Reel Maintenance- Curado DC

[MUSLENUTZ]

It’s been three years and I just scrubbed all my gear. I’ve never cleaned or oiled a baitcaster, let alone a DC. I’ve looked on the web and read the manual with nothing for specific for instructions. Is there anything specific I need to do different with a dc than if I look at some general YouTube videos for maintenance or oiling on standard baitcaster maintenance? It seems perfect, should I just leave it be? I don’t see any videos or instructions on the dc, so I’m asking you pros. Also going to oil the spinning reel, so if you have anything to add for content or helpful links. Please do share!

[FishTank]

This reel is, for the most part, just like any other reel. But if you have not taken a bait caster apart,  I would hold off until the end of the season and send it to DVT. 

 

 

 

[MUSLENUTZ]

Doesn’t seem like many parts moving. Seems pretty straight forward. Just wasn’t sure wear to oil. It doesn’t need anything probably. I just want to keep up with the oil and keep her clean.  

[Tywithay]

3 minutes ago, MUSLENUTZ said:

Doesn’t seem like many parts moving. Seems pretty straight forward. Just wasn’t sure wear to oil. It doesn’t need anything probably. I just want to keep up with the oil and keep her clean.  

Generally speaking, it's oil on bearings and worm gear. Grease on the gears.

 

I bought an Abu Garcia Black Max probably 10 years ago to tear down and learn how to maintain my own reels. Sending them to a professional is great and I've done it, but you can't really learn if you never do it yourself. I just take everything apart and set it on my table in the same order it comes out. 

[MUSLENUTZ]

46 minutes ago, Tywithay said:

Generally speaking, it's oil on bearings and worm gear. Grease on the gears.

 

I bought an Abu Garcia Black Max probably 10 years ago to tear down and learn how to maintain my own reels. Sending them to a professional is great and I've done it, but you can't really learn if you never do it yourself. I just take everything apart and set it on my table in the same order it comes out. 

What’s the norm on taking everything apart and cleaning it. Honestly my baitcaster, which I use most feels the same it did the day I got it. 

[Tywithay]

30 minutes ago, MUSLENUTZ said:

What’s the norm on taking everything apart and cleaning it. Honestly my baitcaster, which I use most feels the same it did the day I got it. 

If I use them a lot, I clean them once a year in the winter. Some of the ones that don't see much use I'll clean up a bit, but not tear down for a couple years, unless I'm bored. I wade a lot, so I clean them if they get dunked as well, to keep the fine silt and stuff from getting in there.

[MUSLENUTZ]

I just got finished. The spinning reel had so much crap in it, mostly used by my son and gf. They kind of trashed it. Broke them both down without, cleaned with alcohol and greased with shimano oil. All seems solid, just wish there was a video on a dc. Honestly, I’ve never dunked it and the most first that was on it was the green residue off the braid. I’m using powerpro and most of it ends up on my them. Might need to find a different alternative there. I think the braid has been on for two years, about to put a fresh spool on. 

[Tywithay]

Been awhile since I took it apart, but I seem to remember the only difference between the DC and K, as far as taking apart, is when you remove the palming sideplate the K has centrifugal brakes on the spool. The DC module is attached to the sideplate, but can be removed by taking out the screws, think it's two of them, if you want to get to the bearing that's behind it. If it's casting well, you can probably get away with leaving that bearing alone and focus more on the gear side.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

13 hours ago, Tywithay said:

Been awhile since I took it apart, but I seem to remember the only difference between the DC and K, as far as taking apart, is when you remove the palming sideplate the K has centrifugal brakes on the spool. The DC module is attached to the sideplate, but can be removed by taking out the screws, think it's two of them, if you want to get to the bearing that's behind it. If it's casting well, you can probably get away with leaving that bearing alone and focus more on the gear side.

This is about it. No need to disassemble any DC system. There’s nothing to self service there. 

[gabegabe]

Why couldn’t you just drop the whole reel in a bowl of alcohol, shake it around, let it sit to dry, and then oil and grease in a few strategic spots?? Would that be harmful to the reel? 

[GreenPig]

I tear down and clean my own reels, but I was a jet engine mechanic. It's not that difficult. Here's the trick, if you have three friends or family members that fish. Offer one at a time to tear down and clean their reels. After successfully doing it or the worst case sending them back a box of parts. Then you'll know if you should tear into yours.?

[newapti5]

Just as what others mentioned, other than the palm side plate and spool, there's nothing special about the rest of the reel. It's all basic baitcaster mechanics. But if you want to take out the spool bearing in the palm side plate for deep cleaning, that might be a bit different from usual. 

[Smalls]

On 8/26/2021 at 3:13 PM, gabegabe said:

Why couldn’t you just drop the whole reel in a bowl of alcohol, shake it around, let it sit to dry, and then oil and grease in a few strategic spots?? Would that be harmful to the reel? 

Because that doesn't really remove anything but the oil and maybe some of the grease. Just because crud found it's way inside, doesn't mean it's gonna find its own way out. 

[HaydenS]

On 8/26/2021 at 4:13 PM, gabegabe said:

Why couldn’t you just drop the whole reel in a bowl of alcohol, shake it around, let it sit to dry, and then oil and grease in a few strategic spots?? Would that be harmful to the reel? 

 

31 minutes ago, Smalls said:

Because that doesn't really remove anything but the oil and maybe some of the grease. Just because crud found it's way inside, doesn't mean it's gonna find its own way out. 

Exactly^. All that dirty alcohol is gonna sit inside that reel and destroy it.  You take it apart piece by piece, clean and then put it back the same way you took it apart.  

It doesn't take that long and isn't that hard, its kinda fun.  Have the manual on hand in case a piece gets moved out of order or you need a new part.

[DogBone_384]

On 6/4/2020 at 11:15 PM, FishTank said:

send it to DVT.

This.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Submerging a DC reel in anything is a horrible idea. A partial tear down for interim diy service is very reasonable but some level of disassembly is essential.