Unboxing A New Baitcast Reel --> Maintenance?

[Heron]

When unboxing a brand new baitcast reel, what is the first thing that should be done with it before taking it to the water?

[rippin-lips]

Put it on a rod and spool it with line.

[Heron]

Put it on a rod and spool it with line.

No reel butter or lube? 

[Tywithay]

No reel butter or lube?

Fish with it. If there's any manufacturing defects, they should show up fairly quickly. Then you can get a replacement, if needed. Only thing I'll do is oil the levelwind, if it looks/feels dry.

[rippin-lips]

Fish the heck out of it. Like Ty said. Issues will show themselves fairly quick if it's not in 100% mechanical condition. After a few months + of hard use. You can tear it down or send it in for cleaning. That part is up to you there.

[Heron]

Just mount it, and fish with it eh?

 

You guys are making this too complicated. 

[Jrob78]

I agree.  I fish my reels hard for at least 4 or 5 trips before I tear them down and degrease/relube.  A new reel should be ready to go out of the box.

[FishTank]

I have come to the conclusion that if I get a new reel, I will take it apart and check to see how heavy the grease and oil is.  If it is too heavy, I clean it and re-lube it.

[DogBone_384]

Put it on a rod and spool it with line.

X2

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

99.9% of the time reels are over lubricated if anything. Fish it hard right out the box and have it deep cleaned eventually.

[Jaheff]

Wipe off brake race with a Q tip. Put a Q tip down the pinion gear to make sure there's no grease inside, and wipe off spool shaft...Good to go! I learned to do those first the hard way on many brand new reels that were inconsistent first time out.

[Pinoy_Basser]

When unboxing a brand new baitcast reel, what is the first thing that should be done with it before taking it to the water?

 

 

Get an initial out of the box test - crank it to check for roughness, check drag if its smooth, any scratches, burrs, nicks on parts,

check the clutch if its engaging and disengaging properly, check for abnormal noise and do some practice casts on the yard. 

If the spool bearings have grease flush them and put 1 drop of oil.  Wipe the places where excess grease are seen.

Apply proper lubes on parts that might need re-applying (Worm gear, Handle knobs etc)

Wipe the whole reel down with a lint free cloth to remove other surface dirt, grease or oils.

[TrippyJai]

Even for someone like me who can break down a reel completely and clean it, I don't clean brand new reels. Fish it hard and clean it when the time comes along with whatever upgrades you want to do.

[kikstand454]

I like to spool mine up and take it out back and cast it. Really swing for the fences with it.

The only problem I have ever had with a brand new reel is UNDER lubed bearing that squealed when I went to make its first hard cast. Both times this happened, I didn't have oil with me, and I had to retire the reel for the day. It will not happen again. ....

[mjseverson24]

for me there is two different scenarios...

1) lakes are frozen and I get a new reel ---> I tear it down and perform regular maintenance on it... (why the heck not its 4+ months till opener and I am bored)

2) its fishing season and I get a new reel ---> oil/grease the level wind and call it good... (if the gears feel rough i will add some grease, but usually they are pretty good out of the box, or at least good enough) 

 

Mitch

[ytail]

I fish it right out of the box.

 

When unboxing a brand new baitcast reel, what is the first thing that should be done with it before taking it to the water?

[AQUA VELVA]

I'll open up a new reel and have a look-see. If everything looks good, I seal it up, If not, I take care of it. Most of the time it's either to much or to little lubrication.