Bearing counts

[Schmoopie]

The old story is "more bearings" is better. I'm interested only in the truth (or facts). I like my Shimano Sienna FG series, so I admit to being a bit partial. However, I read everyone giving reviews of the Pflueger President series (I assume the pressp20x is the latest and greatest). Shimano says the Sienna FG has 3+1 bearings. Pflueger says the pressp20x has 7 bearings.

If memory serves, 3+1 is "3 ball bearings, 1 roller bearing". So, I look at https://www.reelschematic.com/wp-con...%2019SN5FG.pdf and indeed find 3 ball bearings, one under the rotor and 2 on the handle shaft (on either side of the drive gear).

So, I look at the pressp20x http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/content/pu...%201425597.pdf . I find 4 ball bearings. One is in the bail assembly, two on the handle shaft and one under the rotor. The bail is the one bearing difference. I'm missing 3 bearings.

I have a shimano sienna 500fg so I took the bail apart to see what was under the line roller. It's a "bushing", not a bearing. The roller bearing is normally part of the anti-reverse clutch. So, all 3 ball bearings and the roller bearing are accounted for.

The President 20x, I have to assume that the anti-reverse clutch there also has a roller bearing, so that leaves 2 missing bearings. I'd also be curious if someone with the President pressp20x would see what the bearing looks like under the line roller or if it's really just a bushing being called a "bearing". If anyone knows where those other 2 bearings are hiding, please let me know.

The point isn't to bash one product or another, but rather to compare "apples to apples". The reason I went on the "bearing hunt" was because I was looking at adding a President. Pflueger advertises the 20x with 6.2 ounces, 6 pound drag and 20.2" retrieve. The Sienna 500fg is advertised as 6.3 ounces, 4 pound max drag, and 27 inch retrieve. Both are rated to hold 100 yards of 4 pound mono. On paper, the pflueger is lighter, stronger drag, less line retrieved per crank (with ultralight, that becomes even more important).

[deathb4disco]

The old story is "more bearings" is better.

"Better bearings" is better. I would take Daiwa and Shimano bearings over anybody else's.

Go Japanese or go home.

[Fishfishwish]

Hard to beat those manufacturers, and it's not just the bearings. In the price range the OP is comparing, none will be Japanese, even Diawa and Shimano.

[trypman1]

I own 2 Pflueger 20's. They are nice but the upgraded line roller system and new spool design of Shimano Sienna and Sahara are a grade above. My 2cts.

[Fishfishwish]

When did the upgraded Siennas come out? Just recently? I have two but they are at least a year old, one more than that.

I own 2 Pflueger 20's. They are nice but the upgraded line roller system and new spool design of Shimano Sienna and Sahara are a grade above. My 2cts.

[skeetbum]

My new siennas are trimmed with more red, don’t know if that helps. Pretty good little reel.

[Schmoopie]

When did the upgraded Siennas come out? Just recently? I have two but they are at least a year old, one more than that.

The FG is the latest, it's black and red. The FE was the previous model (no FF model) and it had 1+1 bearings (in the 1000 series at least). I don't believe the FE had a 500 series.

[Gomer Snerd]

In the handles. Bought a Chinese reel with 19 bearings. 8 are in the handles!

Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk

[longhunter]

I mentioned the President, because its a good reel and doesn't cost a lot of coin. But personally, I'm an ABU guy, I have two of the Revo Premier in size 10... Those little darlings are smoooooooooooooth!

[Schmoopie]

"Better bearings" is better. I would take Daiwa and Shimano bearings over anybody else's.

Go Japanese or go home.

But you can buy replacement bearings and upgrade the quality for most sizes.