406 Bearings

[jgp12000]

I tore down this 406 to clean/lube & was looking at Chester's walk thru. It appears one bearing is missing or not enough room for another in his photo & also on my 406.I haven't spilled any, so I am assuming it is to allow movement of the bearings?

https://alantani.com/index.php?topic=30166.0

[Midway Tommy]

While there's an open space it doesn't look big enough to accommodate an additional ball. Probably just non-binding space. On a different note, what a stupid and cheap way to provide/include a ball bearing.    An oilite would have probably served a better purpose since it's a saltwater reel. 

[jtwill98]

An oilite would have probably served a better purpose since it's a saltwater reel.

I don't disagree with your engineering assessment and doubt the Mitchell design team thought bearings was a good thing for saltwater reels. 

I bet it came down to a marketing decision where saltwater reels having bearings was probably a marketing sales point.  I think the reels were first manufactured in 1963, so I'm not sure how the sales market was during that time -- too young.

[JasonGotaProblem]

While there's an open space it doesn't look big enough to accommodate an additional ball. Probably just non-binding space. On a different note, what a stupid and cheap way to provide/include a ball bearing.    An oilite would have probably served a better purpose since it's a saltwater reel. 

I kind of agree.

And I'm gonna test James' claim that he doesn't care about his threads going sideways to ask:

I've been looking at replacing the ball bearings in some reels with an oilite or just a brass bushing. But it seems there's a long list of sizes that ball bearings come in but brass bushings don't come in. They seem to only come in a small handful of sizes. Like say I want a 3x10x4mm (IDxODxDepth) to replace the spool bearings on many baitcasters. Doesn't seem to exist. Am I missing something or looking in the wrong places? Maybe I need to talk to Tom about making some...

[Midway Tommy]

Am I missing something or looking in the wrong places?

Have you checked the Oilite catalogs?

[JasonGotaProblem]

Am I missing something or looking in the wrong places?

Have you checked the Oilite catalogs?

I got excited. But nope. Nada.

[jgp12000]

There is a thread on here I just read the guy milled a bushing on a 306?
Stacked 2 BB atop each other,I don't have the equipment or know how or want to bad enough but was impressive nonetheless.I am looking for it now...

[Gfish]

I' m missing something here. I had a 306 and I don't remember any ball bearings. Just the bushings. Checked the M. G. Schematics and didn't see any ball bearings. Looked at; 306 & 406 several schematics for the different year versions.

Aaannnttt! Error. Yes, the schematic shows one unit but lists it as a pinion + ball bearing assembly. Now, did I ever disassemble mine that far? Maybe not...

[JasonGotaProblem]

Maybe Keith got bored. Or maybe the owner before. A few reels I got from him didn't make any sense when compared to factory specs.

[jgp12000]

Gregg,306 has bushing,406 bearings,this was it Jason.

https://alantani.com/index.php/topic,35976.0.html