Hey frank! Yea the zephyr has really surprised me. While it’s not as small as the Acura it is a really nice reel for under $50. Oddly kk USA still is asking $69.99… I’d go to aliexpress and get it there as it’s still under $50. Cheers my friend!
Hey Adrian! Thanks so much as always mate! I really do help these videos help folks see that maintaining reels and upgrading them isn’t something they have to be intimidated by. Time consuming maybe haha but not intimidating =). Cheers my friend!!!
Hey Irvin! It’s my pleasure and thank you for the kind words. If you encounter any issues don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Would love to help out. Cheers my friend!
@@BFSFISHINGCHANNEL hybrid ceramic bearings that has trim colour orange and full ceramic bearings, which is better my friend...what are your opinion about it my friend...which do you recommend?
@@co-polyLINE hey Irvin! Both types have different advantages. In theory the full white ceramic bearings should spin more freely than the orange seal hybrid ceramic bearings but I haven’t always found that to be true. If I had to choose between the full ceramic and hybrid ceramic I’d probably just choose hybrid ceramic as full ceramic bearings are typically more fragile than hybrid ceramics. Better than these two are hybrid micro ceramic bearings. They have small or micro balls instead of the “normal” sized balls you find in the full and hybrid ceramic bearings. Hope that helps! Cheers!
@@BFSFISHINGCHANNEL micro ceramic bearing are the one they found in shimanos reel? I see those videos and kinda spin forever with stock bearings...the hybrid and full ceramic produce a lot of noise?
@@co-polyLINE yea full and hybrid ceramic bearings make a good deal of noise. Some hybrid micro ceramic bearings are quieter due to orings being incorporated in the outer housing. The orings absorb a lot of the vibrations. You can search for Roro BFS ST bearings if you are interested in looking at the quiet hybrid micro ceramic bearings. Cheers Irvin!
The bearing puller works better using the other side of the T until the pin is flush with the shaft, then changing puller with the smaller end and completing the extraction. Less chance of bending the puller pin Great video as always. Doc 1/5
Hey man! Yea way better than the stock option… The foam knobs and terrible bushings/shimming makes the reel handle not that enjoyable. Just a handle upgrade changes a lot with how the reel retrieves and adds to the overall “solidness” as the knobs are shimmed really well. Anywho, thanks for chiming in and cheers my friend!
Hey Kristoff! I got you! The Tsurinoya Genius is very similar to the Tsurinoya Dark Wolf Ultra and also the Soloking Acura. I have teardowns on both of those reels available on the channel but you can use the link below to see the Acura teardown. Hope that helps! Cheers! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8W4Esc1EBOU.html
I've found that protecting the spool edge with some masking tape is worthwhile when removing the pin to get to the spool bearing. Otherwise someone as clumsy as me can easily put a nick in the spool edge.
Hey Fishingelbow! That is a really good tip for sure. I typically try to keep my spool pin removal tool from touching the spool when I can but if it does I do try and be very gentle with it. I have to make sure I’m paying a ton of attention as I’d say I’m pretty clumsy as well haha. Cheers my friend!
I usually do not replace the worm gear bushing with bearing because 1. It doesn't improve the casting performance 2. It is pretty easy to be dirty when retrieve line. Bearing will increase the maintain cost dramatically 3. Bushing lasts much more longer than bearing The handle's hole dimension could be different, need to measure before buying. I think ZEPHYR is 8MM * 5MM. 8mm*5mm (for Abu and Daiwa reel) / 7mm*4mm (for Shimano reel). Also, the star drag may not be compatible with the handle if it is not straight. And its weight and length need to be careful because if the handle is too long or heavy, it may automatically popup the thumb button (if the springs is not powerful enough) when casting and hurt the gear
Hey Jinsuo! You are correct in that the worm gear bushing doesn’t improve casting performance. Really it only improves the retrieve feel and while a bushing will last longer if you use a stainless bearing I think it will do a good job of keeping dirt out. Additionally you can just do a teardown and maintenance or simply replace bearings as they start to fail. If you’re worried about cost then you can always pick up “cheap” SS bearings on aliexpress. That being said your points are valid and it ultimately is up to the viewer to decide if they want to perform these upgrades. I’m just here to show how =). Finally, the dimensions of this handle is 8mm x 5mm as you said and the star drag is compatible with the handle shown in the video. I can confirm that this handle does not make the clutch button pop up when spool or handle is free spinning. Anywho, thanks for sharing your thoughts and opinions as always! I’m sure someone will find the insight valuable and I always enjoy our conversations as I learn things as well. Cheers my friend!
Hey man do you remember the size they fits the best for the reel handle by gomexus!! I just got that reel recently and want to upgrade the handles to the gomexus!
Hey gene! I don’t recommend salt use with this reel but it can. Just make sure to give the reel a rinse in freshwater after every use and allow it to thoroughly dry. You will experience corrosion of parts like the bearings and springs but if you do a bit of maintenance you can slow this down. You’ll want to put a thin layer of grease over any internal metal part. Hope that helps and cheers my friend!
My Kastking ZYPHER bfs is reversing .. should I just clean it or replace a certain bearing? I’m thinking if I replace anything give upgrades as well .. hope to hear back from you
Hey Jordan! Hm it kind of sounds like your anti reverse bearing might be slipping? At this point, you can try cleaning off the AR bearing but you’ll have to be very careful because pieces of tissue/paper towel/cotton q-tips/foam qtips can get stuck in the roller pins. When trying to dab off any dirt/debris you have to go in the same directions that the roller pins allow so as not to get anything pinched there. If you’re already considering upgrading this reel I would suggest maybe just looking at another budget reel outright. The Soloking Acura pro can be had for under $40 USD on aliexpress and can run circles around the zephyr. Let me know if you need any help finding that reel. I do have a video on the Acura Pro. Cheers my friend!
