How to Oil Baitcaster Bearings

Most spool bearings are not too dry. They are too wet. Too much oil, or oil that is too thick, brakes the spool more than a worn bearing does. This guide shows how to oil spool bearings so they are protected and still run free.

What oil does in a spool bearing

Oil protects balls and rings, keeps the bearing quiet and makes it last. It also slows the bearing down a little, and the thicker the oil, the more. So the job is simple: as thin as your fishing allows, and as little as possible.

Which oil for which use

• Light lures, BFS, trout, perch: a very thin oil. In our range that is Creep, the thinnest, or High spec right above it.
• Medium lures and all-round use: a medium oil such as Tumble Weed.
• Heavy lures, gears and worm shaft: a thick oil that stays in place under load.

For our own bearings: High spec for Apex, Tumble Weed for Edge. Core bearings come greased and need no oil. You find all eight oils with their place on the viscosity scale under reel oil.

Step 1: Take the bearings out

Oiling a bearing in the reel works in a pinch. Doing it properly means taking the spool out and removing both spool bearings. How that works is in our guide How to replace spool bearings on a baitcaster.

Step 2: Clean before you oil

New oil on old oil and dirt does not help. Rinse the bearing in a little bearing cleaner or isopropyl alcohol until it spins clean, then let it dry completely. Sealed bearings are harder to flush than open ones. Open bearings are the easy ones to care for.

Step 3: One small drop

Put one small drop on the balls. Spin the bearing between your fingers for a few seconds so the oil spreads. If oil runs out at the sides, it was too much. Dab it off with a lint-free cloth.

Step 4: Refit and check

Put the bearings back, close the reel and spin the spool by hand. It should run freely and evenly. Set the cast control again afterwards.

When to oil again

• When the spool gets louder.
• When the free spin drops noticeably.
• After a trip in rain, salt or sand.

Three common mistakes

• Too much oil. More does not protect better. It brakes the spool and collects dirt.
• Grease in the spool bearings. Grease belongs on gears. In a spool bearing it costs you distance.
• Oil on a dirty bearing. Clean first, then oil.

Does oil make a ceramic bearing slower?

A little. A dry ceramic bearing spins longest in a spin test. With one drop you lose some free spin that you barely notice on the water. In return the bearing runs quieter and lasts longer. For fishing, one drop is the better deal.