JDM Saltiga 15h-sj Magseal servicing.

[TravHale]

Now that I have a full season of fishing on my JDM Saltiga 15h-sj, I'm starting to consider the longevity of the pinion magseal bearing. I see Daiwa has since launched a US version of this reel, and assume it shares the same magseal pinion bearing as the JDM reel? Anyone know if you can purchase these bearings w/mag fluid applied direct from Daiwa, or if the bearing can be replaced with a standard size stainless bearing--I seem to recall the bearing may not be a standard size?  Or, has there been headway in sourcing the new magseal fluid to service the reel?  Just trying to put together a plan before the inevitable happens. Great reel, but halfway regretting the purchase due to the magseal headache.

[ReelClean]

Most Daiwa magbearings are 1mm thicker than the standard size; I assume to allow the inclusion of the magplates on the bearings.  I have devised a mod to replace the Saltiga 5x9x4mm LR bearings with the standard 5x9x3 and a 5x9x1mm SS shim. In the baitcasters they sometimes use a plastic collar on the shaft because they have some weird spool shaft sizes.

Ferrotec APG-L11 is available in online stores so you can rinse out the bearings and replenish.  Just make sure you do it BEFORE they dry out because the magnetite in the oil turns into rust without the oil/surfactant fluid and destroys the bearing.

https://alantani.com/index.php/topic,11517.0.html

[TravHale]

Most Daiwa magbearings are 1mm thicker than the standard size; I assume to allow the inclusion of the magplates on the bearings.  I have devised a mod to replace the Saltiga 5x9x4mm LR bearings with the standard 5x9x3 and a 5x9x1mm SS shim. In the baitcasters they sometimes use a plastic collar on the shaft because they have some weird spool shaft sizes.

Ferrotec APG-L11 is available in online stores so you can rinse out the bearings and replenish.  Just make sure you do it BEFORE they dry out because the magnetite in the oil turns into rust without the oil/surfactant fluid and destroys the bearing.

https://alantani.com/index.php/topic,11517.0.html

Thanks for the reply, it appears ownership of this reel may become a headache after a few years. Really wish I had just gone with Shimano Ocea Jiggers for ease of service and avoided this magseal nonsense--I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER. But perhaps I can just order a new bearing from Daiwa and lube/grease it like a normal bearing. 

[boon]

The magnetic plate that holds the particles in suspension might corrode, although if it's well lubricated conventionally that might slow things down.

I like the performance of MagSeal, but I'm not certain the trade-off of ease of maintenance and longevity is worth it. I'm confident either Daiwa or the community will find a good answer, though.

[JasonGotaProblem]

You can buy the ferrofluid lubricant that daiwa uses. Reelclean mentioned it in the first reply. So you can just flush out the magseal bearings and replace with more of the same. Id never invest in a magsealed reel because I know ahead of time what they entail and that tradeoff isn't worth it to me. But if I already owned one I sure wouldn't throw it away because of that extra step.

[boon]

Yeah, it's just a case of doing that before it dries out otherwise the magnetite in the fluid rusts and ruins the bearing (although could possibly be flushed out? Dunno...)

I note Daiwa Japan is shortly releasing a limited edition of some reels with non-magseal bearings so there may be some choice for anglers soon.

[ReelClean]

You just need to treat magseal like any other seal.  Service it regularly and replenish it and it is actually a more effective seal than any rubber affair.  None of them survives a dunking in salt without followup servicing.

[sabaman1]

The daiwa magseal ferrofluid color is normally a rusty red color.