OKUMA Avenger ABF40 -- Service and Lubrication -- Young Martin's Reels

[@christopherjenkins2373]

Well I finished the video (w/o falling asleep this time) and this is a good one particularly because I have this reel and have done this service before. I’m not so sure what you said about AR clutch bearings and getting grease in them is necessarily a good idea. I do agree with how you installed those roller bearings using grease for glue but wiping out the inside of that clutch with s q-tip is always a good idea. I like the seals that this reel has even though I know it is nowhere close to being a sealed reel. Every little bit helps when it comes to water intrusion. I am very satisfied with your video Rick. I learned a little more I did not know. Thank you so much! Now I’ve got to open up my giant AFB 80b Avenger and see what is different. For the money I believe these Okuma Bait feeders are a very good bargain! - Chris

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

Chris, much like the axle shaft grease, I’ve been giving the AR bearings a lot of thought lately. Every properly operating AR bearing I have encountered has been well greased. All of the failed AR bearings that I have encountered were crusted with rust and dry. Since I’ve started greasing them, I haven’t found any that slipped when back peddling them. All of my early videos show me wiping them down with a cotton swab prior to installation. I did that because that was what I was taught. Based on my experiences with these bearings, I’m slowly changing my thinking. Your opinion on wiping them down is probably based on what you were taught as well. Do you have any real world experience with grease causing a problem or are you basing it on just what you’ve been taught. I’m thinking that as the grease evaporates and stiffens it might cause them to slip and that might be where the idea that greasing them was bad. However, a property serviced reel should not have stiff, evaporated grease in it. If you find it starting to slip, it’s a great indication that it needs to be serviced. In addition the grease will protect the rollers from getting rusted up. Overall, I think greasing them might just be a win win situation.