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In a previous article, we looked at how to find the right reel spare part . Now for the practical part of changing the roller bearing, using a Shimano Stradic CI4 3000FA reel as an example.
Check bearing condition
To find out if your bearing needs replacing, run a large-diameter braid or wire over the roller and rotate it while checking for squeaking or binding.
If this is the case, it needs to be changed.
To do this you will need :
- a screwdriver to fit the roller screw
- oil
- silicone grease
As a preventive measure, I sometimes replace the roller bearings on the reels that got the most use the previous season, before starting a new season.
Disassembly and reassembly
The first step is to remove the roller screw on the side of the roller, using a screwdriver.
Remove all the parts that make up the roller and take the bearing out of the cage. Be careful not to lose any parts at this stage. To avoid this, I count the number of parts indicated on the exploded view to make sure the count is correct.
Replace the defective bearing with a new one of the same size. I first apply oil to the new bearing before repositioning it in the cage. Never put grease directly on it! Don't force it into place. On some models, there is a direction for inserting it.
The final step is to reassemble and test, in the same way as we did before dismantling, to make sure everything works perfectly.
When reassembling, if in doubt, use the exploded view of the reel, which is in most cases available with the reel documentation, or download it directly from the brand's website.
A little tip
I apply silicone grease to the screw head and not to the bearing. This not only ensures a better seal, but also prevents salt deposits that could make future dismantling difficult.
Some top-of-the-range models have very complex mechanics, and simply changing a roller bearing can be a complex task. If you have any doubts, I can only encourage you to visit a retailer who will have all the necessary skills to do it.
This operation takes just a few minutes to perform, and costs very little. A bearing generally costs less than 10 euros.
