Do you use a new reel right out of the box?

[pauldconyers]

If you buy a new higher end reel do you spool it up and use it right out of the box or feel you need to lube up any particular parts or other tasks on it?

[Scott F]

My motto is, “If it ain’t broke....don’t fix it.  I don’t monkey with them until after I’ve used them for a while.

[riverbasser]

New reels are normally over greased. If I buy a reel that's not butter smooth from the start it gets taken back.

[jimmyjoe]

10 minutes ago, Scott F said:

My motto is, “If it ain’t broke....don’t fix it".  I don’t monkey with them until after I’ve used them for a while.

   Exactly the way I feel.  Never done me wrong yet.     jj

[mrpao]

Sometimes the new reels are under greased. I've had a few lately that I had to add more oil to get them to smooth out.

[dodgeguy]

I always oil bearings and level wind

[Gorris317]

I use mine out of the box in case there is an issue so it can be returned if needed. 

[flyfisher]

all i do is add line and a rod and have at it...

[NYWayfarer]

Using a reel right out of the box is the best way to determine if it has any issues.

 

Issues could be as small as a drop of oil or grease in the right place to being a lemon that was missed in quality control (every company has them) 

 

I don’t mess with a reel until it has a few sessions under the belt.

[CountryboyinDC]

If we're talking baitcaster, I use it once, and then take the spool bearings off and soak them in isopropanol or acetone.  I dry them out, put them back with just a drop of spool bearing oil.  Some of the reels come with grease on the spool bearings, and you can't expect to cast far with the spool bearings lubed like that.  Everything else I leave until annual maintenance.

[Glaucus]

1. Buy reel

2. Take out of box

3. Put on rod

4. Spool up

5. Set brakes, spool tension, and drag

6. Catch a fish

 

If I have to do anything else something probably ain't right and it probably got exchanged

 

[Manly Studson]

11 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

1. Buy reel

2. Take out of box

3. Put on rod

4. Spool up

5. Set brakes, spool tension, and drag

6. Catch a fish

 

If I have to do anything else something probably ain't right and it probably got exchanged

 

Same here.

[CrankFate]

I usually open it and grease/oil to my liking. Possibly add carbontex drags and new ball bearings. Maybe even lightly polish the spool shaft or other things.

[LxVE Bassin]

I don’t touch anything I just fish them. I’m not versed on the mechanical side of reels so I wouldn’t be able to tell if anything was wrong inter ally for the most part.

[GreenPig]

Before I mount a baitcasting reel on a rod the spool bearings get a ultrasonic cleaning then  oiled with a single drop of Rem oil. 

[jbsoonerfan]

5 hours ago, mrpao said:

Sometimes the new reels are under greased. I've had a few lately that I had to add more oil to get them to smooth out.

 

6 hours ago, riverbasser said:

New reels are normally over greased. If I buy a reel that's not butter smooth from the start it gets taken back.

This says it all. Most people have no clue what they are dealing with.

[redmeansdistortion]

8 hours ago, CrankFate said:

I usually open it and grease/oil to my liking. Possibly add carbontex drags and new ball bearings. Maybe even lightly polish the spool shaft or other things.

Same here.  Plus I like to tinker and the disassembly, cleaning, lube, and reassembly process familiarizes me with the reel.  

[Catt]

Any product I buy if the first thing I have to do is pull maintenance on it before I can use it.

 

I guarantee ya I will not buy it ?

[greentrout]

right out of the box ... never a problem ... 

 

good fishing ...

[MN Fisher]

All but one of my reels went from box to rod to lake. All have been butter smooth.

 

The one exception is the Pres-25, which was a gift from a member here...so I don't know what he did to it before shipping it to me.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

I dont bother doing anything to the reel during the return period. I have returned/exchanged a fair number of reels.

[Yumeya]

the delivery wait in long enough, I want to fish new gear as soon as I get it, line it up and go...

 

I have a Daiwa Certate LT that should be here Monday, I have the line and rod waiting so I 

can get right to it haha.

[ike8120]

Look it over, reel it few times then spool it with line, then go fishing.

[Sam]

Of course. We all do.

 

But after one outing I take the new reel to Wayne Knabe in Powhatan County so he can put some of his secret formula grease in it after wiping out the factory grease.

 

Wayne's grease is great and your reels will purr like a kitten.

 

I take my reels to Wayne every two to three years for a grease update.

 

Wayne says that some reels stay on the retailer's shelf for a long time and it is better to replace the old grease with new grease.

[FishTank]

I would say that normally any reel I buy new out of the box is good to go but this past year's buying spree has changed my thoughts on that.  

 

Between this year and last fall I have picked up a Curado K, Curado DC, a Bantam, a Abu Garcia ALF, a Abu Garcia Winch, and a Daiwa Steez.  They all were either under lubed/dry or over lubed.  I spent 10 or 15 minutes with each one and cleaned and lubed them.  It made a made a huge difference in the Bantam and the Steez, a noticeable difference in the Winch and the ALF and a marginal difference in the K and DC.  I think going forward I will just take a few extra minutes on a new reel to make sure it is done right.