ceramic bearings

[harry barker]

A question.
Would like your comments on the use of ceramic bearings for tournament casting.
Where do you obtain these bearings.
What type do you use(is there difference types).
How do you run them,;ie oils;type of oils;vis.
Do you find any improvement in distance using ceramics.
Iv never used these type of bearings before,but im looking to ringing them extra yards out of my multiplier to make up for my bad back,what do you think!!!.
Regards.

[Ian Alexander]

Ceramic Bearings

Hello Harry,

I had to replace some knackered bearings in my elites and I bought come hybrid ceramics (steel races/ceramic balls) from a company online called VXB. Try them at Ball Bearings:Miniature bearing:Ceramic Bearing:Ball Bearing.

I know that some casters run them dry and this is claimed to provide better magnet control but I use a light oil in mine, usually airline oil or 3in1.

For me they made little or no difference but then I'm no hardcore caster, so for guys at the top of their game and looking for a few more yards then they may be the answer.
I did notice that they were slightly noisier than steel races.

The bearings I use are ABEC 5 rated as I was told that any higher a tolerence then the bearings could run tight, but I know some guys who use ABEC 7's with no problems.
One thing I was told is that a proper good crack off has the possiblity of damaging ceramics.

I know you can buy full ceramics but they are quite expensive, I can give you a pair of new ceramics for an elite if you would like to try them out, just pm me.

I'm sure that some of the tournament lads will tell you more about them.

Regards Ian.

[harry barker]

Hello Harry,

I had to replace some knackered bearings in my elites and I bought come hybrid ceramics (steel races/ceramic balls) from a company online called VXB. Try them at Ball Bearings:Miniature bearing:Ceramic Bearing:Ball Bearing.

I know that some casters run them dry and this is claimed to provide better magnet control but I use a light oil in mine, usually airline oil or 3in1.

For me they made little or no difference but then I'm no hardcore caster, so for guys at the top of their game and looking for a few more yards then they may be the answer.
I did notice that they were slightly noisier than steel races.

The bearings I use are ABEC 5 rated as I was told that any higher a tolerence then the bearings could run tight, but I know some guys who use ABEC 7's with no problems.
One thing I was told is that a proper good crack off has the possiblity of damaging ceramics.

I know you can buy full ceramics but they are quite expensive, I can give you a pair of new ceramics for an elite if you would like to try them out, just pm me.

I'm sure that some of the tournament lads will tell you more about them.

Regards Ian.

Hi Ian,
Thanks for the website info and your thoughts on ceramics, when you say you used Hybrids did you have any problems with rusting of the outer shell of the bearing,not that I will use them for fishing but have been told people that have used them did find the outer shell did rust.
I want to use ceramic bearings in my ultramag 2, so I think the the sizes would be the same as the elite.
When you say full ceramics are expensive how much expensive?.
A proper good crack off is always on the cards so that would put me off using full ceramics,get redfaced with a crack off without having my reel exsplode internally as well. I will do a bit more investigating and will pm you later and thanks for the offer to lend me bearings.
Regards Harry

[mswtoss]

harry imho they're no better than standard abu bearings.in fact my distances have always decreased when using them but some may say different

[Ian Alexander]

Bearings and Stuff.

Hello Harry,

I've not had any problems with the races on my ceramics rusting, they are stainless races with ceramic balls, but I've only been using them for a matter of months so time will tell, Ive never used them for fishing.

VXB can supply several types of bearings including full ceramic, hybrids, stainless and the standard steel type.

I checked out the price of a full zirconia oxide ceramic with p.t.f.e. cage, 4x10x4!!!
Ball Bearings:Ceramic & Miniature Bearings

So $49.95 (approx£25) each or $99.90 (approx £50) a pair! You can buy 10 hybrids for $49.95 (approx £25) or 10 stainless steel ones for $24.95 (approx £12.50). Postage is about $10 dollars but don't take my word, check out the site for the correct costs.

I bought 10 bearings and they came in a small tube, the bearings were packed with grease and needed a good flush out with solvent before I used them. I have been told that out of 10 bearings some will run better than others so you pick out your best pairs.

As for the bearing sizes, my elites and ultra mag 3's use 4x10x4, but my ultra mag 2's use 3x10x4 as they have a smaller dia. spindle. I have seen some um 11's which have been converted to take a 4mm dia. spindle from an ultra mag 3 that has been cut down to length. This is a great modification which makes the spool/spindle assembly more rigid and it means you only have to buy one size bearing for all. Some of the rarer Gold or Red anodised spools may use bearings of other sizes so check out which is in your models.

Personaly I will probably just buy some high quality stainless steel ones next time.

I hope that this is of some use to you, regards Ian.