How Often Do You Clean Your Reels?

[1099gl]

I feel bad that I have never cleaned my reels and I have owned them for about 2 years. How often do you clean your reels? Also what do you guys clean your reels with, I have heard rem oil and I have also heard grease. I'm pretty new to cleaning reels and I think that its an important thing to do, I have just never got around to it.

[iabass8]

1-2 times a year.

 

I use a few different cleaning solutions. Carb Brake cleaner or acetone for bearings, simple green/hot water to scrub old grease off parts. 

 

use both oil and various greases depending on the part

 

youtube TackleJunky81 and watch his 3 part series on probably the most in depth reel cleaning video available. 

[smalljaw67]

I clean my reels once a year unless something happen like getting mud or some other kind of crud on them. Don't feel bad about not cleaning your reels, there are a lot that don't, and that is why a lot of new reels are packed with grease from the factory, they do it figuring only a few guys are going to clean lube the reel and even fewer are going to clean it. I know guys that have never cleaned or lubed their reels and they have had them for years.

[Raul]

Clean ? Every single time I go out I clean them.

Service them ? 2-3 times a year.

[.ghoti.]

At least once per year. My most used reels may get done four times a year. It depends on usage, which depends on where I go.

[Canyon explorer]

I give them a major servicing once a year. That includes:

pulling all the hi speed bearings in left side plate and on the spool at the shaft, pinion and tension port with brake cleaner, blow them dry and re oil with Quantum Hot Sauce. Friction bearing areas I clean with acetone and regrease with white lithium grease.

On the right side I re grease the pinion gear and main drive gear and clutch bar assembly with white lithium. Every two years I regrease the drag disks and pad with Shimano drag grease.

Last I clean the level wind assembly , remove any impacted pollen and re oil with 50% transmission fluid and 50% Kroil.

Half way through the season I re oil the bearings with out removing them.

Some of my Chronarchs are well overs  ten years old and never been replaced only added to.

[greentrout]

I don't,  I take it to a professional who cleans and repairs reels. Fishing reels today are sophisticated with many moving parts I can't keep up with. My service does it well and I take my reels in to them on a rotating basis once a year.

 

The old school basser...

[masterbass]

I do a complete cleaning in the winter because it gives me something to do related to fishing.  It's actually fun tinkering.  Last year I bought a dremel and got into polishing internals and flushing bearings. 

[rippin-lips]

Full down to the frame cleaning over the winter, and if it gets dunked during the season.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

i clean my reels on a need to clean basis .that could be a few days a week or a few times a month depends on the water . and always deep clean them in winter . i do oil and clean level wind after each trip and also spool bearings about once a week.that bein said i havent cleaned a few of my round reels in yrs .all depends on the water im fishing.to get teh best performance out of any reel always check that levelwind one tiny little peice of dried algae or dirt can cause chaos

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I clean my reels once a year unless something happen like getting mud or some other kind of crud on them. Don't feel bad about not cleaning your reels, there are a lot that don't, and that is why a lot of new reels are packed with grease from the factory, they do it figuring only a few guys are going to clean lube the reel and even fewer are going to clean it. I know guys that have never cleaned or lubed their reels and they have had them for years. yes i agree you can actually go yrs without upkeep of a reel.a friend of mine gave me a reel one time it was a abu 5500c3 he used it for about 8 hard yrs said it was wore out but still usable about 20 mins later i said watch this i casted that thing after a quick clean and lube and it was like brand new .he said no way ..yuup just like a car or truck reg maintainace it will work smooth for ever.

[Jon G]

Once a year I clean the bearings in acetone and then I use a mix of hot water/dawn dish soap to clean the parts with grease.

[SirSnookalot]

My freshwater reels never get cleaned, they will get a drop of oil from time to time, these reels get year round usage. My saltwater reels are a little different, they get oiled more often.  In the case of sand or getting dunked that merits a good cleaning.  I'm one these guys if it ain't broke don't fix it, I use my reels pretty hard and I don't baby them. 

When I do have a repair it's generally a bail related issue, the line roller bearing IMO does need to be at least oiled.  I don't clean them, I replace them with new if there is a problem. 

[*Hank]

I clean them after every fishing trip.

