Spool bearings

[fangc]

hi guys,

Got a question regarding ball bearings inside spinning reel spools. I know that most of the high end reels have them e.g. Stella, Sustain, Certate, Exist etc.. What benefits do they actually provide? To reduce friction and help drag stays smooth or do they actually help reels perform better even when no fish is hooked?

I've attached a schematic from Sustain 1000FG to show which bearing i'm talking about. (part number is 13274)

Appreciate the help.
Cheers
FC

[MiSCrEANT]

Pretty much smoother drag. Protects your line while fighting that big fish. Makes it safer to use lighter lines too.

[Stik]

If you want smooth send leelee a PM and replace 7958 with a carbontex washer.

[lukereneeseth]

its a shaft bearing which supports the lower of the spool.

you can definitely tell the difference between the Stella with the spool bearing and support bearing, the Sustain with the support bearing then the Stradic with no bearing.

The purpose is: Smoother fishing, less play.

How I know it serves its purpose is through big fish on light gear. I've caught so may GT's on the Stella 1000FE, Sustain 1000FG, Complex CI4+ 2500, Biomaster 2500FB and Stradic 2500FJ. All have had 11lb braid

and the smoothness and stability of the reel definitely goes Stella, Complex, Sustain/Bio then stradic.

keeps the rigidness and smoothness up on the tighter drag pressure. Harder to explain but easier to realise if you done a lot of fishing with both.

But that is being very precise, if you love your fishing as much as I do its just one of those things that makes you enjoy your gear a bit more when hammering bigger fish on small outfits.

perform better with no fish hooked? mmm no. A Ben 10 reel will perform the same as a Stella when no fish is hooked.

[fangc]

Thanks for the great insight guys! much appreciated.

Originally Posted by lukereneeseth

its a shaft bearing which supports the lower of the spool.

you can definitely tell the difference between the Stella with the spool bearing and support bearing, the Sustain with the support bearing then the Stradic with no bearing.

The purpose is: Smoother fishing, less play.

How I know it serves its purpose is through big fish on light gear. I've caught so may GT's on the Stella 1000FE, Sustain 1000FG, Complex CI4+ 2500, Biomaster 2500FB and Stradic 2500FJ. All have had 11lb braid

and the smoothness and stability of the reel definitely goes Stella, Complex, Sustain/Bio then stradic.

keeps the rigidness and smoothness up on the tighter drag pressure. Harder to explain but easier to realise if you done a lot of fishing with both.

But that is being very precise, if you love your fishing as much as I do its just one of those things that makes you enjoy your gear a bit more when hammering bigger fish on small outfits.

perform better with no fish hooked? mmm no. A Ben 10 reel will perform the same as a Stella when no fish is hooked.

The spool bearing will cop water if your not careful washing your reels, if your not a careful washer water will get into them and go to work pitting the bearings inners.

If I had a chance I would live without a spool bearing on my Sustain... Stradic's dont have them and they are a admirable performer without the worry of a $30+ bearing doing minimal work.