Do you guys deep clean your Baitcasters' AR bearings?

[newapti5]

Since the AR bearing is locked in the sideplate, usually I'd just use Q-tips to wipe it clean, and put some oil in it.  But do you guys dissemble it from the sideplate and deep-clean it thoroughly ? I do that with SOME spinning reel AR bearings, but never try that with BC reel AR bearings. 

Edited July 21, 2023 by newapti5

[garroyo130]

On the old white cage roller style, I used to take it completely apart and clean and re oil. On the modern ones which have a colored rubber around the rollers I don't even oil or deep clean unless I'm having issues. I have some that are going on 5 years and working well without ever being touched.

[newapti5]

5 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

I have some that are going on 5 years and working well without ever being touched.

 

Yeah that's what I think, so I don't mess with them unless necessary. But lately I noticed some reels with new gears and new clean bearings are still sort of geary, which makes me think that maybe AR bearing is the issue. 

[gim]

I take mine in for a complete disassembly, cleaning, and lubrication about every other year.  So yes, they get deep cleaned, but no, I do not do it myself.

[fin]

 I just went through the process of cleaning two Lew’s baitcasters that had been underwater for a few years. The insides were full of mud. On one of them I cleaned the one-way clutch with a Q-tip and mineral spirits, on the other, just water and a Q-tip. No oil. I’ve made that mistake before. lol.

 

I had no problems with either of those bearings - no slipping, no grittiness, nothing. The only problem I had was with one of the bearings behind the spool tensioner on one reel. That reel had a rough feeling to it, but that feeling would go away when I took out the spool. That’s how I tracked down the problem.

 

The bearing would turn freely, but occasionally it would stick a little. It’s kind of strange that translates into a ‘rough feeling’, but if you think about the spool shaft turning inside a bearing that's locked-up, it makes sense. Anyway, I sprayed some PB Blaster on the bearing and let it sit for a few minutes, then it turned freely. I re-oiled it, put it back in the reel and after that, the reel turns smoothly.

 

I’ve found that just because you expect the problem to be one thing doesn’t mean that’s where the problem really is. Sometimes you just create new problems.

 

I would suggest checking all the other bearings very carefully. I used an old broken rod that I removed all the guides from. Slide the bearing down the rod until it gets stuck, and then it's real easy to check how well it turns.

[newapti5]

Thanks for the detailed explanation! I use a bearing checking tool like this to check bearings' conditions, and you're right, sometimes although the bearing feel ok when rotated by my finger, it's already damaged on some level and shows when under load.

 

 

[MickD]

I don't deep clean anything.  I will disassemble to the first "layer," and that's all.  If anything else is necessary, I send them to a pro reel servicer.  Too easy to screw something up with these modern, very complex reels.  And they don't really need much attention beyond the first "layer" unless they've spent some time under water, which is pretty unusual.

 

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

If the AR will come out I soak them like any other bearing. If not, I do repeated spray with Simple Green, swab and rinse with hot water then finish with swab of acetone or alcohol. 

[redmeansdistortion]

I blow them out with CRC electronics cleaner, it's doesn't damage the plastic and leaves no residue behind.  I shoot it till the cleaner is coming out clear then let it dry and oil her up with some ISO 100.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

15 minutes ago, redmeansdistortion said:

I blow them out with CRC electronics cleaner, it's doesn't damage the plastic and leaves no residue behind.  I shoot it till the cleaner is coming out clear then let it dry and oil her up.

This works well too. I avoid it just because I do so many and don’t want exposure to the vapors. 

[fin]

7 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

This works well too. I avoid it just because I do so many and don’t want exposure to the vapors. 

 

Not cheap anymore either. I've got a can that's half full but the pressure is gone from it. Aggravating.

 

I said earlier I used water to clean one, but to be clear, it had Dawn dishwashing liquid in it, which is a mild de-greaser.

[Catt]

My AR doesn't have bearings!

 

[PourMyOwn]

2 hours ago, fin said:

 

Not cheap anymore either. I've got a can that's half full but the pressure is gone from it. Aggravating.

 

Wear safety glasses please if you try this...

 

I've had good luck blowing compressed air back into cans like that. A couple of quick blasts with an air gun may fix it. 

[fin]

1 hour ago, PourMyOwn said:

Wear safety glasses please if you try this...

 

I've had good luck blowing compressed air back into cans like that. A couple of quick blasts with an air gun may fix it. 

 

Oh wow, never would have considered that. I'll try it if I didn't throw out the can. I have one of those covid face shields I could use.

[bulldog1935]

A/R roller bearings need Grease - oil can cause them to lock up.  

 

 a drop of oil doesn't hurt them, in fact, the sleeve that rides on the rolling elements should get a drop of oil.  But if there's nothing inside the roller bearing but low-viscosity oil, the surface tension can lock them so they don't release.  The perfect viscosity to lubricate A/R roller bearings is about 30wt or Phil Tenacious.  

[ska4fun]

Pressurized water, soap and silicon grease.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

2 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

A/R roller bearings need Grease - oil can cause them to lock up.  

Sorry but that’s backwards. Grease is too thick and can cause the little springs to clog and not lock. A swab of light oil is all it takes. 

[J Francho]

I wouldn't grease an AR bearing. Ever. A vapor thin coating of oil is all it takes. Go ahead and pack that crankshaft support bearing in the side plate and the bearing in the frame if you're going for that buttery feel, but no grease in the AR pack. 

[cadman]

I clean all my reels and my friends reels and never ever grease on an AR bearing. Dip cotton swab in alcohol and then keep cleaning until clean.  I don't coat with anything after it is clean, but in the past I have used a light film of oil.

[newapti5]

Although I've only oiled my AR bearings, I think the choice of grease or oil might depend on the size of the AR bearing. For a large size AR bearing in an Abu 6000 reel, light grease should be fine, but for the small ones in most low profile BCs, I'd stick with what works for me.