Also posted this in the Avet forum...
I was looking at the Penn Fathom thrust bearing, and it seems a simple enough a design, that I cannot understand the cost for the currently available thrust bearings that would fit the Avets. I know some have posted the appropriate size thrust bearings for Avets from online suppliers, and the bearings are WAY TOO EXPENSIVE.
So, can we as a community source a thrust bearing for the replacement of stock pinion bearings in Avet reels, there is clearly a huge market for them.
What thrust bearing design does Penn use? After looking at theirs I cannot see how you could charge more than $25 for such a bearing.
Just inquiring, as I could push my reel to higher drag settings and use these even more for a wider range of uses.
My thought right now is this... I understand the question and motive, but listen... --and please don't take this the wrong way; i'm all for people thinking for themselves-
but many individuals, myself included, have for years, spent countless hours immersed in enormous searching and sourcing projects with innumerable bearing manufacturers and suppliers trying to source these bearings. It is not always so easy. And they aren't amateurs around bearings. (We have and use thousands at my workplace) And well found, they tend to be costly in small numbers. I don't recall exactly what I paid, but it wasn't so bad; twenty-thirty dollars apiece all told (you need a couple of different sizes) with tax and postage etc.
That, and that it has been said before that the results of the bearing change are not guaranteed to be huge.
So if you want to a) come up with a bearing assembly that does the job, and b) find a better price,
you're going to have to do it yourself. Have at it; knock yourself out.
A thrust bearing to replace a standard radial bearing will not work. A radial bearing is still required. There is usually insufficient space for 2 bearings. If you are referring to angular contact bearings they can help but not completely. I did use them in 1 reel which showed a slight (but noticeably) reduced binding. I tried in a second reel (el cheapo chinese bearing) the binding became worse :o Bearing quality and the angle of contact is paramount. As an engineering exercise it was worth it - from an end use point of view - too damned expensive :(
One aspect I'm still playing with is using chrome steel bearings instead of stainless. In the sizes we use thay are approx. 25% stronger. Yes they will rust more quickly and require replacemnt more often. Chrome steel bearings are far cheaper than stainless and readily available. There are gains and losses in everything we do.