Pflueger Reels

[PBBrandon]

Is there any way to alleviate the tight handle/coffee grinder feel that it seems like every pflueger reel has these days? Do they just need torn down and lubed up or is it a design flaw? I have 3 presidents that are all like this. It’s especially bad on my 20 size but my 30 and 35 have the same thing, and I noticed at Cabelas that the Presidents on display are like this too. Would greasing them up help any?

[jimmyjoe]

   I talked to Spirit Lake about this long ago. Basically, the answer was, "Nope. It is what it is".  I went through 4 Pflueger spinning and two Garcia spinning reels. Now I use Daiwa and Shimano.       jj

[newapti5]

I don't know if it is a design flaw, but here's what happened to my President Limited Edition and Patriarch XT.  Several years ago, when I first got the President reel, the smoothness was just OK. Though not obvious, some clicking and grinding were present. Then I accidently dropped the whole setup into the lake, but miraculously got it back the next day with a big anchor hook plowing the bottom. I had to dissembled it to the bits and gave it a deep cleaning and re-greasing. After that, it's one of the smoothest reels I own.  Same thing happened to my Patriarch XT, not the dumping and plowing, but the deep cleaning the re-greasing.  I got it during winter sales, so I had spare time to dissemble it, clean out all the overwhelming amount of stock grease and oil,  and re-grease it with proper amount of grease. It's a total different feel when you reel it, worthy of the flagship title of Pflueger reels. 

 

IMO, the crazy amount of extra grease inside Pflueger reels is definitely impairing the smoothness of the reels.  These are smooth reels with proper oiling and greasing, but how many users would know, or be willing, to do the deep cleaning and re-greasing to a new reel? 

 

Though these were treatment and improvement to new reels, I have used them for several years after that, even lent the President to my friend for some time. They're still quite smooth to this date.  About how to fix the already "geary" reels, I think a change of main gear and pinion gear might be the cure. Also for future reference, maybe go a little easy on the new reels, give them gears time to run in, like new cars.