bearings

[TonkaBass]

Anyone know where a guy can get his hands on some aftermarket bearings for some shimanos?

[Friar_Tuck]

google Boca Bearings. you can also get the orange seal ceramic hybrids ABEC 7. they are shipped dry but just add a small drop of oil...

[RK]

Friar Tuck is right on. Boca Bearing is the place...

[Superduty]

Those guys are absolutely right. I couldn't be happier with the service I received from Boca. You will nee 3x10x4 spool bearings. I would soak them in degreaser when you get them to be safe. Blow dry with compressed air, then add your drop of oil. Boca has a great oil also.

[luckycrank]

are their bearings that good seems expensive to in vest 50 in to a hundo real.

[Superduty]

You can get two orange seals for the spool for a lot less than $50. I paid around $12 ea. $119.95 for a ten pack. You can also buy ABEC 5's for about $8ea. The spool bearing are the only bearings that affect casting distance, nothing else moves when the reel is in free spool.

[Superduty]

Another cheap and easy trick is to remove your stock bearings and degrease them. Oil with one drop and put back in reel. It will be WAY better than the way it came from the factory. All reel manufacturers put grease in the bearings to quiet them down and make them feel smooth. The grease also slows down the spool. You can actually hear the hum of the bearings spinning with upgraded bearings lubed properly.

[slipperybob]

Sent you a PM.

[mww24]

how does this affect casting? Does it hurt or help backlashes?

[TonkaBass]

Super duty or anyone, on the boca HSOforum do you have to enter 1 for qty to get 2 bearings for one reel? Do you get one reels bearings for $29??? Talking about the orange ones

[slipperybob]

how does this affect casting? Does it hurt or help backlashes?

Upgrading bearings generally will make the casting smoother. In some instances it will help out with getting more casting distance, but that's all about setting brakes and spool cast control knob after the upgrade. Personally I find backlashes are reduced, simply due to less effort in the casting since the spool operates smoother.

[Superduty]

Tonka,

It looks to me that you get (2) bearings for $29. It's definitely cheaper if you order the 4 pks or 10 pks. I found a fishing buddy and we went in on bearings together. They will give you free ups shipping if the order hits a higher dollar amount. If it's a small order you pay usps postage rates. Postage is not too bad since bearings are small and are mailed in a padded envelope.

[TonkaBass]

I ordered four 2 packs last night because I didn't see the 10 pack on their site. Surfing with a cell phone will do that. I called them and changed my order to the 10 pack this morning though and it was the same price as buying 4 of the 2 packs. They are supposed to come lightly lubed unless you request them dry. Does it matter? I just told them to send me the pre oiled ones...

[Superduty]

I've heard they are pretty good either way from Boca. It is pretty easy to degrease them and relube. You are going to have to learn how to do it anyway for maintenance. There is a little trick to getting the orange seals off before they can be degreased but I did it without damaging the seals and I'm no mechanic. Boca will give you some really good pictorials on how to do it. Comes standard with the bearings.

[TonkaBass]

Do you swap 2 bearings for each reel or just one? I heard both things... can I do 10 reels with 10 bearings or 5 reels?

[Superduty]

5 reels with 10 bearings for Shimano. There is a spool bearing under the spool tension cap and another on the centrifugal brake side of the spool. Search youtube for "shimano reel maintenance". A shimano reel repair tech goes through the whole process. It should be REQUIRED viewing for any shimano baitcaster owner! One bearing is removed by popping out the spring under tension cap. The other one requires you to remove a bearing retainer clip. I used a tweezer. You don't want to lose the clip. It's a good idea to do the work inside a clear plastic bag the first time. That way if the spring pops out, it will stay in the bag. Don't be scared, it really isn't that hard to do.

[TonkaBass]

Thanks superduty! I appreciate the advise! I am excited to see the difference it makes. Tired of getting outcasted by revos.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Alright.. step back.. Really?.?.?.?

Yes you can make a reel better by upgrading it. As a Shimano dude(yes, I am biased, I do not have the full pictrure, I can admit that).. really, how much farther do you need to cast?

I dont get it. I dont.. I want a reel thats smooth.. I get that..

Yes, if you add bearings to the Citica it will feel smoother.. That I get.. For someone who knows how to take a reel apart and wants to swap them out, it can be done.. But then you end up with nearly curado price.. Granted I am talking only Shimano ... Your still giving up gear ratio..

Hey, I'm all about making my stuff better.. and as SuperDuty says.. You can supertune your stuff..

I know S.D.(can i use the shortened version?) I have as much respect for him fishing wise as there is. He has beat me more than I care to admit.

I get making an old reel better, but making a new reel better? Buy the next step up.! Many times your getting more metal parts, longer duration and longer life of the reel.

Then again, I am biased..

[Deitz Dittrich]

Im a freak.. I admit it.. I sell off all my stuff when it starts to feel like [PoorWordUsage].. maybe I shoudnt?

[river rat316]

[PoorWordUsage] I will take them off your hands

[blakjack23]

Its not just about distance. I just swapped out the stock spool bearings in a brand new Core MG7 of mine with new ABEC 9 bearings. What was I going to upgrade to past the Core? It now freespools about 3 times longer than it did with the stock bearings (not that freespool is the best indicator of on the water performance). Upgrading bearings and getting rid of the grease filled factory bearings makes casting easier and smoother....meaning less backlashes. And the smoother bearings give you an easier spool startup, meaning you can toss light baits easier. I have no need for spinning reels anymore as I can toss anything on a baitcaster that I would on a spinning reel. Of course I am biased too...I'm a tackle monkey and have ABEC 9 spool bearings in all my reels

[Superduty]

DD, (I like DD better than SD by the way )

I think you've spent too much time worrying about the Hokey Pokey.

I get your point though. The Shimano baitcasters are great right out of the box. Upgrades aren't needed. Neither are 20' Tritons and Basscats with 225 ponies on the back. I enjoy learning about the inner workings of the reels. The more I learn, the more I like Shimano over the other brands. Most reel manufacturers put grease in a bearing to protect it long term from the neglect it will get from the average user. Any reel is going to freespool better with the grease removed and a light oil added in it's place. Give it a try. I know I can pitch on a lower trajectory for a longer distance with less effort. The downside of doing this is that the user MUST maintain the reel properly and oil or clean when needed.

[TonkaBass]

I'm not saying the revo is a better reel because it isn't or I would one one. All I'm saying is that the ONLY setback with a curado is its casting distance which can be solved by some new spool bearings. I don't care what I use in fishing as long as it performs the best I can get my hands on. Ad shimano curados have proven themselves the sturdiest reels on the market. Revos cast far and break...

[Superduty]

I think we all need a break from the weather so we can actually get some fishing time!!!!!!!

[Cecil]

Everything that I saw online said you only need to change the bearing on the sideplate as this is the one that the spool actually spins on. The other bearing is for when reeling in. So, from what I have seen, and I'm not saying this is right, you can do 10 reels with the 10 bearings you get.

And DD, I agree whats the point, but it sounds to me like it is a try it and see situation. Which is what I plan on doing. Or just grabbing one of Tonka's reels and givin it a whip