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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | Does anyone out there upgrade their spool bearings? I'm thinking about it on my Abu's. They sell higher quality bearings for the spool that are supposed to cast further? Is it a waste of money or time?
Seems like a good winter project and a good excuse to tear the reels apart again. On a simular subject.. Is anyone using "rocket fuel" or somthing simular in a high tech low viscosity oil in their reels?
thanks, -dave
Also what about Drag washers? You messing with them too?
Edited by lobi 1/21/2004 10:21 PM
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | I was at that Hatteras Outfitters site and am thinking about it but haven't done it yet... |
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Posts: 938
Location: NeverNever Lake | I put ceramic bearings in 3 of my Calcuttas. I feel they do make for a longer cast if that's your goal, but for crankin they are the berrys. I kinda doubt if one could see a noticeable difference between an ABEC-3 and an ABEC-5 or 7.
Fishing Reel Bearings
Recently the fishing reel industry has embarked on a similar path to that taken by the skating industry, with various recommendations for using high precision bearings. There is a minor case here, because fishing reel bearings are not bumping up and down on the road, and reels are required to spin freely with very little load. However, we must stress that higher precision will not greatly increase your casting distance. Like skate bearings, the main influences on free running reel bearings are lubrication and internal clearance.
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Posts: 378
Location: In the slop! | Lobi, I put a set of the ceramics in a 7000 I use for bucktails, can't realy tell a difference in casting distance. They are very easy to clean and relube. The rocket feul (I use the red label) is good stuff. It doesn't seem to break down like other oils. |
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Posts: 12
Location: Rockland County, New York | So long as your Abu already has bearings in both sides of the spool you should be fine. Higher grade bearings are built to tighter tolerances, which is necessary on higher RPM, precision machinery. If your stock bearings are a bit noisy though, you may wish to upgrade. But the constant casting/retrieving of heavy lures and locked down drags can put a strain on bearings, and here is where a higher grade bearing may be of use.
Rocket fuel is good stuff, and comes in different grades for varying amounts of spool control. The oil in a white bottle with red stripe that comes with some Abu reels is yellow rocket fuel. But any decent bearing oil will suffice for most muskie fishing (I use Shimano or Abu oil). Be sure to clean your bearings 1st by soaking in lighter fluid and air drying before re-lubing them. One of the biggest mistakes made is over-lubing; 1 drop in each bearing is sufficient.
If you want to upgrade the stock drags on Abu 5xxx/6xxx sized reels try the Extreme Smoothies (spend the extra few $ over the regular Smoothies). Or if you have an older 2 washer Abu, you can drop in Penn HT100 replacement washers. Using HT-100 in the newer 3 stack setups is a bit tricky, and requires modifications due to the thickness of the HT-100 washers. Both are a noticeable improvement over the stock Abu washers. |
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Posts: 378
Location: Michigan | After researching the web on this subject, I found many helpful websites. I think I am going to take on the Abu's this year. I ordered a couple sets of the ABEC7 bearings, some smoothies, hot sauce, and some replacement parts. I haven't rebuilt the reels yet, but might get into it this weekend.
Here are the web resources I found:
Parts
http://www.heartlandtackleservice.com/
http://www.smoothdrag.com/
http://www.southwesternparts.com/frames.asp
http://hatterasoutfitters.com/index1.html
http://www.tgsrocketfuel.com/
"How to"
http://freespace.virgin.net/dave.lumb/amb01/01index.html
http://www.timkelly.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/lasreel%20maintanence.html
http://www.musky.com/AbuTips.htm
http://www.adventuretackle.com/reel%20tuning/maintenance/overheadma...
There are also some additional links within the sites above.
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Posts: 600
Location: West Bend, WI | Dude,thx for the tips and links.I'v been wanting to clean my own reels for a while but was to chicken. |
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Posts: 378
Location: In the slop! | Chadster, thanks for the links. Lots of good info there!! |
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Posts: 425
Location: Elkhart, IN | I just lubed a Quantum reel with Hot Sauce over the holidays and gained between 15'-20' on my casts. It was a very positive experience and really helped the reel out. Most manufacturers pack the bearings in grease so they'll last longer, the manufacturers assume the people aren't going to lube them regularly so they pack them in grease to keep from getting a reputation of reels prematurely wearing out. The grease will really drop your casting distances. |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | How about sewing machine oil? It is supposed to be very pure and light viscosity. Kinda like the yellow Hot Sauce i'd guess. Anyone ever use it?
If it is great, and it is lying around the house..... |
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Posts: 378
Location: In the slop! | Lobi, don't know about the sewing machine oil, it would probably work. The thing I like about the rocket feul is that it doesn't break down like other oils I have used. |
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Posts: 425
Location: Elkhart, IN | Lobi, there's a guy on Bass Fishing Home Page that's done all kinds of experiments on different oils, he's a scientist of some sort, anyway his name is Mark G I think I'd get on there and ask him about the sewing machine oil, if anybody could give you an answer it'd be him. Or you could go down and spend $5.99 at any of your local stores for the Hot Sauce, I seem to be seeing it everywhere all the sudden. |
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Upgrading your reel Bearings