[OroBass]

I clean them after every fishing trip.

may be a bit extreme

[ThatZX14Fella]

may be a bit extreme

 

Maybe so, but it gives you something to do and you know your reel isn't going to fail you while you're out on the water.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Annual deep cleaning is a good starting point adjusting as needed based on use and any symptoms that develope.

[mikey z]

Reviving this topic because I have a related question. I've had my Abu Garcia Black Max for about 6 months, and a couple weeks ago was the first time cleaning it after fishing for (rough average) about 1 hour a day. I took it apart and cleaned it because it started squeaking internally. Found out the roller bearing had rusty red coming off the rollers when I rubbed around the inside with an oiled q-tip. So I oiled it and oiled and greased a couple of the other areas (making sure not to overdo it) and it worked great for a bit, but now I'm back at square 1...it already started squeaking again. And the drag is acting funny too. It slips way easier than before unless I basically white-knuckle tighten it, so it's either too loose or too tight. I am heavily considering purchasing a new reel, and I probably will a little later today. Pretty much just wanting to see, is this an easy fix? Or want to know your thoughts about whether or not I'm making good choice to just step up and buy a whole new reel. Thanks!

[roadwarrior]

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/abu-garcia-black-max-3-low-profile-baitcast-reel?gmc_feed=t#repChildCatid=3153092

 

For $40, maybe get a new reel and perhaps a different brand.

[mikey z]

 

8 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/abu-garcia-black-max-3-low-profile-baitcast-reel?gmc_feed=t#repChildCatid=3153092

 

For $40, maybe get a new reel and perhaps a different brand.

I think I'm gonna buy a Lew's Classic Pro as my new primary and continue trying to fix the Black Max. Who knows, maybe I can still get good use out of it. Thanks again!

[MickD]

Since you are moving on re the Black Max, you have little to lose.  So take the drag apart, degrease all elements, then lube it with DRAG GREASE.  Shimano offers it. 

 

On the roller clutch, take it out, degrease it, blow it dry with compressed air if you have it, and start over with new oil, like sewing machine oil, or even 3 in 1, reel butter is good, but not that red stuff from Quantum.  It could be that that rusty appearance was not rust, but Quantum.

 

I would not give up on it.  It's great fun when you win one of these.

[mikey z]

@MickD, you rock man. Thanks for the tips, I'm looking forward to fixing it and having a couple casting combos to bring. I spend entirely too much time re-rigging!

 

What do you recommend for degreaser? After a quick Google, I already see a couple conflicting answers on that.

 

 

[Linewinder]

16 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/abu-garcia-black-max-3-low-profile-baitcast-reel?gmc_feed=t#repChildCatid=3153092

 

For $40, maybe get a new reel and perhaps a different brand.

 

For a reel that has a few iterations and has been around for a long time (it started out as a round reel I believe), that price just never seems to change.  That's what I paid some 10 12 years ago.

 

So I've heard not to use 3n1 oil, just reel oil, and no grease on antireverse bearings.  Stainless steel doesn't usually rust, but some can.  I'm not a machinist, but I have replaced bearings (not antireverse) by measuring the existing bearings.  I've found it easier to replace once you know that it is the problem rather than trying crutches on it by frequently lubing.  A bad bearing is a bad bearing no matter how correctly lubed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BrianMDTX]

1 hour ago, mikey z said:

@MickD, you rock man. Thanks for the tips, I'm looking forward to fixing it and having a couple casting combos to bring. I spend entirely too much time re-rigging!

 

What do you recommend for degreaser? After a quick Google, I already see a couple conflicting answers on that.

 

 

Mineral spirits followed by an isopropyl alcohol rinse. I would never use brake cleaner. Get it in or on the wrong components and it may damage it.  Frankly, coming from an aviation and automotive maintenance background, I think many overservice their reels. Keep them clean and dry and don't submerge them and you should be able lightly oil them from time to time and maybe do a deep clean every 2-3 years, depending on severity of use. They're not top fuel dragster engines lol. 

[swhit140]

If my reels get really dirty during the fishing season I'll give it a exterior wipe down with a damp towel. If the worm gear gets dirty throughout the season I'll give it a quick Q-Tip and put a light coat of Cal's grease. End of year I do a disassemble, full cleaning, flush bearings with acetone. Grease gears, oil bearings, re-assemble.