Baitcaster Reel Cleaning

[Jigfishn10]

Just a quick question, when you clean you line guide assembly, do you grease the worm shaft and line guide pawl or oil them?

 

I'm finding that oiling them after a cleaning gives me better results, although, I still take the whole assembly apart 2-3 times a year to clean and re-oil. Just way too much debris gets in there, especially during the pollen season.

 

Your thoughts?

[Stingray23]

grease on gears, oil on bearings and spool shaft.

[aavery2]

Either will work, the problem many experience with grease is that it tends to hold onto the pollen and other debris more than the oil. If you use oil, you may find your reel to be a little smoother if you go to something with a higher viscosity that the oil you would typically use on your bearings.

[Maico1]

I use oil as well, never to fond of using grease. Also keep an oiler on the boat to make sure they keep lubed....

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I find gear oil to be a good compromise. It stays put better than oil but doesn't gum up the way grease does in an exposed application.

[rawjuice]

I use oil, grease catches things too much, but it also has its purpose so im not against it, I think grease would be better for gears

[rippin-lips]

I've been using gear oil myself thanks to DVT's tip. Before that it was a thin coating of marine grease but the gear oil is much better.

[Tywithay]

I use a higher viscosity oil. Not too thick, like grease, but definitely thicker than spool bearing oil. I prefer hot sauce for that particular piece because you can just look at it and see whether or not it needs oil because of the bright red color.

[OkobojiEagle]

TSI321

 

oe

[96ecss]

TSI-321

 

http://www.tsi301.com/tsi321main.htm

 

Dave

[Jaheff]

Cheap Walmart brand, marine lower unit oil.

[96ecss]

Here is a great article about cleaning and lubing your baitcasters.

 

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/supertune-baitcaster.html

 

Dave

[J Francho]

I've been playing around with ATF in my own reels.

[Jigfishn10]

I've been playing around with ATF in my own reels.

Seriously? Good/Bad?

[J Francho]

Somewhere between meh, and works well.

[Jigfishn10]

Thanks for all your responses, looks like it's a constant maintenance problem, so I'll be staying the course I always have and oil it up and clean as needed.

[.RM.]

Thanks for all your responses, looks like it's a constant maintenance problem, so I'll be staying the course I always have and oil it up and clean as needed.

I agree with you 100%.. 

[J Francho]

Light oil seems the easiest route. ATF works, not as much maint. but fussy to setup and apply. I dip the worm shaft, and wipe the excess off. Then install. I'm constantly trying new things on my stuff.

[Jigfishn10]

Light oil seems the easiest route. ATF works, not as much maint. but fussy to setup and apply. I dip the worm shaft, and wipe the excess off. Then install. I'm constantly trying new things on my stuff.

I may have to give ATF a try if it means less maintenance. Thx Bud.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I take JF's suggestions to heart. They pay off more often than not. In the case of the ATF though, I have trouble seeing any inherent characteristic that would make it perform any better than a straight light hydraulic oil with its anti corrosion additives. ATF is designed to withstand pressure and heat, neither of which are present in this application. A lot of common prescription drugs came about as side affects from treating another condition, this may be a case like that. I guess if it works, who care why. 

[J Francho]

I had no scientific purpose in trying it other than it's slick and I had some in garage. Sometimes I even spit on my spool bearings if they squeak.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I think I'll just let that one be.

[Jigfishn10]

I think I'll just let that one be.

Funny, I was thinking the same thing...