Spinning Reel Rescue Mission!

[AJ Hauser]

Hello fellas - it's a sad, sad day. Yesterday I fished a creek that was carrying a ton of sediment from a recent rain. About an hour before I had to call it quits, this Abu Garcia Orra S spinning reel started to get really hard to turn. I removed the handle and the spool in the field to try to clean things off but nothing helped. When I got home, I assumed it was just in need of some oil... however, while that made it slightly easier to turn for about 5 minutes, I'm now in a position where I can't turn the handle forward. At all.

 

If I turn off the anti-reverse, I can turn the handle backwards easily, and the bail spins in reverse - but I can't turn it forward at all. 

 

I'm guessing I got some crud in there but I'm not sure... what would you guys recommend in terms of taking this apart and attempting to clean & rescue this bad boy? Any similar situations you've experienced?

 

Thanks! Here is where I have it at the moment...

 

 

[J Francho]

https://fish.shimano.com/content/fish/northamerica/us/en/homepage/REEL_SUPPORT_SERVICES/Reel-Maintenance.html

 

Start here:

https://fish.shimano.com/content/dam/shimanosnaffish/pdf/Spinning Reels maint.pdf

[newapti5]

It needs a deep cleaning for sure. Send it to professionals as suggested above, or do it yourself as a fun summer project. But a little warning, Orra S's design is a bit different from others;  you might need an offset screwdriver to reach certain screws inside.  

[AJ Hauser]

38 minutes ago, newapti5 said:

It needs a deep cleaning for sure. Send it to professionals as suggested above, or do it yourself as a fun summer project. But a little warning, Orra S's design is a bit different from others;  you might need an offset screwdriver to reach certain screws inside.  

 

Oh no. Things have escalated quickly! 

 

 

[AJ Hauser]

Status Update: after a deep cleaning with WD-40, a rinse, re-grease and re-oil - she's all back together and humming away beautifully. Better than new! Clean as a whistle! 

 

I don't think the WD-40 residue will cause any issues with the new grease and oil applied after the fact... we will see.

 

Thanks again for the feedback all, it was helpful and very appreciated!

 

 

[garroyo130]

That WD gonna get sticky and attract dirt and eventually turn to varnish. I would give it another cleaning within 6 months. 

[AJ Hauser]

9 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

That WD gonna get sticky and attract dirt and eventually turn to varnish. I would give it another cleaning within 6 months. 

 

Got it - two questions: 

 

1. How would you have cleaned the old gritty grease off of the gears instead of WD-40?

 

2. When I clean it next, anything in particular I should do to get the old WD-40 off?

 

Thanks!

 

[garroyo130]

Cleaning gears I usually use Simple Green. WD 40 is fine as long as you remove it afterwards. Even wiping down with alcohol should do it. 

 

Nothing special to get it off. Its also unlike to damage anything honestly. Unless the reel is baking in the sun or it has more than just residue. 

 

IMO its not a big enough issue to tear it down again right away. Fish it and enjoy it!

[AJ Hauser]

2 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

IMO its not a big enough issue to tear it down again right away. Fish it and enjoy it!

 

Rock & roll brother! Thanks!