Performance Upgrades for Revo S??

[LAO162]

I have a Revo S(L) that I intent to put on an All Star Platinum P787C.  I generally do not have the need for a Heavy power action so the combo will not see extensive use.  I find the smoothness and drag of the Revo S to be more than sufficient for my needs.

However, would polishing the friction points and replacing a couple bearings significantly improve the casting performance?

I've been spoiled by my Chronarch 51mg and Quantum TE 1171.  They handle lighter baits better and more importantly (esp. for me ) they are more forgiving in terms of backlashing.

I suspect that the service and upgrades would cost less than selling the Revo S and applying the proceeds to a premium reel.  Thanks for your thoughts.

Leon

[s13john]

you can do a whole lot. Bearing upgrades, drag, repace the spool  with one of these.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/@0_mall/proshopks/cabinet/abu-elitecb-spool.jpg&imgrefurl=http://item.rakuten.co.jp/proshopks/abu-elitecb-spool/&usg=__FxEDD8II8sGkd7ieg2fmy5-qvrY=&h=369&w=550&sz=40&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=Yq_pdkMw_fQ0HM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drevo%2Bcb%2Bspool%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1C1GGLS_enUS362US362%26um%3D1

if i remember correctly its a 2pc spool so you have to get the part from the spool tension knob that contacts the spool.

[Raul]

Call 1-800-DUMBLEDORE, ask the dude to wave his magic wand and turn the Revos S into a Citica. 

[SWMIBASSER]

This is a good reel, that doesn't really need much.

With that said....Yes you can do tons of things to it.

Leave the drag stock. I like to polish the metal drag washers and gear surfaces. Add a Carbon Matrix drag washer from an Ambassadeur under the main gear. Grease the washers for a smoother start up.

Also I like to polish the star wheel that re-engages the clutch that is under the main gear. This is also a drag surface.

Polish the metal pawl that re-engages the cam components, and the frame where this part slides. A thin coat of grease here, as well as between the pinion ramp, and slides makes the engagement, disengagement a lot more positive.

Polish the inside of the pinion, spool pin face of the pinion, spool shaft ends, and I like to do the spool shaft as well-where the pinion rides...Avoid the spool shaft where it is bearing supported.

Polish the friction ring on the centrifugal drum.

As far as upgrades that require buying parts there are TONS.

Revo Skeet Reese spool, Revo Elite CB spool, Revo Aurora spool, and Avail, all offer light weight spools made for a centrifugal brake reel.

You need the spool shaft and c-clip from the any of the Revo reels with infini-spool, to complete those spool swaps....

Upgraded bearings. Boca offers Abec 5 and 7's in stainless/ceramic hybrids with stainless shields, and 7's with seals. I've used the Abec 5 hybrids on quite a few reels now with good success.

Change all three spool bearings when using the stock spool. One in the palm plate, one on the spool shaft, and one in the cast control knob location.

If changing to the infini-spool you can save some bucks and keep the stock bearing in the cast control knob.

You can upgrade the levelwind system to a two bearing system as used on the STX. This gets the coated worm gear as well for increased wear resistance. There is also a ceramic pawl available for the levelwind. I'm not sure if that is a good idea or not however....May increase wear on the worm gear which is more expensive to replace than the pawl.

There is also a Duralumin worm gear used in the BPS Carbon Lite, that would be a part used to reduce weight.

All BPS gears from an Extreme or Pro Qualifier will swap in. 4.7, 5.4, 6.3, 7.1.

Revo Premier and Skeet reese reels offer a Duralumin main/pinion gear in 6.3.1 as well as a drilled Duralumin main shaft. Together these parts reduce weight a bunch.

The Revo Aurora Elite in Australia uses 7.1.1 gears/mainshaft in Duralumin for a light, high speed gear set.

Revo Premier screws, including the main quick screw on top are a lighter part than on the S, SX, STX reels.

There are quite a few carbon handle options. Bassart, ZPI, Mikes Reel Repair, Pflueger Patriarch XT, and BPS Carbon Lite all offer carbon handles that will fit the Revo.

