bearings, bearings, bearings!

[tarpon6]

Alan, for spool bearings that are sealed, do you leave the seals off after cleaning, and lubing?

[alantani]

yeah, i leave spool bearings open. side plate and pressure plate bearings are greased and then the seals are pressed back in.

[eli]

Alantani

What do you think of boca bearings hybrid ceramic bearings? i figure that would help with the corrosion issue in open spool bearings. also for what its worth, i found that starting fluid is a really good cleaner that dissolves grease well and has high pressure. i like it for the fact that it leaves no residue. the down side is it turns the bearings really cold which in turn condensates. so ill just put a hair dryer on the bearing to quickly evaporate the condensation.

[alantani]

Originally Posted by eli

Alantani

What do you think of boca bearings hybrid ceramic bearings? i figure that would help with the corrosion issue in open spool bearings. also for what its worth, i found that starting fluid is a really good cleaner that dissolves grease well and has high pressure. i like it for the fact that it leaves no residue. the down side is it turns the bearings really cold which in turn condensates. so ill just put a hair dryer on the bearing to quickly evaporate the condensation.

i'm old school and i don't really trust ceramic bearings. no particular reason. i do know that they will rust just the same. i understand that the bass guys really go for these ceramic bearings. that and rocket fuel or quantum's hot sauce. remember that my favorite corrosion x is like pancake syrup compared to these other lubes. they want the wiffle spool of a curado to spin for 60 seconds. i want the aluminum spool of a penn 4/0 to spin for 20 seconds. big difference!

as far as cleaning fluids go, i will check on the starting fluid. never tried it before. i still have a case of carb cleaner left and will check into it when it's done. what i have set up with the compressor works pretty well, though. i can have a bearing clean and spinning for 10 seconds in no time.

[Keta]

Starting fluid works well but is highly flammable. Best used outdoors.

[aguachico]

Alan;

thanks so much for your advice and this thread. My reel maintenance will go to the next level now that I can service the bearing instead of just replace them.

Art

[speedgoat]

I love reading your posts Alan. I always learn something. Thank you.

[mmayo]

Alan,

As always - great job. Please list some time the proper sizes of recommended bearings from Boca Bearings for the following:

Progear/Newell
Shimano Trinidad/Torium (I think there are several different ones)
Avet SX and also LX/JX

Their website is so comprehensive that I want to get through it correctly.

Thanks,

Mark

[Spongerider]

2nd. that, please?

[Rubberhook2]

Very interesting thread.

I'm curious Alan if you have heard of ceramic bearings? My neighbor owns a bearing manufacturing company and provides bearings to all the major reel companies. He is in the final stages of designing a completely ceramic bearing that will outlast even stainless steel bearings with zero corrosion of the ceramic materials used. Yes, they will be expensive but could revolutionize salt water bearings for a variety of applications.

Just curious if you have heard of the ceramic bearings and if so what your thoughts are about them...

[orlilan]

Sorry about the basic question, I'm new to fishing...

Alan is talking about lubes being "good protection, lousy freespool" and others vice versa.
- What is freespool??? researched a lot on this and it seems to so basic a term that the glossaries all use it a lot but don't define it.
-Since some lubes provide good protection and lousy freespool and others the other way around, how do we take that into account? what to use where and in which circumstances?

Thanks a lot.

[yknot]

when the reel is out of gear. The setting used to cast a lure or bait or drop straight down.

Grady