ball bearings in spinning reel

[joshmb1999]

Is it correct to assume that the more ball bearings in a reel, the better the reel?  

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Nope if u have 5 abec 3 bearings and 3 abec 5 bearings the latter will last longer and be much smoother beside not many more bearings can be fit in a spinning reel . it will make a diff same as with a baitcaster .

[joshmb1999]

i don't understand...3 abec 5 bearings?  5 abec 3 bearings?  what does that mean?  sorry for my ignorance but i'm trying to learn...

[.RM.]

i don't understand...3 abec 5 bearings?  5 abec 3 bearings?  what does that mean?  sorry for my ignorance but i'm trying to learn...

No time like the present to learn.......

ABEC RATINGS

Tight Lines!!!

[NBR]

I wish someone would explain to me how ball bearings in a spinning reel improves reel performance over reels with just bushings? I agree that ball bearings make spinning reels smoother but since nothing rotates very fast I can't see how the bearings improve spinning reel performance.

Baitcasting reels are a different matter but beyond 2 maybe 3 bearings and the anti reverse roller bearing I don't believe more bearings in a baitcaster do anything but make the reel smoother, semi justify a higher price and give the reel manufacturer's marketing folks some thing to put in their literature.

[moby bass]

Only in extremely high speed applications like ultra high speed motors and precision measuring instruments can bearings above ABEC 1 affect performance. Regardless of how fast you plan to go, speed is affected first and foremost by the choice of lubricant.

Can I infer from this that anything over a 1 is unnecessary in a reel?  

[smallfry]

Is it correct to assume that the more ball bearings in a reel, the better the reel?  

It depends.  All else being equal bearings should reduce friction by turning a sliding friction into a rolling action.  This will make the reel more efficient, especially under load.  

However, to take full advantage of this the reel needs to be designed in a way to properly utilize the bearing (not just have the bearing thrown in to up the count).  I've seen bearing placed on parts in ways that the parts still rub in other places.  In that case, a useless bearing.

Also, as mentioned above the quality of the bearing can make a big difference in performance.  ABEC rating is one aspect of this, as tolerances on the outside/inside bearing dimensions effects how accurately parts are held and can thus effect the smoothness of the reel.  But there is more to it than that, as the ABEC rating system doesn't fully measure the smoothness/noise of the bearing itself.  I've seen ABEC 5 bearings that probably aren't as smooth as a bushing would be.  

[smallfry]

Only in extremely high speed applications like ultra high speed motors and precision measuring instruments can bearings above ABEC 1 affect performance. Regardless of how fast you plan to go, speed is affected first and foremost by the choice of lubricant.

Can I infer from this that anything over a 1 is unnecessary in a reel?  

"Performance" in that article is based mostly on "speed".  In reels "smoothness" and efficiency may be better definitions for performance.

What that article states about sloppy parts creating lost energy is true for the bearing as well.  Granted, if the reel is designed with sloppy parts (similar to what they describe on some the roller blades parts) using a more precise bearing may not help enough to create a noticeable difference.  However, if the other parts are precise, using a bearing with tighter tolerances may yield better alignment/smoothness/efficiency/etc.  That said, as I said above ABEC rating alone doesn't guaruntee bearing performance.