How Often Do You Clean Your Reels?

[Bankc]

Cleaning and lubrications schedules will vary wildly depending on use, design, exposure to conditions, and the types of lubricants used.  However, if you are familiar with your reel and pay attention to it's performance, it'll tell you when it needs to be worked on.  

[Guitarfish]

I was told by a pretty smart guy to clean my bearings and level winds with Paslode Electronic Tool cleaner.  A lot less toxic than brake cleaner and won't damage plastic.  It's made to clean nail guns and the like.

Gently blow it out with air and re-oil. I use TS-321.

 

And Bankc nailed it above.

[BrianMDTX]

53 minutes ago, Guitarfish said:

And Bankc nailed it above.

 

Well...yes and no. Yes, your reel will tell you when it needs cleaning and (especially) lubrication. But preventative maintenance is performed to reduce or eliminate a component reaching the stage it “tells you” something requires maintenance. 

 

Let’s agree that none of us wait to change motor oil and filters in our car or truck engines until it tells us it needs oil lol. 

[Guitarfish]

Good point, but a reel is not an engine so the comparison is a stretch.

 

I have been servicing all my reels for 25 years.  If I do a preventative service before using them, a rinse is all you need.  Until the reel tells you different, or you drop it in the sand. (Or salt water dip it)? Then you don't wait for the reel to scream at you.

 

I have never used a new reel with out pre-service. Mainly because I live near salt water.

[TnRiver46]

When they quit working 

[FishTank]

It depends on the reel and the usage but as a rule I break them down in the winter and clean lube them.  

 

There are exceptions..... if it gets dunked in water or is in heavy rain.  It then gets broken down, cleaned and lubed.  I also will put a few drops of oil as needed throughout the year.  

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

A reels performance degrades slowly with lack of cleaning. Often so slowly that you become accustomed and don’t notice it. Then a good cleaning brings it back to life and you’re pleasantly surprised. 

[GreenPig]

I deep clean every new reel before I put it on a rod, service with oil(RemOil) & grease(Cal's) with approximately 10% of what was in it from the factory.  Deep clean annually and oil bearings every other month. I fish year round, so I keep a list of service intervals and do 2 - 4 a month every month. I clean metal parts with acetone in my ultrasonic cleaner and plastics with dish detergent and a toothbrush. If you're not able or willing to oil your bearing often I'd suggest using a slightly thicker oil than RemOil. 

[Michigander]

I do a deep clean every winter and an inspection mid way through the season. Second the Cal's Grease but I pay the little bit extra for Cal's Light because it is designed for colder temps as I fish into the winter until ice out.

[redmeansdistortion]

34 minutes ago, Michigander said:

I do a deep clean every winter and an inspection mid way through the season. Second the Cal's Grease but I pay the little bit extra for Cal's Light because it is designed for colder temps as I fish into the winter until ice out.

I use Cal's purple in my steelhead reels along with TSI 301 in the bearings and level wind.  Keeps them from getting crunchy in our Michigan winters.

[throttleplate]

wade fishing my reel ends up getting dunked at least 1 time per outing as i go deep as my chest waders allow. Putting on a different lure while holding rod/reel under your arm it gets away from me and goes under or to save myself from falling into the water reel gets a dunk.

 

When bank fishing on rocky boulder bank i fell a couple times and the reel gets let go to save myself, sure it gets scuffed up but i dont baby it one bit. If it was to break than i grab my spare both pflueger supremes but so far its intact and working fine.

 

All i do is when i get home i take the spool off, handle, and spray it down with rem-oil into all crevices, bail...... Now that the season is over for me i will Not tear it down but i will put grease on the shaft .

[ATA]

On 5/30/2015 at 1:08 PM, 1099gl said:

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.

I tried to clean my Abu spinning once and I end up to collect all the parts and send it to them to fix it, LOL, since that time I really never clean any reels, only lube them up and keep them out of sand and water, if in any case I would send it to manufacturer for service. but in last two years I didn't find any issue with any of them.

[Michigander]

6 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

I use Cal's purple in my steelhead reels along with TSI 301 in the bearings and level wind.  Keeps them from getting crunchy in our Michigan winters.

Haven't tried purple. So far I've not been disappointed by the Light, but if I ever am I will give purple a go.

[sdsc357]

I clean at the start of every season and little here and there if I feel the reel needs it. I service every 2 or so years. Fully break down the reel, dawn with water in ultrasonic cleaner. Bearings get baby food jar with acetone. Grease and oil when put back together.

[FlyingDutchman]

I just dunk em in the lake when they start squeaking. Lake Austin had some clean water, right? ?

[Mbirdsley]

Once a year during the winter time or unless one of the reels starts acting up.  Than I will do it at the next possibly time I have down time.  This is also when I access if a complete tear down and lube job is necessary or not. 
 

this year including my brothers trolling reels, my own trolling, spinning, and baitcaster  reels I’ll probably be looking at 20-25 reels this winter 

[MN Fisher]

I do quick checks through the season and a 'quick clean/lube' if needed on individual reels.

 

Winter is down-time, so at least a partial disassemble and a good cleaning is done on every reel. Full teardown if needed, but so far haven't had to do that.

[king random divergent]

I personally clean my reel and pole with rubbing alchohol , ((( NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH Drinking alchohol ))) what i do is grab Q Tips and i might go through 4 or 5 Q Tips by doing this , anyways what i do is this , i dip the Q Tip in the Rubbing Alchohol and unscrew the cap on my spinning reels and clean the gear that spins my reel and the reel itself then i put the cap back on the reel then after that i dip Q Tip in rubbing Alchohol again and clean the eye holes on my rod / line. Especially During the off season During January is when i really love to get my fishing needs and inventory ready and stocked.