Could someone please school me on spool bearings? What's the difference between red seal, orange seal and no seals?

Not sure but I do know that a shishamo has like 30 bearings??

The only purpose of the seal on a bearing is to keep contaminates out and/or the bearings in. Many companies use nylon seals or metal ones, the nylon being of different colors. What really matters is the ABEC rating. Ceramic or steel, the overall rating is what's important. 

A good Abec 5 or 7 is all you really need fer spool bearings, if going to ceramic most end up using a drop of oil to quiet them, the advantage to them is only really in the fact you can run em dry and this will allow them to run without slowing from the wash of the oil. Running them dri makes them noisy, cancelling any advantage to most including me! 

The seals I usually remove and never reinstall,,, this makes it easier to properly service when needed. I no longer run anything but premium ABEC 5 and 7 stainless steel bearings from Boca, or Big Green Fish, you need way more RPM's to see any advantage running ABEC 9's and true 9's are extremely expensive, and will never see an advantage on any casting. 

Lastly be carefull where you buy your bearings,,, most are selling subpar bearing with inflated ABEC ratings. I always trust my Bearing purchases to either Big Green Fish,,, or some ceramics, mainly spinning reel line roller bearings from Boca Bearings! Both offer excellent bearings at a great price, and you can be sure you are getting what is being advertised!

So you don't use the ceramic bearings?

2 hours ago, Rbm18 said:

So you don't use the ceramic bearings?

NO. I believe my reels should be seen and not heard. I have ABEC7 stainless steel bearings from BGF in most of my reels. After some time with them I've come to the conclusion that they are not really worth the cash. The difference between them and a properly cleaned and lube stock bearing is minimal.

Of course, if you're one of those who feels like he has to have the best, and I used to be one of those guys, then go for it. You won't hurt anything. You may be able to tell the difference. Only you can determine if it's worth it. 

Gotha , thanks for the input.

This article may help you decide further if a bearing upgrade (and which type) would be worth the cost to you.

 

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/supertune-baitcaster.html

6 hours ago, Capt.Bob said:

A good Abec 5 or 7 is all you really need fer spool bearings, if going to ceramic most end up using a drop of oil to quiet them, the advantage to them is only really in the fact you can run em dry and this will allow them to run without slowing from the wash of the oil. Running them dri makes them noisy, cancelling any advantage to most including me! 

The seals I usually remove and never reinstall,,, this makes it easier to properly service when needed. I no longer run anything but premium ABEC 5 and 7 stainless steel bearings from Boca, or Big Green Fish, you need way more RPM's to see any advantage running ABEC 9's and true 9's are extremely expensive, and will never see an advantage on any casting. 

Lastly be carefull where you buy your bearings,,, most are selling subpar bearing with inflated ABEC ratings. I always trust my Bearing purchases to either Big Green Fish,,, or some ceramics, mainly spinning reel line roller bearings from Boca Bearings! Both offer excellent bearings at a great price, and you can be sure you are getting what is being advertised!

All I'll add here is that "non contact" seals aren't really that. Pop off the seals and run them open. Or stick with a shielded ABEC 5

On 4/10/2016 at 2:53 PM, Rbm18 said:

So you don't use the ceramic bearings?

Not when I'm using shishamo reels

^^^ 

I don't find boca orange seal abec 7 bearings to be a great improvement over a properly cleaned and lubed stock bearing. The only reel I was able to see a noticeable difference in was my bfs reel for 'light' baits. A $25 professional servicing of your reel would be money better spent. I have abec 7's in all my reels. I swap them out because I like to tinker with things and they don't cost me anything so why not do it if they're free. If I had to pay for them though I wouldn't have them.