Used my new Legalis 2000 spinning reel for the first time today. During retrieves it started to crank slowly like something wasn’t rotating smoothly. Removed and replaced the spool and handles, gave each bearing under the handle a drop of oil and still doing it. I then noticed it cranked freely when I flipped the anti-reverse lever off, and the un-smoothness returned when I turned it back on. What is the likely culprit given this observation? 

Legalis has a hex-shaft handle that goes through the main gear, with crown washers on both sides engaging the main gear.  Very likely made by Tica, Legalis schematic is almost identical to my personal like, Tica Libra SX.  

Best photo I had of a thumb screw is worm-drive Tica Libra SL.  

IOS locomotive drive Libra SX behaves very much like you describe, the reel spins more freely with A/R disengaged than it does with A/R engaged.  Generally, the difference is slight.  But if you over-tighten the non-drive-side thumb screw, you're over-clamping the main gear, so the difference with A/R engaged and disengaged is more pronounced.  

Mine is a 2023 Legalis with a screw-on handle 

ok, fair enough - on your reel, the handle screws directly into the main gear.  

This older schematic still applies for the A/R and option function.  

 

p/n 36 is a roller bearing inside a bracket that gets pushed off and pulled back on spindle sleeve #37 by A/R cam #44.  

The basic difference you feel is the friction of the grease in the roller bearing.  

I wouldn't recommend schtupping with the grease - the right viscosity is important for both functions of the roller bearing - both rolling and Stopping.  If too much low-viscosity oil gets inside the roller bearing, it can lock in both directions or completely slip in pay.  

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The Daiwa roller bearing will match this Tica, made for grease in the off-shelf roller bearing, and a drop of oil on the spindle sleeve.  

F-No, Shimano roller element A/R clutch from Stella is a complicated design made to use viscious oil - a more difficult, higher shear-failure solution to the same basic function.  

 

 

First A/R roller used in a reel, 1955 Precisionbilt Mosquito perfect-pattern fly reel.  

Edited October 7, 2025Oct 7 by bulldog1935
laughing SFB

 

The following image shows a Shimano AR clutch bearing. Aftermarket repair/maintenance attempts where a person used grease became such a problem to Shimano they began putting "NO GREASE" right onto their AR clutch bearings since the message was not reaching those who needed to see it.

 

 

AI Overview:

 

No, you generally do not use grease on an anti-reverse bearing; instead, you should use a very small amount of light fishing reel oil or run it dry, as too much lubricant, especially grease, will prevent the small rollers or cams from gripping the clutch sleeve, causing the anti-reverse to fail. Over-greasing can lead to the anti-reverse mechanism not engaging or engaging too slowly.  

 

Why Grease Is Bad for Anti-Reverse Bearings 

 

Grip vs. Slip: 

An anti-reverse bearing works on the principle of grip, not slip. The rollers need to bite into the clutch sleeve to prevent back-play in the handle.

 

Compromised Grip: 

Grease creates a film that reduces the friction between the rollers and the sleeve, preventing them from locking up effectively.

 

Catastrophic Failure: 

Using grease on an anti-reverse bearing is a common mistake that can lead to the clutch failing entirely, allowing the handle to spin backward when you are fighting a fish.

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***ADDED: Grease acts like a solid inside the bearings filling open gaps the steel needle bearings need to stay open so they can move into place usually helped along by small, tiny springs. Using any form of grease fills the necessary open spaces preventing movement into place, and acts like a glue preventing the needle bearings from moving into place causing AR failures.

 

If grease is found inside an AR bearing, soak it in appropriate solvent to remove all grease. Clean back to bare metal and plastic, and use light synthetic oil only.

 

As stated above, viscosity is everything in an AR clutch bearing but relating to oil only- not grease. And only use synthetics! Petroleum oils thicken up over time leading to AR failures same as grease causes. Good synthetics maintain same viscosity indefinitely.

 

Next issue is lubricant that remains in place on parts inside AR clutch bearings to lubricate as well as prevent rust and corrosion. If one were to search the Alan Tani reel repair information found there, one will find numerous acceptable oils mentioned. One of the best that is often mentioned there is same one I have used for years without any failures of AR clutch bearings. Corrosion X or Reel X. Corrosion X has the highest corrosion prevention rating by U.S. military standards.

3 hours ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

AI Overview:

 

No, you generally do not use grease on an anti-reverse bearing;

Yet somehow every brand-new bait caster I crack open has visible grease swiped onto the roller bearings.

lol! Maybe they WANT it to fail! Call it built in obsolescence.

 

I remove grease from all AR clutch bearings and treat all of them the same with synthetic oil.

 

 But to each their own, including brands who WANT repairs and return customers!

@FloridaFishinFool

 

Seriously, what's funny? Think I'm making it up? @bulldog1935 liked my post because he's obviously noticed the same thing, and he isn't a rookie. Is he hilarious too? 

Misinformation is funny. Its all the forum gives me to express dissatisfaction with misinformation.

 

When I see misinformation, it is funny to me. OK?

We’re done here

Membership..

There is great information on this thread that can be informative and helpful along with others on here about the same subject. 
 

 

Live Long and Prosper 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike