Thread: Bearing counts

When it comes to stock bearings with spinning reels you are not going to notice much difference , when talking baitcasters that is where better bearings shine. Installing high end bearings can add much distance to your casts and handle lighter baits better.

Originally Posted by Bricks

When it comes to stock bearings with spinning reels you are not going to notice much difference , when talking baitcasters that is where better bearings shine. Installing high end bearings can add much distance to your casts and handle lighter baits better.

You can notice a lot of difference in just adding 2 bearings to the handle knob on any spinning reel. You will also notice a big difference if you have a spinning reel that has just bushings in the line roller by adding one bearing...or better yet 2 bearings to the line roller will give one a lot less line twist. Adding spool support and drag support bearings will not be noticeable as you crank a reel but it sure will make the drag better. I have tuned all my spinning reels....at least the ones that can be tuned. The Presso Limited and Shimano Twin Power cannot be tuned.....nowhere to add any bearings. Then if you really want to get low inertia and ultimate smoothness you can change out all the stock bearings with oil tuned bearings. But nobody is going to do this on inexpensive spinning reels. You can take a lot of 200 dollar reels out of Japan and spend 35 buck on a bearing kit and really make the reel shine. When you get to the 300 dollar range and up usually not much you can do.

Regards

when we used to "combat ketch" up on the Russian and the Kenai and go after what is commonly known as the hands down strongest fish lb for lb in the world . we opted quite often for the most bearings we could find in open faced spinning reels on the high end . those fish will flat destroy regular tackle and average anglers to the point of hilarity .
but to make a very long story short I found that an open faced salt water Penn was totally able to handle those fish beside 300 dollar reels all day long with 3 bearings and not 7 like some of those high dollar reels had . I still own that reel and it still works great and to be sure I think it topped well over a thousand of those reel burning super fish and even got loaned to some less fortunate tackle folks while I rested a few times on the bank …..
so my 2.5 cents worth is that the bearing count isn't near as important as the quality of the reel and sometimes it isn't about what costs more ….

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

You can notice a lot of difference in just adding 2 bearings to the handle knob on any spinning reel. You will also notice a big difference if you have a spinning reel that has just bushings in the line roller by adding one bearing...or better yet 2 bearings to the line roller will give one a lot less line twist. Adding spool support and drag support bearings will not be noticeable as you crank a reel but it sure will make the drag better. I have tuned all my spinning reels....at least the ones that can be tuned. The Presso Limited and Shimano Twin Power cannot be tuned.....nowhere to add any bearings. Then if you really want to get low inertia and ultimate smoothness you can change out all the stock bearings with oil tuned bearings. But nobody is going to do this on inexpensive spinning reels. You can take a lot of 200 dollar reels out of Japan and spend 35 buck on a bearing kit and really make the reel shine. When you get to the 300 dollar range and up usually not much you can do.

How do you add bearings to the line roller? Is it just a ball bearing that replaces the bushing? I have heard the roller reduces line twist, and here's where I have an issue with that. Whether the line rolls over a stationary "line roller" or a moving line roller, the line is still being wrapped around a spool. I've never understood how a line roller can reduce twist. The line is going to be twisted the exact same amount my that process. The only reason I could see one working better than the other as far as line twist would be if one wraps the twisted line around the spool while the other doesn't wrap the line with the twist and instead keeps the twist on the line in front of the spool. Even then, the twist occurs from the process of changing from a vertical to a horizontal wrap, and that would involve the line being able to "spin" in the "v" of the line roller and bearings have no impact on that as the line is perpendicular to the bearing at that point. I'm just trying to understand from a scientific standpoint how the bearing can possibly impact line twist.

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

How do you add bearings to the line roller? Is it just a ball bearing that replaces the bushing? I have heard the roller reduces line twist, and here's where I have an issue with that. Whether the line rolls over a stationary "line roller" or a moving line roller, the line is still being wrapped around a spool. I've never understood how a line roller can reduce twist. The line is going to be twisted the exact same amount my that process. The only reason I could see one working better than the other as far as line twist would be if one wraps the twisted line around the spool while the other doesn't wrap the line with the twist and instead keeps the twist on the line in front of the spool. Even then, the twist occurs from the process of changing from a vertical to a horizontal wrap, and that would involve the line being able to "spin" in the "v" of the line roller and bearings have no impact on that as the line is perpendicular to the bearing at that point. I'm just trying to understand from a scientific standpoint how the bearing can possibly impact line twist.

You have to know the proper size bearing to add one to the reel. As to the scientific reason for line roller bearings the only one I know of is less friction. I'm not an engineer so I can't speak to those terms. Line roller bearings help with less friction...and also to help keep the line centered on the roller. I can just tell you from years of actual use line roller bearings greatly reduce twist....and along with superb design of the reel. If you have never watched one of my videos take a look. People are all the time telling me "Don't you realize by cranking when a fish is pulling drag you're adding line twist?" The answer is no...I do not get line twist. I use a line that is made out of polyester....breaks at 2.3# test....no stretch. It is probably the hardest line to manage on the planet...some on here use it...ask them. I do not get line twist....period. I am using a high end reel that part of its design is to prevent line twist...and it does a fantastic job. One may not want to pay the money.....but it does what it was designed to do.


Regards