Hi guys,

I would like to clean my bearings thoroughly and I would like to get some opinions on ultrasonic cleaners and also how you use them exactly.

Much appreciated!

Thanks,
Seb.

I don’t remember the exact model but this one is close. https://www.amazon.com/TruSonik-Ultrasonic-Industrial-Stainless-Jewellery/dp/B01HC4WBQW

 

i found that it cleans the frame and other parts well but isn’t worth the hassle for bearings. I usually either just give them a drop of oil or replace them.  If I have one that is really packed with grease I will sometimes spray them with carb or brake cleaner and oil.  

 

  I actually don’t even use it for reel cleaning at all anymore.   Seems to be too time consuming for a few reels here and there. Take it out, fill with water, heat water, fill small jar with acetone, clean bearings, check for smoothness, clean again, etc.  Spraying with cleaner, spray with air, check for smoothness is so much easier for me.  If I were in the reel service business I’m sure it would be worth it but not for me.

Unless you’re doing dozens of reels on a timeline, save your money. It won’t do anything that a soak, swish and rinse won’t do. 

Hornady Lock N Load Sonic cleaner 2 liter. I clean my bearings, main gears, and worm gear with it. Makes my annual deep clean of 50+ reels quicker. Cycle time with heat until I'm satisfied that it's clean. I fill my ultrasonic cleaner with distilled water and use a shot glass filled to the same level full of acetone to drop my parts in and clean. Easier to change the dirty shot glass worth of acetone than all the fluids.

This little Magnasonic came highly recommended (for the price) on pricescope.com diamond ring discussion forum. It does a great job on my wife's jewelry.      Only $40. It's over a year old and still working.

 

www.amazon.com/Magnasonic-Professional-Ultrasonic-Eyeglasses-MGUC500/dp/B007Q2M17K/ref=asc_df_B007Q2M17K/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198129187858&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8667776674126293355&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9008438&hvtargid=pla-380705961335&psc=1

Got into Ultrasonic cleaning a few years ago. Tried multiple baths for different parts to find what I liked best. The only time an ultrasonic cleaner was useful for bearings is if they are packed with grease. Spool bearings it isn't any faster or effective, as DVT said, as using a solution in a glass jar. Reel internals get put in an ultrasonic cleaner because I have to do 20 of my own and then whoever wants something fixed. Bearings get either brake cleaner or acetone depending on how dirty they are followed by a dip in 99% alcohol. If you only do a few reels a year, you can clean a reel just as clean, if not cleaner, by using the correct brushes and hot/soapy water. Ultrasonic cleaners for fishing reels just saves time/elbow grease. 

Cleaned some of my reels' bearings yesterday and the trick with the electric tooth brush did work better than I thought. I saw quite a bit of stuff coming out of the bearings. 

The end result today on the water was not completely eye opening, so I think for now I am going to stick with the aceton + toothbrush approach.

Thanks all!