While we are waiting for the temps to drop I was going through my gear and reviewing from last year. I had bought 2 new reels that I tested, the No.8 CGI and the BB FF. I tuned the CGI by flushing all the bearings and removing all the grease from the main gear then adding a thin coat of TSI-321 to everything. I didn't have time go through the FF before the season, so I fished the FF stock for the whole season. And although the BB FF is a superior reel, FF trigger, better built, tighter tolerances and looks much better, I found myself always fishing the CGI. This was mainly because the startup and drop speed were much slower on the FF.
This season I did some very unscientific tests on the free spool times of the tuned CGI and the untuned FF. My CGI was getting about 40 seconds of free spool and the FF 14 seconds on average. Both mag brakes were completely backed off and the lines were taped to the spool. So I took the time to go through and flush the FF and see if i could improve the speed and free spool times.
Here is what I did to the FF:
I removed the mag. So some of you are thinking, oh no the reel will over run and it will be annoying. Yes the reel will need to be managed more closely but the benefits will out weigh the effort to watch your reel a bit more. I spun the reel without the mag and it was getting 22 seconds free spool on average. I then mounted the reel on a rod with a #4 Fiska, I let the line drop and jig hit the ground but didn't stop the reel. What happened was the line instead of birds nesting like a bait caster, it formed a bow in between the front of the reel and the first guide. It wasn't a big tangle, just a simple lift of the rod removed the slack in the line. (3lb Berkely Floro Ice).
Removal of the mag is not permanent and you can easily reinstall if you want to in the future. Here is how to do it:
-remove spool
-you will see a screw among the magnets on the mag mount, unscrew it carefully.
-to remove the mag mount place a screwdriver or something attracted to magnets, across the mount.
-lift straight up carefully as there are two springs below
-push out the mag adjustment knob from the screw side, out
-plug up the hole from the outside with a piece of rubber, eva foam, etc. cut to size
Flush Spool Bearings
-remove spool
-remove hexigonal lock washer thing carefully (this is on the spool)
-pull brass sleeve straight up and out
-remove first bearing, bearing sleeve then second bearing
-removed the shields
-flush in denatured alcohol (DNA) 3-4 times (every flush change DNA)
-added one small drop of TSI-321, spin and let dry for 30 mins
-flush bearings again with DNA for a very quick rinse (just a little dip to remove any excess 321)
-let dry and reinstall (shields off)
After this I was getting 38-40 second of free spool, which is over twice as fast as stock. I am sure now with these improvement the sluggishness of the reel will be solved. If you are really into tuning, add some new hybrid ceramic bearings into the reel 5x9x3 orange seals. I didn't do this but I bet the start up speed would be even better.
I have never seen or taken apart a BB Ghost but I figure the instructions would be similar to the FF. Flush the bearings and remove the mags if possible.
Post if this tune improves your reel and or productivity fishing.
Have fun and hope for a long and cold winter
