Ceramic Bearings from AliExpress?

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Shadowcaster1969
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Ceramic Bearings from AliExpress?

Post by Shadowcaster1969 » Sun Jun 04, 2023 3:49 am

Hi,

Has anyone trying these ceramic bearings from AliExpress?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001 ... DkKXHFBFx8

My Daiwa Morethan bearings are due for replacement again... was just wondering if I should spend the bucks on another set from HedgeHog Studio or should I give these a try...

Your sharing of experience would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

SSS
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Re: Ceramic Bearings from AliExpress?

Post by SSS » Sun Jun 04, 2023 9:20 am

I have. Bought 5 ceramic hybrids from this shop, and replaced all internal ball bearings inside my alphas ito. It is now the free'est turning reel that i've held.

Shadowcaster1969
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Re: Ceramic Bearings from AliExpress?

Post by Shadowcaster1969 » Sun Jun 04, 2023 7:50 pm

Thanks for the tip SSS, I'll give it a try!

Just curious, what type of lube do you use with these ceramics? Have you tried running it dry?

Thanks!

SSS
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Re: Ceramic Bearings from AliExpress?

Post by SSS » Sun Jun 04, 2023 10:29 pm

Shadowcaster1969 wrote:
Sun Jun 04, 2023 7:50 pm
Thanks for the tip SSS, I'll give it a try!

Just curious, what type of lube do you use with these ceramics? Have you tried running it dry?

Thanks!
I ran them dry, and they weren't even that noisy. Then i decided to add the hedgehog medium light oil to all of them, and tbh i don't really notice any differences. You'd need a high viscosity oil to make any kind of difference in dampening the sound of ceramics, which i don't have. I do have two pairs of their pure ceramic bearing as well, and these are very noisy. Didn't like them very much as spool bearings, but probably a good option if you're fishing in saltwater.

Shadowcaster1969
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Re: Ceramic Bearings from AliExpress?

Post by Shadowcaster1969 » Mon Jun 05, 2023 5:48 am

SSS wrote:
Sun Jun 04, 2023 10:29 pm
Shadowcaster1969 wrote:
Sun Jun 04, 2023 7:50 pm
Thanks for the tip SSS, I'll give it a try!

Just curious, what type of lube do you use with these ceramics? Have you tried running it dry?

Thanks!
I ran them dry, and they weren't even that noisy. Then i decided to add the hedgehog medium light oil to all of them, and tbh i don't really notice any differences. You'd need a high viscosity oil to make any kind of difference in dampening the sound of ceramics, which i don't have. I do have two pairs of their pure ceramic bearing as well, and these are very noisy. Didn't like them very much as spool bearings, but probably a good option if you're fishing in saltwater.
Got it! I fishing mainly in the salt and I'll probably get a pair of the full ceramic for a test drive... Thanks again for sharing!

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Re: Ceramic Bearings from AliExpress?

Post by Jeffbro999 » Mon Jun 05, 2023 12:50 pm

If you are fishing the salt, you really need to grease those frame bearings as they won’t last long running them dry. Freshwater is completely different. TSI 321 and factory Shimano/Daiwa stainless spool bearings are all I use in the salt and haven’t had a corrosion issue since using TSI. I had tried several different lubricant recommendations from here, but always had to change them out every few months because of rust. Alan Tani’s site was worth the research.

TSI will also work with hybrid ceramics, the races are still stainless and it will protect them well. Just be sure to drain as much excess oil out of the bearings before install, the rest will spin out in use leaving a thin layer for protection.

Ceramics are a waste of money, very loud and expensive. Maybe for frame bearings, but a tube of Yamaha Blue Grease does the job well for a lot lower cost.

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Re: Ceramic Bearings from AliExpress?

Post by Slazmo » Wed Jun 07, 2023 2:38 am

Well I've taken the plunge to see if they're better than the Australian sourced bearings (hybrid) I get.

