas, flush them and add one drop of oil to quiet them down. Orange seals can be ran dry but they’re incredibly noisy. 

[newapti5]

In my experience, if you mind the noise, removing the seal will only make it louder. The bearing may rotate a bit better without seals, but it's easier for debris and dirt to get in, making the bearing even noiser.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The orange seals are supposed to be non contact but aren’t always. Don’t bother trying to remove and reinstall them. Run them dry open or sealed. They’re a performance part. Slowing them down with oil to quiet them is like choking a performance vehicle with the stick exhaust. If sound trumps speed for you go with ABEC7 stainless with tsi 321 

[casts_by_fly]

10 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

The orange seals are supposed to be non contact but aren’t always. Don’t bother trying to remove and reinstall them. Run them dry open or sealed. They’re a performance part. Slowing them down with oil to quiet them is like choking a performance vehicle with the stick exhaust. If sound trumps speed for you go with ABEC7 stainless with tsi 321 

what reels do you recommend or see a benefit from upgrade bearings?  I think you’ve said in the past that abu uses pretty good ones in their mid to higher end. I would assume Daiwa and shimano bearings are pretty good for mid to higher end. 

[FishTank]

11 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

The orange seals are supposed to be non contact but aren’t always. Don’t bother trying to remove and reinstall them. Run them dry open or sealed. They’re a performance part. Slowing them down with oil to quiet them is like choking a performance vehicle with the stick exhaust. If sound trumps speed for you go with ABEC7 stainless with tsi 321 

 

I tried a few sets of Boca Orange seals (still have them in one reel) and didn't care for them at first. In one reel, they didn't fit properly so I removed the seals and the fit was fine but they did not feel smooth and were noisy. I added a drop of oil and it helped but not much. After about a year, they calmed down and are fantastic. I still can't figure this one out. The other set went into a buddy's old Curado (B or BSF can't remember). It's a casting machine. As far as I know, they have never been oiled or had the seals removed. 

 

Moving forward since then I have used metal shielded ABEC7 ceramics and I put a drop of TSI321 to keep the noise down at first, clean them a year or so later, and run dry if need be. You can definitely tell the difference between 321 and everything else. Great oil for bearings. 

[BassSteve]

8 minutes ago, FishTank said:

 

I tried a few sets of Boca Orange seals (still have them in one reel) and didn't care for them at first. In one reel, they didn't fit properly so I removed the seals and the fit was fine but they did not feel smooth and were noisy. I added a drop of oil and it helped but not much. After about a year, they calmed down and are fantastic. I still can't figure this one out. The other set went into a buddy's old Curado (B or BSF can't remember). It's a casting machine. As far as I know, they have never been oiled or had the seals removed. 

 

Moving forward since then I have used metal shielded ABEC7 ceramics and I put a drop of TSI321 to keep the noise down at first, clean them a year or so later, and run dry if need be. On you can definitely tell the difference between 321 and everything else. Great oil for bearings. 

So should I leave mine alone or add a tiny drop of oil to them, in your opinion? 

[FishTank]

1 minute ago, BassSteve said:

So should I leave mine alone or add a tiny drop of oil to them, in your opinion? 

 

I would install them as is and see how you like them. Oil can be added later if needed but don't get caught up in the free spool spinning you see in online videos. Get the bearings broke in and the reels braking set up for them is the key to get the most out of them.  

 

On a side note, not all newer reels see an improvement over the stock bearings or at best, it is marginal. For instance and some cases, I would use Shimano's top of the line bearings they use in the Conquest, Metanium, Antares, etc, before I would use ceramics

[BassSteve]

27 minutes ago, FishTank said:

 

I would install them as is and see how you like them. Oil can be added later if needed but don't get caught up in the free spool spinning you see in online videos. Get the bearings broke in and the reels braking set up for them is the key to get the most out of them.  

 

On a side note, not all newer reels see an improvement over the stock bearings or at best, it is marginal. For instance and some cases, I would use Shimano's top of the line bearings they use in the Conquest, Metanium, Antares, etc, before I would use ceramics

Well just so you are aware, I am replacing the factory spool bearings for my curado 70xg and scorpion bfs jdm reel with the ceramic hybrid bearings. Do you think I will see an improvement with these? 

[FishTank]

20 minutes ago, BassSteve said:

Well just so you are aware, I am replacing the factory spool bearings for my curado 70xg and scorpion bfs jdm reel with the ceramic hybrid bearings. Do you think I will see an improvement with these? 

 

It's hard to say. Today's stock bearings are a lot better than they used to be and it might depend on the bearings you bought. Not all bearings are of the same quality even though they may have an ABEC7 rating. Weird stuff....

 

I am also going to punt on this one. @Delaware Valley Tackle would probably be the best at answering that question. 

[BassSteve]

14 minutes ago, FishTank said:

 

It's hard to say. Today's stock bearings are a lot better than they used to be and it might depend on the bearings you bought. Not all bearings are of the same quality even though they may have an ABEC7 rating. Weird stuff....

 

I am also going to punt on this one. @Delaware Valley Tackle would probably be the best at answering that question. 

The sets I bought are "tournament champion series"...."ABEC-7 tolerances, Grade 5 Si3N4 ceramic balls, and aircraft grade 440C stainless steel construction". That's the description it has for them

[FishTank]

24 minutes ago, BassSteve said:

The sets I bought are "tournament champion series"...."ABEC-7 tolerances, Grade 5 Si3N4 ceramic balls, and aircraft grade 440C stainless steel construction". That's the description it has for them

 

I have used or have experience with bearings from Boca, Hedgehog, ZPI, and the factory stock replacements. I have also heard of people using Spool High Speed bearings but I know nothing about them. 

 

If you have already purchased them, I would try them and see what you think. If nothing else, you have an extra set if one of them goes bad.  You could also try a before and after. Tie on a casting plug and see how far you get with the original bearings, install the new ones and see what you experience the next time you are out. It takes less than 15min to swap them in and out in most reels but looking at the Curado BFS schematic, I would take my time. Looks tricky.

 

https://www.reelschematic.com/wp-content/uploads/schematics/Shimano/Curado/Shimano Curado CUBFSXGR.pdf 

 

 

[BassSteve]

1 hour ago, FishTank said:

 

I have used or have experience with bearings from Boca, Hedgehog, ZPI, and the factory stock replacements. I have also heard of people using Spool High Speed bearings but I know nothing about them. 

 

If you have already purchased them, I would try them and see what you think. If nothing else, you have an extra set if one of them goes bad.  You could also try a before and after. Tie on a casting plug and see how far you get with the original bearings, install the new ones and see what you experience the next time you are out. It takes less than 15min to swap them in and out in most reels but looking at the Curado BFS schematic, I would take my time. Looks tricky.

 

https://www.reelschematic.com/wp-content/uploads/schematics/Shimano/Curado/Shimano Curado CUBFSXGR.pdf 

 

 

Yeah i will have to see, I don't feel like tearing the reels down today I will do it next weekend probably

[FishTank]

2 minutes ago, BassSteve said:

Yeah i will have to see, I don't feel like tearing the reels down today I will do it next weekend probably

 

Something I should have asked....  if you have not done this before, a few pieces of advice..... Have a reel schematic handy, take your time, watch some videos on how to do it, have the proper tools and be careful with the retaining clips.  

 

Good luck. 

[BassSteve]

6 minutes ago, FishTank said:

 

Something I should have asked....  if you have not done this before, a few pieces of advice..... Have a reel schematic handy, take your time, watch some videos on how to do it, have the proper tools and be careful with the retaining clips.  

 

Good luck. 

It's been a while but I have done it before, I appreciate the warning though ?