Lews Reel Maintenance

[IgotWood]

Lews recommends that you open up the reel and oil it after every use. Des anyone actually do it? I've owned my reels for a year now and have only oiled them once. The last time I did it, they didn't cast well for a few days, and they made a crazy whistling sound. I've had my reels in the salt a few times recently, and I feel like I need to open them up and oil them to prevent any corrosion. Anyway, I'm just curious how often every does this, and if anyone has had the same issue.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

What exactly are you doing to your reels? Reels should be rinsed and dried immediately after saltwater exposure. 

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

Don't have any of the Lew's glamour reels but I do use the Tournament MB (LFS) and Speed Spool (LFS) and I do try to oil them the night before I go fishing. I learned one lesson early. It only takes ONE drop on each end of the spool shaft to slick things up. When I got carried away, my casting distance dropped to about, oh, I'd say 11.3 yards.  I also wipe off and put one drop of oil on the shaft over which the line guide travels. Seems to help.  Also made the mistake of attempting to use a Q-Tip to clean up excess. That was definitely ungood. Those little fuzzies can gum up the works. I'd say oiling is good, but ya don't want too much of a good thing.  Hope this helps.

[IgotWood]

I'll admit I do not rinse them after every use in freshwater. However, if I take them in the salt, I rinse them very well immediately when I get home. But as I said previously, I have only oiled them once. And when I did, I used two drops, which I quickly realized was a little bit too much.

[dsqui]

I do not lol after every use I maybe oil once a month unless I'm on a good bite and fish more often then I will oil more often.  I think the type of oil u use is more important then how frequently you oil them with in reason.  Now I don't fish salt since I'm in indiana but if I did and had to rinse them after every trip then yes I would def oil them after every trip

[MassYak85]

Lol once per use? I don't see the need. Unless you're running your bearings without shields and drop your reel in the lake every time you go, there's no way the oil is going to get depleted that fast. I would think doing it every trip would just be adding too much and would eventually HURT performance. 

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

@MassYak85: You're probably right.  I got in the habit after dipping my reel a few times while rerigging or unhooking a fish (more of the former than the latter unfortunately). Easy to do in a sit-in kayak.  I use a twisted piece of paper towel to absorb any water and old oil before oiling anew. I have noticed that sometimes the paper towel has some grime which to me implies the potential for excess friction and wear. Now it's just a part of my routine and only takes a couple of minutes.  Don't know if it's necessary. Maybe I should change my nick to QuerulousOlLady?

[hawgenvy]

I have about seven Lew's reels that I use regularly in only fresh water and I do nothing at all to them. I think I once cleaned and oiled the spool shaft on all of them one day about a year and a half ago, and couldn't see any difference afterwards. I've had some of them going strong for several years now. It may be more likely that you'll screw something up when you take it apart than that you'll make it better by oiling it.