Reel Maintenance

[5/0]

I have been away from bass fishing for quite some time due to work. Now that I'm retired I'd like to get back into it. I have 4-5 Shimano CU-200 Bantam Curados that are probably 10 years old, but in good shape. My question is what I can do to make them serviceable? I don't think they require deep service, but I would like to clean, oil and grease them. I was going to post pictures, but the file size was too large, so I'll try to put into words what I'll be doing.

I will remove the cover for the VBS, then remove the spool, leaving me with 3 parts: main body, side cover for VBS, and the spool. I will then use Ardent degreaser on these parts, which seems to be a no brainer. My question is, once this is done what do I oil and grease?

I assume I'd oil the bearing in the VBS cover and the bearing on the shaft next to the spool, but what do I do with the area where the shaft enters the reel in the main body? I've seen videos where they say you should place oil here and videos where you clean, but leave it dry. I assume I could access this bearing if I were to further take down the reel on the handle side, but I wouldn't be comfortable with this. Also, do I grease or oil the level wind gear? Some say grease, others oil.

 

Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.

[Jig Man]

I saw a real good video of Shimano Reel Cleaning Maintenance.  It should be all  you need.

[Heartland]

Those sure were some good reels, very durable.    Put a drop of oil on the bearings, I prefer a heavier oil on the level wind, makes it a little easier to remove light contaminates if needed.   One additional action I would take on those particular reels is to use a little acetone or other common degreaser and put a drop or two on a q-tip, use that q-tip to wipe and clean the brass area in the side plate where the brake shoes ride.  After you have cleaned it, use another q-tip and add a drop or two of light oil to it and run it around the same area you just cleaned.    Check all the brake shoes for wear and clean and very very lightly oil those as well.   Those reels are really solid, should be fishing again in no time.

 

[Oregon Native]

A friend from shimano showed me to put a little shimano oil into some shimano grease to thin it.  Then put a touch of this on the worm.  He also said less is more when using grease and oil.  Oil for bearings....grease for gears.

Good luck and enjoy

[J Francho]

This is probably your best guide for maintenance:

http://fish.shimano.com/content/dam/shimanosnaffish/shimano/support/maintenance-tips/Maintenance Tips- Baitcasting Reels.pdf

 

Beginners, or those not mechanically inclined can stick to the 1st page.  Anyone with the slightest mechanical inclination can continue further to page two.  If you're really good, you can do a total break down of the reel, degrase all parts, soak bearings in acetone, dry,  reassemble, greasing and oiling parts as you go.  It helps to break it down into sub-assemblies like shown below.

 

[Choporoz]

21 minutes ago, J Francho said:

This is probably your best guide for maintenance:

http://fish.shimano.com/content/dam/shimanosnaffish/shimano/support/maintenance-tips/Maintenance Tips- Baitcasting Reels.pdf

 

Beginners, or those not mechanically inclined can stick to the 1st page. 

That's a great resource.   I've used it for a couple years now.  I'm very much a page 1 only guy.  Be careful at the second to last pic.  Don't get oil down in that shaft hole...and don't ask how I know that.

[5/0]

Thanks all for the responses! I have looked at that Shimano video several times. That's where I saw that you just clean where the spool shaft seats in the reel body, no oil. But I also saw an American Legacy video that states you put a dab of oil in this area with a Q-Tip, hence my confusion. I'll just stick to cleaning it and leave it dry.

 

Thanks again!