Bearing Quality

[tim3716]

What ABEC rating is typical for the main shaft bearing and the level wind bearings?

[IlliniDawg01]

What ABEC rating is typical for the main shaft bearing and the level wind bearings?

3 is plenty. Any decent bearing will do.

DaveJ

[pro reel]

Stock is 1 to 3. If looking for replacements, just get a good stainless bearing. Abec ratings are about how fast a bearing can spin for sustained time without vibration. Those bearings are very slow spinning so any good stainless bearing will be fine. After having tried several variations, I'm positive the human hands can't tell any difference in smoothness between a boca abec 3 stainless bearing and any other boca bearing clear up to OS 7 hybrids, when used for crankshaft support or handle knob or worm shaft bearings.

The important thing is to be sure it's a stainless bearing and not a chrome bearing which is generally the cheapest.

[Cracker]

I buy ABEC 7 bearings for my knobs. Knobs can spin longer in that case

[MaxZmus]

I don't believe in abec ratings anymore. Shimano says that their arb bearings are abec 3, the s-arb bnt3627 are abec 5, Boca os are 7, hp stainless steel abec 7. I find that the hp abec 7 perform the same as the shimano abec 3 arb. The Bocas hybrids are a tiny bit better for pitching. But the shimano bnt 3627 are my favorite. They are smooth, quiet, and seem to offer a little bit more casting distance compared to the others mentioned above.

[Bassmar]

I buy ABEC 7 bearings for my knobs. Knobs can spin longer in that case

And do you find that this increases your casting distance ?

[Cracker]

Not at all Those are knobs, not a spool.

[adam lancia]

Not at all Those are knobs, not a spool.

If you really wanted be a weight weenie then you could change out all of bearings for full ceramics... You would likely eclipse the price of the reel doing that, but man would the internals look cool

[africanbass]

Not at all Those are knobs, not a spool.

If you really wanted be a weight weenie then you could change out all of bearings for full ceramics... You would likely eclipse the price of the reel doing that, but man would the internals look cool

Do what MB did,use 2 light weight plastic bushings per knob(as seen on the FX)

[Ham Solo]

Do what MB did,use 2 light weight plastic bushings per knob(as seen on the FX)

I was amazed when I pulled the knobs off of my FX68i the other night and discovered that. Needless to say, it now has 2 bearings per knob.

[Bassmar]

I buy ABEC 7 bearings for my knobs. Knobs can spin longer in that case

And do you find that this increases your casting distance ?

Cracker wrote:
Not at all Those are knobs, not a spool.