Bearing Functions

[brunsbreambo]

Just wondering what the purpose of the line roller bearing in a reel is? Looking at upgrading the bearings in some reels and was wondering which are most important and what they will do to the reel. Looking at line roller, spool shaft and handle bearings. Any info would be great. Would buying all 3 for $30 be worth it?
Oli

[nagz]

The line roller bearing is used to allow the line to be pulled smoothly from the reel under load.
This is important as it reduces the pressure on the line when it is at a ninety-odd degree angle from its point of origin. Without it, the line would push against the line roller and friction would build up on the bend of the line- not good.
Worth upgrading and looking after, especially when using braid

[crusty]

Much older reels which had the small diameter rollers were shockers - well the ones I used were. The rollers would sieze then the line would cut into the roller and eventually destroy the line. This was pre-braid days - I can only imagine what braid would do to those old rollers. I haven't had this happen to the newer large diameter rollers but have had them become gritty and noisy.

If the roller doesn't rotate smoothly it could detract from a perfectly smooth drag.
Its probably the most exposed of the bearings in a reel so is potentially worth upgrading.
But on the other hand I have heard people downgrade the roller bearing to a nylon bush and been very happy - no maintenance issues - still operates smoothly.
I'm about to replace the line roller bearings on several of my reels and have gone for bearings not bushes, but haven't gone for an upgrade.

Crusty

Some new reels in the Shimano range dont have bearings in their line rollers - this due to either 1- not needing them or 2- cost cutting.

If you disassemble one of the older reels like a Daiwa Jupiter BJ-40 and look at how the line roller functioned as a bushing you can understand how it seized and then started to cut the line...

Some of the newer reels that dont have a roller line bearing like the Shimano BTR 800 OC, their rollers have a system of multi surface roller bushing, where there are varying surfaces that the outer roller can roll on the inner surfaces and its not metal on metal that requires constant oiling. The BTR 8000 OC's are rated for PE lines upto 30lb and so far I have found that the roller is moving as it should even under extreme (if not past its operational design) drag pressure.

[Fishigan]

I put a Hedgehog Studio kit through my Luvias 07 and Caldia 11. You get 1 line roller bearing, 1 spool bearing, 1 spool shaft bearing and 1 knob bearing. So far, so good.

http://www.plat.co.jp/shop/catalog/d...og-studio.html