Where on the bearing do you oil? Center in the hole? In between the two edges of the bearing on the flat part? I'm confused..

I leave off one side but you can leave them both off if you want

 

Just remember the more you leave open the bearings to the elements the quicker/easier they can get dirty. So unless you are going to maintain a religious schedule cleaning the reels I would leave the covers on when you finish cleaning them.

Quote

Richard Picard, field applications engineer at NMB Technologies Corporation explains that compared to open bearings, shielded and sealed bearings provide better protection from contamination and also add protection against lubrication migration.  

source http://www.bearingtips.com/difference-bearing-shields-bearing-seals/

 

I appreciate the video but do you drop the oil on the shield part? I won't be taking them apart just leaving them in my reel. Or do you drop he oil in the center where the shaft would go?

42 minutes ago, LEWITH said:

I appreciate the video but do you drop the oil on the shield part? I won't be taking them apart just leaving them in my reel. Or do you drop he oil in the center where the shaft would go?

Go to 14:18 and 14:55 

 

you have to remove the outer shield to put the oil on the ball parts.  There is a race that holds the balls in place.  If you do not remove the shield the oil will not get to the balls where it is needed.

22 hours ago, Angry John said:

you have to remove the outer shield to put the oil on the ball parts.  There is a race that holds the balls in place.  If you do not remove the shield the oil will not get to the balls where it is needed.

 

How often would you suggest that you have to internally oil the bearing?  What if they have metal shields that dont come off?

22 hours ago, Angry John said:

you have to remove the outer shield to put the oil on the ball parts.  There is a race that holds the balls in place.  If you do not remove the shield the oil will not get to the balls where it is needed.

 

It is unnecessary to remove a shield in order to oil a bearing.  The bearing pictured in your post has a seal.  That does need to be removed.  Not many reels have sealed bearings, unless they were installed after purchase.

 

LEWITH: A needle-oiler, and one drop of oil to the lip of the outer race, and you're good.  I'd say once every couple of months of moderate use is all that's needed.

I prefer to clean my bearings before changing oil because i never know what was being used before or by the factory.  Some types dont mix well, and a clean bearing is the best.  I like one shield off or both but others re-install or don't take them off.  I would say you never really get them clean without taking them off.

Me too, but generally, adding oil supplied with the reel isn't going to hurt.  Mixing grease is a little more sketchy, as the detergents added to oil to make the grease can react with each other.  If you're going to get pore precise, and use something like Oust Metol or TSI, then DEFINITELY flush those bearings.