May as well go directly to the source.

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Re: Ceramic Bearings from AliExpress?

Post by Shadowcaster1969 » Sat Jun 10, 2023 6:56 am

I went ahead and ordered a set of spool bearings and several other internal bearings to try out. Should arrive in a week or 2 I hope.

But I was not able to find the correct size for the pinion gear bearing on the crank side of the reel. The original pinion bearing (size 5mm by 9mm by 4mm) appears to me magnetic as it keeps sticking to my metal tools. It is also slightly coroded and well worn and is certainly due for replacement. But for some reason this 5x9x4mm size bearing could not be found on any after-market shops.... Does anyone knows where to get one? Even if it is not ceramic it would be helpful.

Thanks again!

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Re: Ceramic Bearings from AliExpress?

Post by Slazmo » Sat Jun 10, 2023 2:47 pm

They're available as a hybrid option on Ali Express as a supposed Abec 9

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Re: Ceramic Bearings from AliExpress?

Post by Slazmo » Mon Jun 19, 2023 12:18 am

Here's my findings.

Incredibly smooth straight out of the bag, opened up and as you see.
20230619_170012~2.jpg
Ali Express Hybrid inside 1
20230619_170012~2.jpg (62.27 KiB) Viewed 2231 times
Last picture of inside outer race shows what seems to be oxidising later but to be fair it's at best 304 grade or lower?
20230619_170115~2.jpg
Ali Express Hybrid inside 2
20230619_170115~2.jpg (52.56 KiB) Viewed 2231 times
Went inside a old D Chronarch that's a bit of a battle axe in condition and made it heaps more quiet - replaced the dodgy Australian derived bearings (china sourced of course).

Bearings got a little spritz of TSI321 and the spool rotation is incredible in comparison.

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Re: Ceramic Bearings from AliExpress?

Post by LowRange » Mon Jun 19, 2023 12:36 pm

=D>

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Re: Ceramic Bearings from AliExpress?

Post by cadman » Mon Jun 19, 2023 6:02 pm

Are you guys replacing all the bearings in one reel or are you just replacing the spool bearing?

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Re: Ceramic Bearings from AliExpress?

Post by Slazmo » Mon Jun 19, 2023 6:36 pm

Just the spool bearings, I isolated the noise to the ceramics that were in there. The frame bearings are fine and the other noise is the 7:1 ratio gears that have some wear.

I went ahead and ordered 6 more sets, give them a go.

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Re: Ceramic Bearings from AliExpress?

Post by dee » Tue Jun 20, 2023 12:21 am

Shadowcaster1969 wrote:
Sat Jun 10, 2023 6:56 am
But I was not able to find the correct size for the pinion gear bearing on the crank side of the reel. The original pinion bearing (size 5mm by 9mm by 4mm) appears to me magnetic as it keeps sticking to my metal tools. It is also slightly coroded and well worn and is certainly due for replacement. But for some reason this 5x9x4mm size bearing could not be found on any after-market shops.... Does anyone knows where to get one? Even if it is not ceramic it would be helpful.
That is the magseal bearing from Daiwa. Daiwa purposely doesn't use common size.
I would just replace with 5x9x3mm if needed.

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Re: Ceramic Bearings from AliExpress?

Post by Shadowcaster1969 » Wed Jun 21, 2023 4:12 am

Thanks! I also realized what Daiwa was trying to do with that 5x9x4 measurement too... I tried to order that MagSeal bearing with the local Daiwa dealership and was quoted a price of USD$36!!! So I gave it a pass... Anyway that MagSeal bearing was the first and only one that rusted among the total of 12 ball bearings in the entire reel! :lol: So I reckon there is not much point in spending 10 times the amount on another one...

I just ordered the 5x9x3 bearing with some 5x9x0.2mm stainless steel washers for less than $3.60. If I stack up a few of those washers with the 5x9x3 bearing hopefully it will work...

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