@@BFSFISHINGCHANNEL Bro! Thank you so much for replying and for your advice 🫶🏾! Man, I’m going to do exactly what you suggested .. I got the link from your solo king video to the exact on on Amazon. 🫡 … love the content thanks again.
@@jordanalexander436 hey Jordan! My pleasure! In the meantime, you might also consider trying to maybe replace that antireverse bearing in the zephyr? Maybe reach out to kkusa and see if they won’t sell you or send you a replacement and then if you fix the zephyr you can have a nice back up? Just a thought! Cheers my friend!
Hey binh! While it can I wouldn’t really recommend it. The bearings are not corrosion resistant. You can still try it but if you do I recommend rinsing the reel out after every time you take it out to minimize any corrosion if you do. Hope that helps and cheers!
@@BFSFISHINGCHANNEL thank you, i have one more question hope you will answer it, Zephyr reel cannot use for salt water then it cannot use for brackish water right?
@@binhvinh2642 hey binh! Yea brackish water is just salt water with a lower salt content. It’s still going to accelerate corrosion. Again, you can use your reel in salt but you should rinse it really well in freshwater and don’t expect the metal parts to last very long… hope that helps! Cheers!
Another great video thanks for producing it, also I have been seeing shallow spools' available for the Abu Promax and Daiwa CC80 of the two which would make a better power BFS reel I think the promax spool is like 8G and the daiwa 12G? Thanks again, anyone with an opinion feel free to chime in thanks!
Hey Abel! Those reels were just brought to my attention and are quite interesting. I don’t think I have ever seen these before and I wonder who makes them for daiwa and abu? I’m guessing they are only for certain markets as they don’t have them available here in the states, afaik. In any case I am curious as well! Cheers my friend!
Hey Christopher! I believe it was a gomexus handle and they sell for around $15usd. If you’d like I can get you a link to aliexpress. Just let me know. Cheers my friend!
Mine won't cast straight. It always goes to the left compered to my other reels. It's really annoying!!! I don't have this issue with any of my other reels.
@@thekracken4572 hey kracken! Ooc what lure weight are you trying to throw and are you casting with your RH? Also, before I try to help with your issue what kind of line are you using, how much do you have spooled and what kind of rod are you using? Cheers my friend!
@@BFSFISHINGCHANNEL on mine the aluminum ring on the side plate is loose. I don't know if it's supposed to be. It's not so loose that it will fall out but it moves fairly easily. It may have nothing to do with it but it's just something I noticed.
@@captwig hey capt! The tension knob support bearing isn’t one that most people upgrade and so I never looked into the size. Sorry for the inconvenience =\. Cheers my friend!
@captwig hey capt! Right on! You are a true upgrade enthusiast! =). My pleasure and I hope you were able to get some good information out of the video! Cheers my friend!
Is there a way or possible to shim the handle? There is some play in mine between the frame and drag star. Kinda odd since it cost twice as much as my centron lite which feels more solid and no play at all.
Hey Ausher! Yes you can but I wonder what kind of play you’re experiencing? Is the handle moving in and out along the axis of the main handle shaft or is it moving side to side perpendicular to the main handle shaft or is it something else entirely? Cheers!
@@TheAusherGuy if the handle moves in and out it sounds like the main handle shaft isn’t shimmed right. You’ll probably have to tear your reel down, remove the main handle or drive shaft and then place a thin copper plate shim where the bearing seats. You can try tightening the screws that hold the main shaft to the frame if you don’t want to go through with finding the right thickness for copper shim. That may or may not work to fix the in/out slop. Hope that helps! Cheers!
@@BFSFISHINGCHANNEL what is the diameter of the shaft. I got an assortment of small thin washers .01 to 1.0mm width, I believe 6mm I.d. maybe 3mm i.d. I don't remember offhand.
@@TheAusherGuy hey Ausher! So actually you’d want to shim the bearing set screw under the drive shaft and the frame of the reel. You’ll probably want some thin copper sheets of various thickness and just cut small squares to fit inside where the driveshaft bearing sits. This will push on the bearing set screw, and hopefully help remove some of the play that you’re experiencing. Hope that helps! Cheers!
If you look closely at the spool pin you will notice its not same size 1 end is smaller...and i thought that im the only 1 that use that bit to open the C clip..i already have my seasir cast x and upgrade the bearing
Hey Nankai! Yep you are correct about the spool pin being slightly smaller on one side and that that should be the side that should go into spool shaft first. Also haha yep the security bit has been so awesome! Cheers my friend!
Hey there hita! Between the zephyr and the valiant eagle 2 the two reels are quite different. The valiant eagle 2 has a better ergonomic design and can cast easier but it like the zephyr does not like casting super light lures around 1g. The valiant eagle 2 is also almost double the price. Both reels are decent but if you are considering the valiant eagle 2 then I suggest you take a look at the Soloking Acura hicc-50 reel. Imho, it is a much better bfs reel and can cast lighter lures out of the box. Hope that helps and cheers!
Hey Kyle! I appreciate your concern but really looking out for the health of my kid and for myself is something I like to prioritize. If you don’t want to prioritize your own health that’s totally fair and up to you but as a safety professional it’s just in my nature to do so. While I can’t say I appreciate your comment I do appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment. I hope you have a good day and cheers my friend!
