Postman

Thanks... I’ll give it a try. I watched a couple of YouTube videos. One guy only greased the internal gears and the bearings while another applied grease to additional areas and oil to more than just bearings; e.g. the edges of the spool? He was putting oil and grease all over that thing. Probably felt like a basket of french fries. Any recommendations on oil and grease?

I don't mean to hijack the thread but the OP asked the question "Is there something wrong with my reel?" I've often asked myself the same question; along with is there something wrong with my line, my casting, my adjustments, my set up...ME? I guess the responses to this are both reasonable and unreasonable. I think you might understand my point when you consider a couple of people suggest a complete service of a brand new reel. This recommendation leads to a number of questions...i.e. Why? A reasonable person could assume the reel should come from the manufacturer in A-OK condition or, if it isn't, be able to return/exchange it. Too much grease? How much is too much? How would I know if I'm not an expert in reel servicing or have never used that manufacturer/model reel before to know what's right or not right? My experience is very similar as the OP... The first 'nice' bait casting reel I ever purchased was an Abu Revo Premier (PRM-L) in 2012. I had previously only used spinning gear and decided if I was going to buy a bait caster and not be frustrated, it better be a good one. I spent a lot of money on that Abu reel and a Veritas rod. I used it and was very disappointed in my purchase because the thing did not perform. (...or was it me?) How could I know? Since then, I have gotten other reels which have performed much better. Among them, the same Lew's Mach II reels that Keeper mentioned in an earlier post. I still have that Revo Premier but hardly ever use it not knowing if there is something wrong with it or what. It's never performed. I've been reluctant to spend big $$$ on a high-end reel nor an Abu Garcia product fearing it will be a poor investment. Since then... I bought a Mach II combo owing to the 2016 iCast "best combo" selection and because it was on sale at the local Dick's Sporting Goods. I liked the Winn grips and the general feel of the setup. I'm very pleased! So pleased that I purchased a second combo for my wife as Christmas gift later (...on sale again). Legit... for her... she had tried that Revo/Veritas combo and hated it too. She liked the Lew's so I bought her one. She works that thing like a pro! I also have a Daiwa CC80HSL (about $50 now) which works better for me than that Revo ever did. I got it free when I bought a St. Croix Bass X rod at the MLF RedCrest Tournament! I put it on the Veritas rod with happy results. This makes me wonder if that Revo was 'broken' from the start and I just never knew. I have a Lew's Custom Speed Spool (CG1SHL). I only coughed up the $$$ because it was 40% off during Gander Outdoors (store-closing sale) and those Mach II reels gave me confidence in both Lew's and my ability to use bait casting reels. I put it on that Bass X rod and it's awesome! At this point, I'm very much thinking the Revo was busted from the start. (How could I know?) Now I have one of the brand new Lew's Tournament MP (TS1HMPL) reels which I haven't used yet. It was a gift from KVD himself which arrived on Christmas eve along with an autographed KVD ornament. (I'm not kidding...) It's no 'Leg Lamp' and didn't arrive in a big crate marked "Fragile" but I was pretty excited. I expect it will also out-perform that very first expensive Revo which probably never worked properly. Sadly, I didn't know due to my own inexperience.

I don’t really understand the ‘need’ to take apart or service a brand new reel. For someone who uses reels but is not a person who repairs them, this seems a little obsessive. Unless you’re a reel repair person, how do you know how much grease is ‘too much’? I’ve even seen some debate over which oil/grease to use or no oil at all in bearings. I’d likely make the thing worse doing this myself and don't know anyone who services reels. None of the stores here do it and might expect to get an odd look if I brought a brand new reel to someone for servicing.