Hey guys I'm wanting to do a spool bearing upgrade on my Shimano citica e. I have flushed and lubed the originals and it's still not as "free" as my curado e so I'm looking to replace them. What would I need to get to see an improvement? Boca os 7? 5 lightning? Or something from hawgtech or hedgehog studios? Thanks 

If you're convinced the bearings are clean check the spool, frame and inside pinion. It doesn't take much to affect free spool. If you decide to move ahead with bearings ABEC 5 ceramic hybrids are all you need and are only $9.95ea. 

9.95 x 2 = 19 + SH ...... well, that´s pretty much what you would have paid if you had purchased a Curado instead.

Upgrading lesser value reels is a lot less charming than doing it with upper value ones since those already have those upgrades.

7 minutes ago, Raul said:

9.95 x 2 = 19 + SH ...... well, that´s pretty much what you would have paid if you had purchased a Curado instead.

Upgrading lesser value reels is a lot less charming than doing it with upper value ones since those already have those upgrades.

Sure..let's all hop in the Delorean and go back 8 years to when these reels came out and this post might actually be the slightest bit helpful. 

OP, Hawgtech sells quality ABEC 7 Hybrid Ceramics for 8$ a piece. Go with those. 

Did you clean the brake track? (yes even on the E's)

Double check your bearings being clean, on top of that, what did you use for lube when you lubed them?

Check the spool edges and frame where the spool sits.

Play with the spool tension knob a bit.

 

IF they truly are done, then I vote the Hawgtech 7's, Big Green Fish 7's or the Boca 5's as replacements.

 

 

I buy all the Citica E's I can now for $40-$70.  Add a drive shaft bearing (~$1) and smooth drag (~$8) and I have 99% of the performance of a Chronarch E for a third to half the money.

1 hour ago, Raul said:

9.95 x 2 = 19 + SH ...... well, that´s pretty much what you would have paid if you had purchased a Curado instead.

Upgrading lesser value reels is a lot less charming than doing it with upper value ones since those already have those upgrades.

That's nonsense!  The curado e and citica e had the same spool bearings. The curado e was much more than 19 more than the citica. 

You also may want to check the spacer under the cast control knob.  They can become dimpled from being under pressure by the spool shaft and you end up overcompensating by turning up the tension.

25 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

You also may want to check the spacer under the cast control knob.  They can become dimpled from being under pressure by the spool shaft and you end up overcompensating by turning up the tension.

I've found this to make a tremendous difference on a bunch of my older reels.  Amazing what replacement does, or in some cases just flipping it over.  Learned of this years ago from David Green (Reel Mech).

There is also one on the other end of the spool shaft too, under the bearing.

39 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

You also may want to check the spacer under the cast control knob.  They can become dimpled from being under pressure by the spool shaft and you end up overcompensating by turning up the tension.

I didn't think to try that but I will

16 hours ago, Raul said:

9.95 x 2 = 19 + SH ...... well, that´s pretty much what you would have paid if you had purchased a Curado instead.

Upgrading lesser value reels is a lot less charming than doing it with upper value ones since those already have those upgrades.

That reel has not been made in years and the op said that they are the originals so it's about time they were replaced.

 

To the OP, you have been given great advice for the most part but I will add that if you don't mind noisy bearings, go ceramic. If you like quite bearings, go SS and do regular maintenance on whatever bearing that you buy.