ok guys - stumbled on this recently - the article is older, but I sent an e-mail and he is sill in business -
Supertuning a baitcaster for optimum performance - fact or fiction?
He charges $20 just to tear it down and clean it, and another $20 for the 4 hours of filing and polishing for optimum performance.
anyone have any thoughts on this?
My thought is: IF it works, would be really nice to be able to launch a 4" senko, or weightless tube the extra distance when the toads are up shallow?
oops - need the link as well:
http://www.ultimatebass.com/content/view/72/83/
When I buy Curados, I take them apart, clean and remove all the factory grease and oil. Clean all part in lighter fluid, then when putting it back together, I use Quantums hot sauce and grease on all the parts that had grease on oil. It pretty much turns it into a super free with out the whiffle spool. From start to finish, around 10 minutes per reel.
I do my own yearly maintenance but I have never done the Super-tuning yet. If you have a dremel tool, it doesn't sound too difficult. I will probably try it next winter as I have already done my cleaning for the year. If you are tearing the reel down for maintenance, the super-tuning process should take less than 20min per reel.
I've heard of this before, there are also some aftermarket ceramic bearings that are supposed to help.
-Matt
Heartland tackle repair did a casting study on those bearings and they did improve casting distance - but $20+ a piece is a bit much. The super tuning just goes beyond the bearing issue and relieves the friction at all contact points outside of the bearing surfaces.
I can attest to the new bearings in older reels though. I decided to swap out the bearings in some of my old Abu Promax's and I couldn't believe how long the spool would free spin after adding the ABEC7 bearings and Rocket fuel oil. They seem better than I ever remember them to be.
all this talk about high tech reel maintenance is making me feel real guilty...
I've replaced the bearings in all of my Curados with ABEC-7 bearings and use Yellow Rocket Fuel. It makes a huge difference in the performance of my reels. I have not done any of the dremmel tricks that the "super tuning" guy does, but I do use extra fine steel wool and clean the spool shaft and friction ring a couple times a year, and it does seem to make a difference in how smooth my reels are. Plus it gives me something to do on long winter nights...