Bearing Count on ARK Fishing International's New Gravity 8

Introduction: If there is one law of ARK Fishing International's Gravity, it is as time increases, so will their lineup. Case in point? Just when I thought I had the entirety of their casting reel lineup covered, out pops another model. Gravity 8 is the latest and it usurps 7 as the flagship in ARK Fishing's lineup. However, aside from a different handle and overall color, the only real difference seems to be the reel's weight. Gear composition and braking system are consistent with the other non-BFS Gravity reels, so I thought I'd take this opportunity for a look from a different angle.

Background: One of my least favorite steps in completing a review on a fishing reel is the disassembly and internal inspection. It is a tedious task requiring a proper work space with good lighting and provisions to keep track of small parts - not to mention the eyesight and dexterity to see and handle these small parts. I'm not talking gears and bearings, but screws, washers, springs, and worst of all, c-clips. Anyone who's taken apart a reel can attest, no matter how careful you are, you always run the risk of eventually dropping one of those small parts. However, showing the reel's guts is part and parcel of what we do here at TackleTour, so let's dive in.

Move over Gravity 7 (left), there's a new flagship for ARK Fishing

Given ARK Fishing's Gravity 8 appears to be a darker in color, lighter in weight variant of the 7 with an aluminum instead of graphite handle and ported spool, I thought it'd be a good candidate for something a little different. Ever wonder where all those bearings in a reel are located? The most affordable reels (~$50 - $80) seem to come with a minimum of four bearings. The most expensive are equipped with anywhere between ten to maybe twelve. I don't think I've seen more than twelve specified. Then there's always the plus one (+1). What's that all about anyway? Is it some kind of party invite?

It's the Gravity 8

Drive Shaft: Staying with this location, the drive shaft in the Gravity 8 is supported by 2 additional bearings. There is one adjacent to the roller bearing towards the outside of the reel but still nestled within the sideplate and a second at the very base of the drive shaft nestled within the frame.

The bearing beneath the spool tension knob along with the pinion gear alignment pin

Tension Knob: Taking a look at that same, handle side, sideplate, viewed from the inside we can see another bearing located beneath the spool tension knob which is really there in support of the outside end of the pinion gear. The plastic bar extending from the cast control knob into the reel is there to help keep the pinion aligned. This is a common piece with "free floating" spool designs. Otherwise, spools with a metal shaft extending from their center into the reel support the pinion with that extension.

This bearing also supports the pinion gear right inside the reel's frame

In Frame Pinion: At the other end of the pinion, where it meets the spool inside the Gravity 8's frame, is placed another bearing. At one time, this placement was uncommon, but these days, most reels I've opened up have a bearing in this location. It is tedious to access because it requires removal of the frame (cam plate) that holds the plastic collar (yoke) which in turn holds the pinion in alignment with the main gear. Orientation of these pieces can be confusing upon re-assembly.

Spool bearings - one on the spool, the other inside the non-handle sideplate

The Spool: The simplest bearings to locate and verify are those in support of the spool. For the Gravity 8, this means a bearing on the pinion side of the spool, and another in the non-handle sideplate. These are also the two bearings to hit first with oil should your reel begin to squeak, squeal, or whine during a cast. These two bearings brings the total to six plus one (6+1) so far.

One bearing on the levelwind worm gear

Levelwind: This is the bearing or bearings I dread chasing the most. To verify the presence of bearings in this location, requires a level of dexterity that is quickly escaping my capability. For the Gravity 8 (and most reels these days), you need to remove the front plate. Then you need to disengage the levelwind by removing the pawl. This frees up the worm gear which is held in on one side by one of those dreaded c-clips. If you've managed to remove the c-clip with out it flying across the room, don't worry, you get another chance to lose it during re-assembly.

Sometimes, there's another bearing on the other side of the worm gear, but not in the G8's case

Once all that is taken care of, you can slide the worm gear out and check to see what the bearing/bushing situation is. For the Gravity 8, there is one bearing and a bushing that is integrated with the gear on the other side. Some reels will have a bearing at both ends, others will have a plastic bushing in place of the bearing I found here. This bearing brings our total to seven plus one (7+1).

Functional or stat packing? Bearings at the knob

The Handle: The last place to find bearings in ARK Fishing's Gravity 8 reel is in the handle, or more specifically, beneath the knobs on the handle. Some anglers consider bearings in this location an opportunity for manufacturers to pad a reel's stats. After all a reel with 11+1 bearings sounds a lot more impressive than one with just 7+1, doesn't it? There's no denying their presence in the other locations we've uncovered have more bearing (no pun intended) on a reel's performance, but that shouldn't marginalize the value of having them present under the knobs.

The G8 (right) has a metal handle, unlike the G7 (left) whose handle is carbon fiber

This is the easiest location to swap bearings for bushings and enhance a reel's feel and therefore the most common for such an upgrade. Having them here already reduces the hassle. The Gravity 8, of course, has two bearings per knob. That makes 11 + 1 bearings located. Mission accomplished.