upgrade bearings

[coolhandlala]

Just installed my new abec 9 bearings from bronzefly... I put 1 drop of oil per bearing and after I noticed that they didn't spin nearly as long when spun on a pencil tip...is this normal? This is the first time I have upgraded bearing so I want to make sure to get it right. Did  do something wrong?  Too much lube?  I used Abu garcia reel oil.   

[fishinfewl]

I use the stock bearings because I'm afraid to mess w/ my baitcasters.   :'(

[smalliefisher1980]

I had the same question when I was putting my new ones in. I found out this is pretty much normal. The friction from the lubricant and very little momentum won't allow them to spin as long as before. Put them in the reel and make some casts, you will be amazed.

john

[trevor]

I know for saltwater, you fill them with grease, but that is for corrosion protection.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

It is normal for oil to slightly and temporarily slow a bearing, especially one with tight tolerances.

[BobP]

If you test spin a bearing that has just been solvent soaked, it still has solvent in it and will spin a long time because the solvent acts as a short term super low viscosity lubricant.  Let it sit until that solvent evaporates and it will not spin long at all.  Lube it with bearing oil and it will still not spin because of the surface tension of the oil.  But install it in a reel and the spool mass overcomes the oil's surface tension and the spool will spin much longer.  This all points to a couple of tips:

Use a low viscosity solvent to flush bearings, or alternatively, let them soak for a long time.  I use ether based starting fluid.  Can't get much lower viscosity than that!

Let the bearing dry after flushing until it no longer spins easily on a pencil tip.  Then you know all the solvent has evaporated.

The thinner the oil you use to lube the bearing, the easier it will spin in the reel.  But there is a trade-off.  Super thin oils get thrown out of the bearing easier and will not last very long.  Thick oils will last a long time but will cause more resistance in the bearing.

JMHO, if you go to the expense of buying ABEC-9's, you want to use an oil thinner than Abu Silicote Reel Oil.  I use thick oils like Abu on non-spool bearings.  It works fine in low speed bearings and stays in the bearings longer.  For high speed spool bearings, oils like Yellow Rocket Fuel, Quantum Hot Sauce, Reel Butter Bearing Lube, Friction Zero, etc are popular.  FYI, the viscosity of Abu is 176 at 78 degrees F.  Yellow Rocket is 59, Hot Sauce is 25, Friction Zero is 8.  I've used Yellow Rocket for years and like it.  Hot Sauce is good but I simply hate the red dye.  Friction Zero?  Maybe too fast for an old man

[coolhandlala]

who's the old man?

[uicdent11]

I've noticed the same thing with my stock bearings post flushing them in solvent. They spun forever on a pencil.  I blew them out with an air compressor several times from both sides and they eventually barely spun. I assumed they were now dry of solvent. Placed a drop of reel mechanics oil and spun them on a pencil. They spun, but not for a very long time. Put them back in the reel and spun the spool (no line) and it was better, but not what I thought. Once I put on line and taped it down, the spool finally spun like I thought it would.

Believe me, I was a little disappointed when they barely spun with fresh oil. Everything will be fine once you get them in the spool and spin it a few times.

[RedhookRR]

What is the viscosity of Reel Butter Bearing Lube.  BobP you listed the others but thios one.  Wondering what it is if you know.

[coolhandlala]

reel butter viscosity is 28

[RedhookRR]

Thanks cool

[skunked_again]

If you test spin a bearing that has just been solvent soaked, it still has solvent in it and will spin a long time because the solvent acts as a short term super low viscosity lubricant. Let it sit until that solvent evaporates and it will not spin long at all. Lube it with bearing oil and it will still not spin because of the surface tension of the oil. But install it in a reel and the spool mass overcomes the oil's surface tension and the spool will spin much longer. This all points to a couple of tips:

Use a low viscosity solvent to flush bearings, or alternatively, let them soak for a long time. I use ether based starting fluid. Can't get much lower viscosity than that!

Let the bearing dry after flushing until it no longer spins easily on a pencil tip. Then you know all the solvent has evaporated.

The thinner the oil you use to lube the bearing, the easier it will spin in the reel. But there is a trade-off. Super thin oils get thrown out of the bearing easier and will not last very long. Thick oils will last a long time but will cause more resistance in the bearing.

JMHO, if you go to the expense of buying ABEC-9's, you want to use an oil thinner than Abu Silicote Reel Oil. I use thick oils like Abu on non-spool bearings. It works fine in low speed bearings and stays in the bearings longer. For high speed spool bearings, oils like Yellow Rocket Fuel, Quantum Hot Sauce, Reel Butter Bearing Lube, Friction Zero, etc are popular. FYI, the viscosity of Abu is 176 at 78 degrees F. Yellow Rocket is 59, Hot Sauce is 25, Friction Zero is 8. I've used Yellow Rocket for years and like it. Hot Sauce is good but I simply hate the red dye. Friction Zero? Maybe too fast for an old man

great post, thanks.

[NOVA Angler]

Are special pliers needed to remove the spool pin?  I've seen the tool that some people make at home, but I don't have have access to a drill press to make one.  Any other suggestions?

[BobP]

I'm not saying it isn't ideal to remove an axle pin but I never have on the bunch of Curado 200's I have.  On the rare occasion when I thought that bearing needed flushing instead of just re-lubing, I just soaked the end of the whole spool assembly in naphtha to flush it.  'Course, you have to strip the line off to do that but so what?  You surely do not want to bend that axle pin - or the axle itself!   

[DpDvr]

Are special pliers needed to remove the spool pin? I've seen the tool that some people make at home, but I don't have have access to a drill press to make one. Any other suggestions?

proreelservice.com has the pliers you are looking for.

[NOVA Angler]

Are special pliers needed to remove the spool pin? I've seen the tool that some people make at home, but I don't have have access to a drill press to make one. Any other suggestions?

proreelservice.com has the pliers you are looking for.

Thanks...I just ordered them as well as some Yellow Rocket Fuel.