Cleaning Reels ?

[Brett's_daddy]

Okay, last year was a busy year and we didn't get out fishing nearly as much as we'd like to have...I'm talking maybe 12 - 15 times with the longest duration maybe 2-3 hours (no 5-8 hour days) and not a lot of fish to show for it. My question is this, would you bother having your reels cleaned after that amount of use? I'm thinking about sending them in to have them cleaned by Daiwa, Shimano and Lews but if the consensus is they didn't get enough use last year to make it worth my while to have them cleaned I may just save my money and put it towards something else.

[The Kawartha Angler]

Personally .... if they feel fine and work fine, I'd not worry about it.  (this is assuming fresh water use, not salt water).

[Angry John]

If there still smooth and no indication of crap in the reel, shot the levEl wind with some clp and be done

[WRB]

You don't want to send them to the manufacturer, send them to a professional service tech like site sponsor DVT if they need cleaning or bear upgrades. 

I use a product called BreakFree CLP and occasionally spray the spool shaft ends and level wind worm gear and that works for me. 

My local reel tech passed away this year so I need to see if there is another local tech or I will send a dozen Daiwa reels to DVT and Shinmano's to ReelEX this winter.

Tom

 

[Brett's_daddy]

1 hour ago, Angry John said:

If there still smooth and no indication of crap in the reel, shot the levEl wind with some clp and be done

I'm assuming you're saying shoot the level wind up with some clp but not sure what that is?

[Angry John]

It's the same breakfree product wrb mentioned.  Find it in the gun section of Walmart.  Use it on my weapons to.

[JustJames]

I wouldn't worry about it too much, but you should do or learn for some basic maintenance like oil the spool, clean and lube the wormgear (this part is the dirtiest of your reel) open the reel and check grease inside main gear add if need. With that amount of use I would send to professional to clean after 2-3 seasons, reason grease become hardened and not lube maingear properly. I have used both shimano and professional but I feel more confident with professional to clean the reel more throughly than manufacturers. 

[NYWayfarer]

If you have done basic maintenance (oil spool bearings and worm gear) you should be fine. 

 

If I feel it necessary to open the other side to get at the gears that’s when I would consider sending it away for a deep cleaning. When I tried it myself it didn’t go so well. Lucky it was a reel that cost less than $50

[JustJames]

5 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

If you have done basic maintenance (oil spool bearings and worm gear) you should be fine. 

 

If I feel it necessary to open the other side to get at the gears that’s when I would consider sending it away for a deep cleaning. When I tried it myself it didn’t go so well. Lucky it was a reel that cost less than $50

It is not really complicated if you know what to look for. You don't have to completely breakdown to clean the reel and a few loose parts like, springs, pinion gear and main gear with all the washers. The hardest for me to take apart is worm gear with those tiny C-clips. Next time I will do as @WRBmentioned, take out all the loose parts and shoot hard with some electronic cleaner spray without taking out from reel. This way I can extend my totally service even longer.

[NYWayfarer]

6 hours ago, JustJames said:

It is not really complicated if you know what to look for. You don't have to completely breakdown to clean the reel and a few loose parts like, springs, pinion gear and main gear with all the washers. The hardest for me to take apart is worm gear with those tiny C-clips. Next time I will do as @WRBmentioned, take out all the loose parts and shoot hard with some electronic cleaner spray without taking out from reel. This way I can extend my totally service even longer.

I agree, it wasn’t complicated...until I dropped it while it was open. I still haven’t found all the parts

[OkobojiEagle]

1 hour ago, NYWayfarer said:

I agree, it wasn’t complicated...until I dropped it while it was open. I still haven’t found all the parts

One more life lesson learned...

 

oe

[OnthePotomac]

I do my own reels and am paranoid about reel cleanliness, so at the end of the year, no matter how little a reel is used it gets the strip down and relube.  Necessary, probably not, but DVT can probably provide a comment on the a need, if any to clean and relube a low use reel.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

In general a reel should be good for a season or two between full tear-downs depending on usage but also conditions. If reels ride out on the deck or back of a PU it raises heck with them. Dust, sand and algae can gum up the works. Interim care, or lack there of, affects the need for deep cleaning too. Based the OP and subsequent phone message, he's probably ok until winter. 

[LegendaryBassin]

44 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

In general a reel should be good for a season or two between full tear-downs depending on usage but also conditions. If reels ride out on the deck or back of a PU it raises heck with them. Dust, sand and algae can gum up the works. Interim care, or lack there of, affects the need for deep cleaning too. Based the OP and subsequent phone message, he's probably ok until winter. 

 

How often do you recommend a basic cleaning? Cleaning the spool shaft, worm gear, etc

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Visually inspect the levelwind before or after each trip. Be conscious of any change in feel or performance and act accordingly. It varies a lot with conditions so a given number of trips or time doesn't mean much. The mere fact you're asking these questions indicates you'll take good care of them. Just doing SOMETHING in the interim is key.