Abu Garcia 6500 bearings ...

So I had an old 6500 that has long since been in the rebuilt box.  I had bough this one used and it didn't even last a season.  I spent a couple hours working on it today.  I determined the spool bearing was shot.  I also have a 5600 that I hardly ever use, so I stole a bearing from it, but in the process noticed a bearing on the other side of he spool that was absent in the 6500.  As I can never keep track of which versions of Abus have how many bearings, I though to myself, I'll just upgrade the 6500 and transplant both bearings into it.  Bingo, works like a charm.  But then I got thinking ... hmmm, let me look in another 6500 I have and see what's in there.  Well, it had bearings on both side of the spool.  Yup, that old 6500 I bought came with a missing bearing.  Oops.  I wonder if that's what caused the other bearing to go out.  I checked the schematics for this reel and it should have 2 spool bearings.

Anyways, now I have a 5600 in need of 2 new spool bearings.  I know some of you here fancy the Abu's, so I'm looking for recommendations on replacement bearings.  Perhaps it's a good time to give some ceramics a try.  Are they worth it?

BTW, on a recent thread someone was asking about the red grease from West Marine.  I use a tub of the west marine red grease labelled for trailer bearings.  I took a look at the label on the tub and it mentioned being water insoluble and good for protection against salt water corrosion.  I knew I bought that tub years ago for a reason.  It's worked relatively well for me.  You might be wondering why I've had to replace a couple of bearings recently if the grease works so well for me.  Well, I don't use grease on the spool bearings, which are the ones that have been going out on me.  I use Corrosion-X.  Grease just slows down the free spool.  On this reel, I don't think I ever serviced it, so I don't know what was used on the spool bearing.  It supposedly came to me as "just serviced", but didn't last a season.  I suppose I should have given it a once over when I first got it ...

-Allen

Short answer is no ceramics are not worth the extra expense.

Slightly longer answer without getting all engineer power nerdy; you already use Reel-X so that addresses the corrosion concerns.  As far as kayak fishing applications there will be almost zero added distance to your cast.

For the people who may be wondering about the red marine grease (I use blue) it is for protecting the interior surfaces of reels from salt corrosion, not lubrication.

Granted I don't get the salt water time you do with your reels, but I prefer to leave the covers off the spool bearings so that a good fresh water soak can remove the salt water easier.  I too, just use Corrosion-X on my bearings. 

As for waterproof grease, I have a tube of Italian waterproof wheel bearing grease from my past years of mountain bike riding.  This stuff is blue/green and only comes off when wiped off.  Water won't move it! 
I very lightly coat all internal parts of the Abu's with it.  Zero corrosion, or ill effects so far.

Short answer is no ceramics are not worth the extra expense.

Slightly longer answer without getting all engineer power nerdy; you already use Reel-X so that addresses the corrosion concerns.  As far as kayak fishing applications there will be almost zero added distance to your cast.

For the people who may be wondering about the red marine grease (I use blue) it is for protecting the interior surfaces of reels from salt corrosion, not lubrication.

Oooh ... get all engineering power nerdy on me please.  I'm an engineer, although an EE.  I'm wired for that shit.

-Allen

As an owner of full suspension mountain bikes, I am a serial bearing user. I agree with gon-fishn, ceramic bearings are a waste of money. Buy a high quality bearing, plenty to choose from and cheap, don't go for the cheapest Chinese bearings, spend a few cents more. I use heavy duty marine grease on a dual axle boat trailer, but for fishing reels, I use Slickoleum. It protects from corrosion and water(as long as you don't pressure wash it out) and has excellent lubrication.

I too use a green Marine gease internally to protect all my reels.  "Marine Corrosion Control and Trailer Wheel Bearing Grease."  Got at some auto parts store.  Seems to be working well for almost 5 years with a yearly, winter tear down.

And, I am guilty of loving my Abus.