Spinning Reel Maintenance Routine

[bflp3]

I see a lot of guys talk about how they flush and re-lube their baitcasters every year, but I see very little talk about spinning reel maintenance. What are your guys routine for cleaning spinning reels? Do you clean them every time you clean your baitcasters, or less often? Do you do a complete breakdown, clean, and re-lube? Or just lube certain spots? What is your routine?

 

Thanks!

[AQUA VELVA]

I do the same to my Shimano spinning reels. They have fewer bearings but there is still old grease to clean from gears, shafts and such. Be VERY careful when(if) you separate the body from the rotor as there are hair springs and cogs in there that can be a real challenge.  It's a good idea to have an exploded drawing of your reel as reference. Compared to my baitcast reels my spinning reels seem to have twice as many parts. To what extent you want to get into the reel depends on your skill and personal comfort level. I would not hesitate to send it out if I was not confident in my ability to do it myself.

[BobP]

Some spinning reels have thin brass spacer washers that are critical to smooth working of the reel but are not on the schematic that comes with the reel.  So you should pay strict attention to what and exactly where every part comes from.  I had this problem with a low-end Daiwa Emblem reel and never got it to work correctly again.  Shimano reels I've owned did not have the same custom spacers.  But spinning reels seem to use a wide variety of mechanisms, especially in the anti-reverse and the stack of washers and bearings that support the rotor.  There's enough variability that working just from memory and sometimes even with a schematic can end up screwing the pooch, so you need to be very systematic if you crack one open.  Personally, I only do it if something stops working.  Or if it has an oil port, I'll squirt some in there once a year.  There's nothing in a spinning reel that moves at 20,000 rpm like in a baitcaster, so...   

[SirSnookalot]

I only fix something if it's broke.  I do nothing with my spinning reels unless there is a problem, my SOP is back to the manufacture, they will have the parts if needed.  I would take a reel to a local for something simple like a bail spring or cleaning.  I've learned my lesson, let the people that made it fix it.

[.RM.]

I only service my spinning gear as needed and only after the reels warrenty has passed.

One good deep brake down, deep clean and proper relube with a perma lube like the one Shimano uses is all that is needed, IMO.

Basic yearly maintenance is all I use after that.

I have a Cardinal from 1983 that has been serviced 2 times by me.

It is smoother than most Stradic's I see....

 

Tight Lines All!! 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Spinners typically require a little less maintenance than casters but it depends on the level of use and conditions etc. When they start feeling "off" I go all through them just like a caster. The biggest mistake is never doing anything until they're worn out and then expecting a cleaning and lube to make them good as new. It will certainly help bit once those gears start to wear you'd need to rebuild the whole thing to make it raelly right again. In between full tear downs make sure the line guide roller is working freely and that the bail arm pivot points are clean and lighly oiled. A drop on the oscilating shaft is good and if you want maybe a drop of gear oil on the two crank bearings (under the handle and opposite side cap). That should keep you going strong.

[kingkong85]

I've owned spinning gear for a 7 to 8 years now and during those times I didn't know or think about maintenance. So I never did it until beginning of this year during winter. I am mechanically incline so that probably helped. I tear down 1 spinning reel at a time and after the first one it was a piece of cake. So I will do it again next winter and once every year after that. My casters are new and hasn't even been broken in (only caught couple of fishes. Besides I don't fish too often) so I didn't break it down this winter but will do next winter. I've read enough research to know that reel maintenance (a full tear down) should be done at least once a year. Wheel bearings should be oil more often. I just follow the rule of thumb that goes for RC bearings. That is oil every 4-6 use. Just 1 drop of oil is needed.

[Stingray23]

I just disassembled, cleaned and re-lubed one of my spinning reels and it is not running as smooth as before. There is a little noise when spinning it. I know I did everything correctly, too. I just did the same thing with 10 bait casters and they run better then new. BTW, I havent used that spinning reel in years. I just used it as a platform for learning how to service it. Its practically a new reel.

[michang5]

After trying to repair a Shimano Sedona myself and massively screwing the pooch, I'm going to send my spinning reels to a reputable local repair person in the future.

I'm fairly meticulous and mechanically inclined (at least with small form factors, such as electronics and soldering), but I just couldn't put the gearing back together correctly -- even with several YouTube videos at my disposal. Disassembled and reassembled three times and still couldn't get it right. In the trash it went.

[Jolly Green]

I just disassembled, cleaned and re-lubed one of my spinning reels and it is not running as smooth as before. There is a little noise when spinning it. I know I did everything correctly, too. I just did the same thing with 10 bait casters and they run better then new. BTW, I havent used that spinning reel in years. I just used it as a platform for learning how to service it. Its practically a new reel.

 

Did you clean the bearings? They may have been smoother and quieter before with the stock grease. 

[Stingray23]

Did you clean the bearings? They may have been smoother and quieter before with the stock grease. 

I cleaned everything and then re-lubed everything with Hot Sauce grease and oil.

[.RM.]

I cleaned everything and then re-lubed everything with Hot Sauce grease and oil.

Gotta ask this is it  Quantum PT spinning reel?

I ask because HotSause was created just for the PT (ProTune) hybrid teflon based bearing systems. I have seen it applied to Stainless Steel bearing packs, and flat throw the tolerances of them off...

[bflp3]

Spinners typically require a little less maintenance than casters but it depends on the level of use and conditions etc. When they start feeling "off" I go all through them just like a caster. The biggest mistake is never doing anything until they're worn out and then expecting a cleaning and lube to make them good as new. It will certainly help bit once those gears start to wear you'd need to rebuild the whole thing to make it raelly right again. In between full tear downs make sure the line guide roller is working freely and that the bail arm pivot points are clean and lighly oiled. A drop on the oscilating shaft is good and if you want maybe a drop of gear oil on the two crank bearings (under the handle and opposite side cap). That should keep you going strong.

Thanks for the replies everyone. DVT, this is exactly what I did to one reel. I'll do the same to the rest.

Thanks!

[Stingray23]

Gotta ask this is it  Quantum PT spinning reel?

I ask because HotSause was created just for the PT (ProTune) hybrid teflon based bearing systems. I have seen it applied to Stainless Steel bearing packs, and flat throw the tolerances of them off...

Yes. Quantum Energy PT