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Spool Bearings? #12516048 11/26/17 12:02 AM
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ChampionOwner Offline OP
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I am looking at upgrading the spool bearings in about a dozen of my reels. Anybody have experience with Bca Bearings vs. Hawg Tech?

Last edited by ChampionOwner; 11/26/17 12:04 AM.
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Re: Spool Bearings? [Re: ChampionOwner] #12516147 11/26/17 01:27 AM
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Ranger-188-2007 Offline
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Boca bearing are worth the $$$.


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Re: Spool Bearings? [Re: ChampionOwner] #12516187 11/26/17 01:55 AM
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ChampionOwner Offline OP
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Bocas are 35% off right now as well.

Re: Spool Bearings? [Re: ChampionOwner] #12516341 11/26/17 03:44 AM
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the skipper Offline
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Before you spend all that cash you should pull the bearings and take all the shields out of them and really clean them out. I did all mine and it works good. It will get you the same results or extremely close. I didn't do a before and after but I guarantee they cast further and easier.

Last edited by the skipper; 11/26/17 03:32 PM.
Re: Spool Bearings? [Re: ChampionOwner] #12516356 11/26/17 04:00 AM
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stringwise Offline
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I went down that road and definitely didn't find it to be money well spent. After cleaning and lubing the original bearings thoroughly I went back to them. Hawg Techs are nice but I didn't care for the noise they make. When I attempted to quiet them down some they spun nice but cast distances were about the same as originals.

In general I have found that my nicer reels with stock bearings with outcast cheaper reels with bearing upgrades. YMMV.

Re: Spool Bearings? [Re: ChampionOwner] #12517221 11/27/17 01:22 AM
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PhishWhisperer Offline
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I think the real secret to good baitcaster performance is in the cleaning and lubrication of the bearings.

I occasionally read about guys who are disappointed with the casting distance of a brand new reel. It is likely that the bearings were greased or over-oiled during manufacture. I just bought a very popular reel that I found had grease in one of the spool shaft bearings.

My preferred cleaning method is a soak in CRC brake cleaner (methylene chloride) followed by a rinse with a quick spray of the same solvent. Blow dry with a gentle blast of compressed air. (NEVER spin a dry bearing!!!) I like to apply a small drop or two of Royal Purple Synfilm multipurpose lubricant using a precision oiler.

If you fish often it's a good idea to learn to clean and lubricate your reels yourself.

Re: Spool Bearings? [Re: ChampionOwner] #12517232 11/27/17 01:28 AM
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lconn4 Offline
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I've had a couple of my older reels upgraded with boca bearings and it made a big difference in distance and feel.


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Re: Spool Bearings? [Re: ChampionOwner] #12517247 11/27/17 01:34 AM
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Many moons ago when the upgrade to ABEC-7 was becoming popular some guys did a comparison from factory to ABEC-7 to Ceramic. The results were that ABEC-7 produced a huge return over factory but ceramic wasn't much over ABEC-7.

To save money the ABEC-7 upgrade and the correct amount of oil on each bearing will do wonders for you. Also remember gears get grease and bearings get oil. Most factory reel bearings are swimming in grease so like mentioned above a brand new reel could stand a cleaning and proper lubrication to increase performance

Re: Spool Bearings? [Re: ChampionOwner] #12517507 11/27/17 06:13 AM
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DKennimer Offline
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Great advice above. If you have decent reels, clean the bearings and lightly oil. They will do all you need to do. If some are rusted (highly unlikely if used in freshwater), replace. Most, if not all, new reels are way over-greased and oiled. I tear down any reel that I first acquire.

Re: Spool Bearings? [Re: ChampionOwner] #12517559 11/27/17 12:26 PM
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jippedgenes Offline
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I tried the ABEC-7 in my super old abused curado. MASSIVE difference.

Re: Spool Bearings? [Re: ChampionOwner] #12517986 11/27/17 06:57 PM
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ezbassin Offline
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I upgraded to the Air bearings by Hedgehog studios and it made a huge difference. I like them better than the Bocas. You can find them online at the Tackle Trap, or if you are at lake Fork, Ron @ Reel time rods has them in stock. His shop is located at Popes Landing. He did 6 of my reels and they are awesome. You won't believe the casting distance they make over stock bearings.

Last edited by ezbassin; 11/27/17 07:00 PM.
Re: Spool Bearings? [Re: ChampionOwner] #12518035 11/27/17 07:40 PM
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B.Byars Offline
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Back when i had a bunch of revos i tried the boca orange seals and did not see that much of a difference between those and clean stock bearings.

Re: Spool Bearings? [Re: B.Byars] #12518300 11/28/17 12:35 AM
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ezbassin Offline
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Originally Posted By: B.Byars
Back when i had a bunch of revos i tried the boca orange seals and did not see that much of a difference between those and clean stock bearings.



Exactly, that is why I like the Air bearings much better.

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