01-18-2007, 04:34 AM
The saltwater test is simply a test of durability. Many of the bearings are not subjected to such a harsh environment but when it will go the distance as perscribed for salt, then it will exceed you expectations for the fresh water.
I have a buddy that is a distributor for Avet reels. The factory is only a few miles from my house here in SoCal.
Since I went through a few sets of bearings already on my Avet reels, my buddy told me of the upgrade that they did on the new Avet reels. (I know that I haven't mentioned Abu yet).
After having 35lb fish tugging on my 15lb line on a 14lb drag system, something has to go. YUP! The bearings.
I was given new complimentary bearings from the Avet factory and realized how smooth they were.
I found the cross reference to the NMB bearing catalog and purchased some for my Abu Garcias. Bam!!! Now I can launch the 1/4 oz Jig heads on a 100yd cast with the Abu Garcia.
Cost @20bucks[pirate] but wait, it gets better.
Prior to that, it could only be done on my Newells. Take a look at the Newell 220 and found the same bearings.[shocked].
Those bearings were available from one of my reel repair guys for only 5 bucks each.[
] Cost 10bucks.[cool]
So.....now you know that Carl Newell, who took over the Jigmasters from Penn had something special going. He even put the same bearing in the later models of the Penn reels.
I have a Penn 9m levelwind with the same quality bearings in it for long distance casting of lighter weight jigheads.[
]
Now if they could just improve the drag[crazy]
[signature]
I have a buddy that is a distributor for Avet reels. The factory is only a few miles from my house here in SoCal.
Since I went through a few sets of bearings already on my Avet reels, my buddy told me of the upgrade that they did on the new Avet reels. (I know that I haven't mentioned Abu yet).
After having 35lb fish tugging on my 15lb line on a 14lb drag system, something has to go. YUP! The bearings.
I was given new complimentary bearings from the Avet factory and realized how smooth they were.
I found the cross reference to the NMB bearing catalog and purchased some for my Abu Garcias. Bam!!! Now I can launch the 1/4 oz Jig heads on a 100yd cast with the Abu Garcia.
Cost @20bucks[pirate] but wait, it gets better.
Prior to that, it could only be done on my Newells. Take a look at the Newell 220 and found the same bearings.[shocked].
Those bearings were available from one of my reel repair guys for only 5 bucks each.[
] Cost 10bucks.[cool] So.....now you know that Carl Newell, who took over the Jigmasters from Penn had something special going. He even put the same bearing in the later models of the Penn reels.
I have a Penn 9m levelwind with the same quality bearings in it for long distance casting of lighter weight jigheads.[
] Now if they could just improve the drag[crazy]
[signature]