I just got my new xt 1001.  How many of you upgraded the spool bearings?  Was it beneficial?  How about the spool?  I do have a curado 51e with abec 7 ceramic hybrids, but was thinking about trying hedgehogs for the xt. 

The benefits of bearing upgrades are significantly less once the stock bearings are flushed and properly oiled. If you're going to change bearings an ABEC5 ceramic hybrid run dry will provide all the practical advantage you can use and save you a few bucks. The Hedgehog bearings I've seen in customer reels were underwhelming IMO.

I have a core50, Curado50e and lews TP with Bocas.

I haven't upgraded the bearings on my Scorpion XT and it works just fine. I'm over the "upgrade" thing, I don't think it gains you allot.

I believe that reel has Arb bearings, I would use them, my reels throw plenty good... If I were to replace them, I would go Abec5 stainless....

alonerankin, I'm loving the 51e by the way. 

alonerankin, I'm loving the 51e by the way.

Cool... They are sweet little reels!

I just got my new xt 1001.  How many of you upgraded the spool bearings?  Was it beneficial?  How about the spool?  I do have a curado 51e with abec 7 ceramic hybrids, but was thinking about trying hedgehogs for the xt. 

 

Here they test a Scorp XT stock vs upgrade.

http://www.bocabearings.com/dropin.aspx?f=Do-BOCA-BEARINGS-really-make-a-difference.txt&utm_source=BB_site&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=BB_make_difference

 

If you can easily use just one brake light tension and looking for more, upgrade. If you need more than one brake, as is, dont upgrade. Also get the lightest brake pin. To me 2 brakes or more chokes the performance too much to notice upgrade benefits.

Here they test a Scorp XT stock vs upgrade.

http://www.bocabearings.com/dropin.aspx?f=Do-BOCA-BEARINGS-really-make-a-difference.txt&utm_source=BB_site&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=BB_make_difference

If you can easily use just one brake light tension and looking for more, upgrade. If you need more than one brake, as is, dont upgrade. Also get the lightest brake pin. To me 2 brakes or more chokes the performance too much to notice upgrade benefits.

I don't think they flushed the factory bearings in that test.

I would be adding an additional bearing to each knob before I changed spool bearings. The XT1000 casts great out of the box IMHO and others!

The Arb bearings are plenty good. The only worthwhile upgrade are HEDGEHOG bearings imo.

I have a core50, Curado50e and lews TP with Bocas.

I haven't upgraded the bearings on my Scorpion XT and it works just fine. I'm over the "upgrade" thing, I don't think it gains you allot.

I agree, not much improvement over stock. I did two of my Chronarchs. I wasn't impressed. Like DVT says, flush em, lube em and you're good.

Hootie

The XT came stock with the same greaseless spool bearings that came in the Calais DC. Probably the best stock bearings a reel can have.

The benefits of bearing upgrades are significantly less once the stock bearings are flushed and properly oiled. If you're going to change bearings an ABEC5 ceramic hybrid run dry will provide all the practical advantage you can use and save you a few bucks. The Hedgehog bearings I've seen in customer reels were underwhelming IMO.

 

If your throwing 1/2oz and heavier hardbaits, stock bearings flushed out and relubed is all you need..... But, once you get into the lighter baits, throwing 1/16-1/8oz baits, the hedgehog's, ixa's, and zpi bearings are a Huge upgrade...

I just got my new xt 1001.  How many of you upgraded the spool bearings?  Was it beneficial?  How about the spool?  I do have a curado 51e with abec 7 ceramic hybrids, but was thinking about trying hedgehogs for the xt. 

 

 

I have a factory stock Curado 51E that Mike cleaned for me, and a supertuned one that Mike also did for me.  I had picked up a set of bearings for it from a fellow member who didn't like the additional noise they made.  Think they were 7s.  I am amazed at how far the supertuned reel will cast a 5/16 oz. spinnerbait.  However, the cleaned stock reel is no slouch.  I have yet to throw them side-by-side for a comparison, but I do know the stock reel does very well with the same weight spinnerbait.  The main difference for me is I can run lower braking on all my tuned reels.  Power casts yield little increase in distance when compared to a well executed normal casting stroke.  YMMV

 

A tuned and upgraded reel may not yield huge increases in performance, but personally I find the money well spent.  They are more pleasurable for me to use.....even though it all be just in my own mind. 

True dat