'24 Tatula Spool Bearing Tune: Degreasing for Maximum Distance

Half the reason I bought the new '24 Tatula was to see how a brand-new stock reel compares in performance to a fully tuned secondhand reel. As expected, straight out of the box, it just doesn't feel right. For now, I'm holding off on adding extra bearings, but I want to start by fixing the noisy spool bearings, which make an annoying sound every time I cast even a normal lure. A fully tuned reel makes a massive difference in casting distance.

I'll start with the easier right-side cover. You just need to be careful not to let the retaining pin fly off when removing it, and since it fits snugly, work without hesitation and it pops right off. The bearing looks unique, unlike anything I've seen from MinebeaMitsumi. Specifically, I can't figure out how to remove the shield cover in the middle. Usually, you remove the shield to expose the balls and thoroughly flush out the grease, but since that doesn't seem possible, I'll try cleaning it as is. If it doesn't work out, I'll probably replace it with a standard MinebeaMitsumi bearing.

The bearing on the opposite side can also be removed without taking the entire reel apart. Specifically, removing the tension knob reveals the bearing. Just like the other side, carefully remove the retaining pin before pulling the bearing out.

It was a bit tough to grab from the front, so I pushed it out from behind using a toothpick.

As for the degreasing solvent, I'm using my long-time favorite: standard parts cleaner. Just be careful never to get it on rubber parts.

I place the bearings into a suitable glass jar and spray them thoroughly with the cleaner, letting them sit submerged in the liquid for a while. Since I couldn't remove the shields, I'm a bit worried whether the grease will actually get flushed out, but I'll give this a try first and test casting next weekend.