Try a series of acetone baths, with one final bath of 70% alcohol, and lube with your favorite oil. The Bantam oil that came with it is really good stuff. See if you really want the bearing upgrade after that.

Try a series of acetone baths, with one final bath of 70% alcohol, and lube with your favorite oil. The Bantam oil that came with it is really good stuff. See if you really want the bearing upgrade after that.

I usually just clean the bearings in the reel with cotton swabs alcohol and then finish with light coat of bantam oil...but your post got me to thinking. Called Mike at Delaware Valley Tackle...He led me through the process.

I removed the bearings sprayed with brake cleaner (for the acetone) soaked in rubbing alcohol; let dry for 5 minutes or so, then put a few drops of oil in each on each bearing race....and WOW!!

Haven't casted it yet but it freespools for what seems like an eternity.

Going to spool up some Toray on it tonight and hope I can get out sometime do take it through it's pace.

What'll drive you really mad is to have a couple super tuned. Talk about insane smooth performance. On one of my CHMGs, I had to put heavy brakes in and all on in order to be able to use the reel for short distance work effectively. It's just insane.