I just received my 22 Aldeberan BFS yesterday and was surprised there were neither the reel oil or BFS bearing oil included. 

 

I saw some YouTube vids on unboxing of this reel and to my surprise again, no oil are supplied.

 

Also saw some unboxing of the 23 Conquest BFS and again, no oils included. 

 

WHY???!!!

 

How is a buyer of either reel suppose to lube their reel? I know aftermarket oils are available, but I don't have a clue what a good BFS bearing oil would be.

 

When I bought the Curado BFS a couple years ago, both oils were included. 

So buying a newer JDM BFS reel from Japan, you plainly just get the reel, for exorbitant prices?

Used to be common across a number of brands...but the last time I received oil with a new reel was 12, maybe 15 years ago.

Yeah used to be commonplace, now I haven't gotten oil on two new Zillions, a Certate, and a Curado 150 MGL.   So it's not just Shimano, Daiwa stopped as well. 

1 hour ago, ghost said:

I just received my 22 Aldeberan BFS yesterday and was surprised there were neither the reel oil or BFS bearing oil included. 

 

I saw some YouTube vids on unboxing of this reel and to my surprise again, no oil are supplied.

 

Also saw some unboxing of the 23 Conquest BFS and again, no oils included. 

 

WHY???!!!

 

How is a buyer of either reel suppose to lube their reel? I know aftermarket oils are available, but I don't have a clue what a good BFS bearing oil would be.

 

When I bought the Curado BFS a couple years ago, both oils were included. 

So buying a newer JDM BFS reel from Japan, you plainly just get the reel, for exorbitant prices?

 

The first handful of SLXs I bought came with reel oil, but my SLX MGLs did not.

Just go on the fish shimano parts site and get a bottle of the bantam bearing oil or grab any readily available light oil. You don’t need anything eccentric or specialized. 

Thank you DVT! What light bearing oil do you suggest that's easily available to get?

I’ve used Lucas reel oil in all of mine for years - works good and is available just about anywhere.
 

You can get “Super Lube H3” at Home Depot for about 8 bucks, and it’s an incredible quality synthetic oil. 

Super Lube ISO 10 is great for BFS spool bearings.  Unfortunately, they don't sell it in smaller quantities like you'd probably want.  You can probably take this 4 oz bottle to the grave with you since it'll last so long.  https://www.super-lube.com/multi-use-synthetic-lightweight-oil-50104  This is probably one of the thinnest oils out there.  As is the case with super lightweight oils, you'll be applying it frequently.  If you want something a little longer lasting, look at the ISO 22.  Most shops that put out oils marketed to the BFS crowd are usually ISO 22, if they are kind enough to give up the MSDS indicating as such.  

 

As for your other bearings, just get the Bantam oil.  It's like $3 for a small bottle.

You are right.  I was fun getting those littles bottles of lubricant in the box with the reel.  But nobody does it anymore.  Shimano was one of the last.  Good for them. By personnal experience, I know that a lot of people just put them in the garbage thinking that a product given is not of good quality.  They went the way spare spools for spinning reels went.  Competition is fierce among the manufacturer and a difference in price of a couple of dollars will make or brake a product. 

7 hours ago, ghost said:

Thank you DVT! What light bearing oil do you suggest that's easily available to get?

I’ve seen Oust in stores, Remoil, 3in1, even sewing machine oil from the craft/sewing section. Boca Lightning lube is good and affordable if you want to order something. 

Wahl hair clipper oil (Amazon) or sewing machine oil available at sewing shops should work just fine.  

When I received my Alderbaran last year, it had BFS oil in it but the Calcutta Conquest BFS did not.  I asked Digitaka and they said there was a shortage and to contact Shimano Japan. Shimano USA says it has been discontinued. 

 

https://fishshop.shimano.com/products/bnt6806?_pos=2&_sid=0644f0ed6&_ss=r

 

I have also used TSI 321. So far, so good. 

TSI 321 is The Bomb!

 

TSI 321 is a synthetic lubricant that was developed by NASA for use in the Apollo Program. It's non-electrolytic and can operate in extreme temperatures. It can: 

 

• Bond with metal to create a thin film of lubrication
• Withstand high pressures
• Free rusted or frozen parts
• Dissolve grease and rust
• Prevent metal corrosion
• Increase the life expectancy of fishing reels' internal parts
• Inhibit rust
• Prevent oxidation

TSI 321 is non-staining and not harmful to most plastics or high alloy metals. 

I wonder if anyone is overthinking this issue?  

 

Any oil suitable for any light machinery will work.  Just don't go overboard and drench the bearing.  Keep it lean. 

16 hours ago, MickD said:

I wonder if anyone is overthinking this issue?  

 

Any oil suitable for any light machinery will work.  Just don't go overboard and drench the bearing.  Keep it lean. 

 

 

TBH if youre on this website youre overthinking the issue 

22 hours ago, MickD said:

I wonder if anyone is overthinking this issue?  

 

Any oil suitable for any light machinery will work.  Just don't go overboard and drench the bearing.  Keep it lean. 

This is hands down the most over thought topic on fishing forums. I say all the time, there is no magic in lubricants and reels are not a comparatively demanding application. 

I use the the ReelX brand of lubricants.

 

9 minutes ago, ike8120 said:

I use the the ReelX brand of lubricants.

 

Me too. 

A-Jay

5 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

This is hands down the most over thought topic on fishing forums. I say all the time, there is no magic in lubricants and reels are not a comparatively demanding application. 

I used to do a lot of work in reliability management and spec’ing lubricants- the above could not be more true - however, given the environments our reels work in, I prefer a synthetic or semi synthetic oil just for the additive packages (rust and oxidation inhibitors primarily). 

I blame big oil for driving up the price!