I cleaned my baitcasting reels and they got less smooth

[Texasbassin]

I just finished cleaning and lubricating my baitcasters. Only one issue though, my reels are less smooth then when they started. Handle doesn't turn nearly as nicely, why might this have happened??

[Bluebasser86]

I would guess you used too much oil and/or grease or possibly used grease where there should have been oil. A little goes a long ways when it comes to lubing reels. 

[F14A-B]

Lol, your funny!?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

What kind of reel? Some use grease in amounts and areas that result is a different feel than you get with a clean reel. 

[new2BC4bass]

Wouldn't have happened if you had sent them to DVT for cleaning.    Yanking your chain.  I've never liked to tinker plus I don't have a place for tearing reels apart.

[fissure_man]

To help diagnose: do the reels feel stiffer? noisier? rougher? Do the problems go away when you remove the spool?  What model reels?

What did you use to lube the frame bearings?  Most (all?) reels come from the factory with greased frame bearings.  Grease in these bearings gives the smoothest feel, and can mask some noise and roughness due to a dirty or damaged bearing.

Using a heavy oil in place of grease has a couple of advantages: it will be much easier to flush and relube than with grease, and your reel will feel slightly less 'stiff' (freer handle rotation).  The downsides are that the oil won't last as long as grease, and any imperfections in the bearings will be more noticeable.

If you flushed the grease from your frame bearings and replaced it with oil, I'd guess you have damaged or not fully cleaned bearings that are now more noticeable.  If this is the case the handles will still turn freely, but the reels will be noisier and rougher than before cleaning.

[burrows]

This is why I don't service my reels anymore it has happened to me aswell I send them to my local tackle shop they got a guy there who services the reels cheap. I do however clean the bearings the worm gear and the brakes and put a drop of oil on them a small amount of grease on the worm gear and that's it. I don't take the reel apart whatsoever!

 

[THE_Vue's]

Bearings

[Surfcaster]

I have run into this same thing.  In 1980 I got a Daiwa Procaster for my 11th birthday (after a year of nagging my parents).  I wanted one because Bill Dance fished with Procasters.  About 3 years later I felt I needed to take it apart and clean it.  It never was the same.  So I continued to take it apart and fiddle with it over the next few years.  I lost a couple of parts and it wound up on the shelf for 20+ years.  A year ago I had a local tackle store go through it and clean and install the lost parts, cost $20.  Works great (for a baitcaster without 10+ bearings and only one method of spool brake).  I still take my reels apart  for general maintenance and I am much better now about getting things back together than I was when I was 14, but I make sure I have an exploded diagram of my reels and separate the parts to make sure they go back in the correct place.

[kcdinkerz]

Take it apart and do it again until you get it right. My first baitcaster I cleaned it took me 6 times haha

[BaitMonkey1984]

Sounds like you should send the reels to DVT.

[Pinoy_Basser]

Check your screws if you over tighten them.

before closing up the reel check if everything is moving smoothly

 

[Texasbassin]

Thanks guys but it's all good now appreciate the help!

[dam0007]

If you're adamant about DIY. There's tons of YouTube videos you can follow along. But sending reels to a pro like @Delaware Valley Tackle he'll be able to pick up on the little things a novice could easily miss such as bad bearings worn gears and bushings etc. good luck