Pure Fishing Japan offers aftermarket machined aluminum knobs in gold, green, blue, and maybe silver that fit Revo handles, or any handle that accepts stock Revo knobs.

Several BPS reels, and Daiwa reels have star drags that will interchange.

Hope this helps.

You have a bunch of options if you want to go the upgrade route.

[LAO162]

Call 1-800-DUMBLEDORE, ask the dude to wave his magic wand and turn the Revos S into a Citica.

LOL ;D

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. However, I can't complain about the Revo. My Techna AV / Revo S was about $175 net of shipping & rebate. Still one of my best deals ever

[LAO162]

Wow, lots of great info.  It will take me a bit to digest it all.

Thinking very simply on my part (the only way I can ).  Polishing & ABEC 5 bearings for the spool might be about $60 to $70 round trip from a reliable pro (wild guess).  If so, I'm figuring $70 tuning plus $60 net resale value would make the tuned Revo a $130 value.  Would these basic upgrades lead to performance better than other $130 (or wishfully thinking $200) reels that are currently available?

Worst case, I keep the Revo S as is, and save funds for the Reel(s) that I'm planning to get for my more frequently used rod(s).

Thanks!!

[wsmith]

^^^  Will the BPS Carbon Lite drag star fit the Revo S as well?  I upgraded my bearings in my steez so im taking the old ones out and putting them in my Revo S;  its my second reel.  I aslo ordered another 3x10x4 from diawa for the spool tension knob locaction.  I was going to stop at spool bearings and polish but i would love a recurved handle as well.  Thanks

[rubba bubba]

Call 1-800-DUMBLEDORE, ask the dude to wave his magic wand and turn the Revos S into a Citica.

He wants to improve the Revo S, not downgrade it.

[Big Bait Fishing]

Call 1-800-DUMBLEDORE, ask the dude to wave his magic wand and turn the Revos S into a Citica.

He wants to improve the Revo S, not downgrade it.

X2 , in my opinion the Revo s is twice the reel the citica is ......

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Wow, lots of great info. It will take me a bit to digest it all.

Thinking very simply on my part (the only way I can ). Polishing & ABEC 5 bearings for the spool might be about $60 to $70 round trip from a reliable pro (wild guess). If so, I'm figuring $70 tuning plus $60 net resale value would make the tuned Revo a $130 value. Would these basic upgrades lead to performance better than other $130 (or wishfully thinking $200) reels that are currently available?

Worst case, I keep the Revo S as is, and save funds for the Reel(s) that I'm planning to get for my more frequently used rod(s).

Thanks!!

$28 Clean/Polish/Lube

$27.95 ABEC 5 Ceramic Hybrid Bearings

-$5.60 10% discount

$8.50 x 2 shipping

$67.35 total TYD

http://www.delawarevalleytackle.com/

[J Francho]

Revo S respond really well to a simple cleaning and bearing flush.  9/10 times a bearing upgrade is superfluous.  Without upgrading the spool, I don't think you'll realize all the performance of faster bearings on the water.  Sitting on the bench is a different story.

[ksbasser]

$28 Clean/Polish/Lube

$27.95 ABEC 5 Ceramic Hybrid Bearings

-$5.60 10% discount

$8.50 x 2 shipping

$67.35 total TYD

http://www.delawarevalleytackle.com/

WOW.

[LAO162]

$28 Clean/Polish/Lube

$27.95 ABEC 5 Ceramic Hybrid Bearings

-$5.60 10% discount

$8.50 x 2 shipping

$67.35 total TYD

http://www.delawarevalleytackle.com/

I wasn't that far off in my estimate. Sounds like a great value

I guess I have to open the can of Senkos...

How would the performance of asuper tuned Revo S compare to a stock, cleaned & lubed Curado E?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

A thorough cleaning and proper lube will improve the performance of most any reel. I prefer to focus on getting the most out of what a reel has to offer rather than try to compare it to something else.

[Big Bait Fishing]

if you are gonna change out bearings , you might as well try to find a lighter spool for it , that will get you throwing light lures just as good or better than the core !!