Bushings vs Bearings , Line roller

I’ve been swapping out the bushings in my Shimano 500 size reels , hoping to get the feel of my Soare XR out of my less expensive Shimano 500 reels .

I’ve completed this in my four Sahara reels using line roller bearing kits that came from Hedghog .

I was researching and reading on the opinions of others .
Most agree that a week maintained and oiled bushing in certain areas are less troublesome and just as efficient as ball bearings.

After “ upgrading “ my Shimano Sahara 500’s , I’ve been using them comparing Daiwa J- braid and Floroclear 2# line .

Both times using the reels with the ball bearing kits and braid I’ve experienced a lot of frustrating wind knots . And it was windy both days . But , I’ve used braid in the wind several times before on several different reels , especially on my Soare XR and Soare bb reels and only got a couple of wind knots ever .
My biggest issue before was the braid blowing in a bow reducing my feel .
I think the introduction of ball bearings kits in my line rollers on my Sahara 500’s caused me to have wind knots .

What do you think ?

If so I maybe introducing a problem into my Soare bb’s .
I’m going hold off putting bearing kits in any more line rollers, and I’m changing the Saharas back to bushings and give them another try with the braid .
I want to have spools setup with both types of line so I can swap them out depending on the fishing situation.

I think I may have installed the line roller kit incorrectly.
The kits were installed in my Nasci 500 reels and I may have one too many washers installed
I’m trying to figure what is supposed to go into the setup and correct the situation .
I should have left the rollers alone in the beginning.
Live and learn .

Bushings can be OK. But far too many of them are made from nylon and will swell when getting just a little wet. In my experience Shimano is the worst for this. Decades ago I had a lot that did that. And one would think by 2025 Shimano would have had it worked out but that is not the case. It still occurs today. While I have always replaced bushings I have had a few Daiwa reels that actually used metal bushings. Never had one of those fail. I have tried to find out if Shimano uses a different type nylon in different reels. While I could not find that out I never had a bushing swell in a Stradic. Lost count of the number of times that happened on Sahara reels.


Regards

I checked all of the reels and the bearing kits were installed correctly.
Guess it was just the wind and the braid .
I’ve already said before, I wished I’d never tried braid . :(

I also had given thought to line twist since I’m using micro spinners .
But I use a ballbearing swivel 12-18” above the spinner .
Haven’t had any issues fishing the spinners on Floroclear.

Giving Up !
AGAIN !
On the latest version 500 Shimano reels . The Nasci 500 , and the Sahara 500 .
They should be called Shibindo reels .

I replaced the line rollers on the Saharas and put a spool loaded with Daiwa braid on one , the others got Floroclear 2# , but they never got to be fished today .
I fished the one with braid for about an hour and twenty minutes.
And the braid did behave better .
About thirty minutes into fishing I had a small wind knot that pulled out easily. Two or three other times the line had dug into itself and I had to pull line off the spool , then rewind to get it to cast .

About halfway through I noticed the reel starting to bind up some to where it took more effort to start up retrieving.
Not terrible , but annoying . But a reel shouldn’t be hard to wind with a .4g micro spinner and get worse with a four inch bluegill.
Then I thought I must be dumb to be out there trying to salvage these defective reels when I had reels at home that doesn’t have these issues .

I’m done with these model 500 reels at home.
I’ll use the spools and handles for parts.