Reel Bearings 301: Maintenance, Design, and Troubleshooting

Date: |
11/27/06 |
Tackle type: |
Reel
bearings |
Manufacturer: |
Various |
Author: |
ChuckE |
Introduction:
This tutorial continues to
build on the fundamentals presented in Reel Bearings – 101 and 201. It covers
reel maintenance and design, common bearing problems and troubleshooting, and
other related topics.

ZPI SCI spool bearing
Reel Design and
Maintenance:
Most modern reels are
typically designed and constructed so they provide years of service when
properly maintained. Materials, service and use, tolerances, alignment, part
configuration, and other criteria are considered when designing today’s reels.
However problems can occur, especially when you consider the environment that
reels are used in, and the fact that many anglers don’t always perform reel
maintenance as often or as diligently as they should. I’m sure we’ve all heard
the stories of a reel that worked flawlessly for years without any maintenance
at all, until one day…
The type and degree of
maintenance required to keep your reel in tip-top condition will obviously
depend on several factors. The amount of time spent on the water actually using
the reel, how it’s stored, the brand/model/features a reel has, what type of
water you fish (e.g. salt vs. fresh), whether your reel has greased or oiled
bearings, and what minor maintenance is performed (e.g. flushing, periodic
mini-lube or just an occasional wipe down), are some examples of the hardware
factors. But personal factors also play a role and some examples include: how
tolerant you are on performance problems; how you value your equipment; how much
risk you are willing to take; whether warranty is of concern; if maintaining the
reel is considered a chore or pleasure; and if you have the tools, dexterity,
time and desire to do the maintenance yourself or decide to periodically send it
to a professional for service. Everyone is different and there are a lot of
variables involved, so we each have to determine what we are comfortable with
and what works best for our situation.
So, just how often
should you clean, inspect and lube your reel?
Unfortunately, some
anglers don’t perform any maintenance on their reels until a problem develops,
and then it’s often too late to prevent a major repair. But a general rule with
most fresh-water anglers is to perform preventive maintenance on a moderately
used reel at least once a season. This of course assumes the reel is protected
during storage, not stored wet, and is mini-lubed (oil spool bearings, etc.) as
needed throughout the season. In addition, salt water reels may require more
frequent preventive maintenance due to corrosion and frequent wash-downs. You
can do the maintenance yourself or utilize a professional service, and many
techs regularly visit the Tackle Tour forum. Regardless, always inspect
components for wear, damage, abnormalities, etc. whenever you have your reel
open!

Daiwa TD-Ito
105HL
Reel
manufacturers have a difficult task when they develop a new reel design. As
anglers, we not only want our reels to have ‘bling’, but we like them to
also be saltwater resistant. We often prefer they be light, yet very durable
and strong. The drag must be ultra smooth and easy to use, while still having
winch-stopping power when needed. They must be easy to maintain and provide
years of trouble-free service with the least amount of effort. Lastly, don’t
forget that we want them affordable as well. So, reel design comes down to
making compromises between what is needed vs. what can be done vs. reasonable
cost. As a result, the best design or configuration may not get be used in a
reel that has been targeted to a specific market or price range, due to cost.
A
reel is only as good as the configuration, alignment and tolerances that were
designed and maintained in its moving components. That is why reel
manufacturers choose extremely strong materials, tight manufacturing controls,
and careful design; and is one of the reasons why high-end reels are so
expensive. In fact, it won't mater how many bearings the reel has, if the
configuration, alignment or mounting of rotating components was not initially
precise or was adversely changed during use, since the meshing and mating of
gears and other moving components is almost entirely affected by the alignment
and tolerances of the reel. Some of the best performing reels manufactured
years ago only had a couple bearings (or bushings), and they still provide
excellent performance after many years!

Meisselbach
Takapart Reel Manufactured Around 1904
The Meisselbach Takapart
reel shown in the previous photo is a classic example of a well designed and
constructed reel. It is a simple reel that was noted for its smooth performance
and casting, and the frame is similar to a Calcutta. It was cut from a brass
tube. Although the Takapart came out in 1904 and is not even a ‘free spool’
reel, you can spin the handle on one today and it will still turn freely for at
least 11 seconds. Not bad for a reel that only had two bronze bearings
Meisselbach
was also noted for their gear hobbing machine and they manufactured very
precise gears for many other reel makers of the time. [Special thanks to Phil
– Reel Old Geezer for the photo and information.]
When a reel doesn’t sound
or feel right (assuming it has been used and maintained reasonably well), the
first thing to logically suspect is the bearings. The bearings in a reel not
only facilitate rotation of components; they also ensure that gears mesh
accurately, the level wind travels uniformly, the knobs turn smoothly, etc. So,
cleanliness, lubrication, and wear of bearings will have a direct affect on how
the reel feels, operates and sounds. Sure, other reel components can also wear
or become damaged during use, but in many cases this was probably the result of
a bearing problem, that went undetected or neglected.
In
extreme cases (e.g. warped frame due to excessive loads during use), the
bearings themselves may even experience direct damage (e.g. warped races),
causing them to no longer track correctly and feel very rough.
In very severe cases,
missing gear teeth, sheared drive components, and
stripped idler gears, are usually a result of an impact stress. (Reengaging a
baitcasting reel during a cast is a good example of an impact stress related
condition.) Whereas, wallowed sockets, distorted bearing races, unevenly worn
gear teeth and general ‘slop’ in the drive train are usually a result of
rotating stresses that are often related to alignment or general wear. (A bent
spool shaft due to dropping a reel (or that no longer spins correctly and
results in wallowed spool bearing sockets or distorted bearing races), is
a good example where alignment caused rotational stress wear.)
Ball Bearing
and Roller Clutch Bearing Troubleshooting
