Spinning Reel Grease and Oil?

[Tom Bass]

I was just going over responses to Deuceu72's thread about grease and oil on reels and realized everyone was talking baitcasters. I didn't want to hi-jack a really good thread about bait casters with questions on spinning reels and spin casters, which is what I like.

I was planning to go through my reels this weekend to clean, lube and reline them. I purchased Quantum's Hot Sauce to do the lubing. From Reel Mech's post on Deuceu72's thread I am not so sure I should do that now.

What lube is good for spinning gear and spin casters?

By the way, I am a novice gunsmith and have worked on mechanical and electrical systems for years. I am just looking for lube recommendations.

The Hot Sauce package (advertisement?) made it sound like this was the best stuff going.

Thanks,

Tom

[Lucky Craft Man]

I personally like the Hot Sauce.  I use their grease and oil.  Obviously, you know not to use too much, which makes for a red mess.  What I like about the hot sause is when I open my reel and see red, I know it has some lubrication.  If there is no red, then I need to clean and add some.  JMHO.

[Guest DavidGreen]

Tom Bass,

Good question. First off make sure you have the reels schematic in front of you. Contrary to popular opinions there are more parts in a spinning reel than a baitcasting reel, especially the newer reels with worm gears used as oscillators for the spool axle.

Quantum does do some great hyping when it comes to their products. The oil and grease has a polymer base (plastic). It is used on the PT (plastic coated) bearings for Quantum. Which is why the grease has such good sticking ability (Quantum's words). Then the oil and grease has a red dye in it. Even if the grease and oil is done, you think it is still there because the red dye has turned some of the parts red. Even in my cleaning tank which has a continuous circulation filter, I have a hard time getting the dye out of bearings, drag pads, and the like.

I personally use the same type of oil that Shimano® uses, and the grease is a Lithium based 777 grease. I have been using it for 20+ years now.

I use to sell the Hot Sauce in my supply shop, but after giving it a try, I pulled it all and sent it back to Quantum.. I won't even use it in the Quantum reels I service.

Lucky Craft Man,

What I like about the hot sause is when I open my reel and see red, I know it has some lubrication.  If there is no red, then I need to clean and add some.

Don't be fooled. Service those reels twice a season if you have time, but no less than once a season for sure...

Tight Lines!!!

[justfishin]

Don't waste your time on all that big money stuff. Did you see what you get and the price of that " Hot Sauce " , insane. I use Lithium based 777 like reel mech said. I use this on my gears. As far as the other stuff I need to lube on a reel I use sewing machine oil. Cheap, and works great. I tend to every once in awhile give my reels a few shots of WD-40 as well. I have never had any problems. Keep your reels up and they will last you along time.

[Tom Bass]

Thank you Lucky Craft Man. Reel Mech and Jim Blair.

I appreciate your responses very much.

Reel Mech and Jim Blair,

I will look into the lubes you mentioned. No offense Jim, but I never use WD-40 on anything as intricate as reels or firearms.

Anybody want a new tube of Hot Sauce lube?

[castaway]

Anybody want a new tube of Hot Sauce lube?

Nope, It looks like tiny blood clots when cleaning the bearings.As always I put too much oil in the bearings, bad habit of mine, but after asking reel mech. if he had ran across that problem, he told me he no longer used it.I have a ton of different oils from buying different reels.I use Mercury engine coupler spline grease on my reels after re-doing my lower unit seals and water pump impeller last summer. It seems to work well in my reels so far. Jim , thanks for the sewing machine oil idea.I have use sewing machine oil for the bearings on the furnace motor,already got it in stock. ;DIvan

[FishTank]

Got a weird question regarding lube and oil.

I purchased a few and looked at several Shimano reels and all seemed to be covered (on the outside) with a light oil.  Anybody know what that oil is and why it is on so heavy?

Thanks

[nboucher]

I picked up a tube of Abu Garcia Silicote Reel Lube at Dick's this summer, but haven't used it yet. Is it any good?

[Guest DavidGreen]

FishTank,

I purchased a few and looked at several Shimano reels and all seemed to be covered (on the outside) with a light oil.  Anybody know what that oil is and why it is on so heavy?

Depends on were you purchased and looked at the reels.

When I was working a local tackle shop here in town, we would wipe all of the display reels down with a silicon treated rag. This helped keep the reels nice and shinny and would repel some the oils from anglers that were handling the reels during the day. This could be what you are seeing on the exterior of the reels. If they were purchased used, then I would suspect that the previous owner over lubed the reels when getting them ready to sell.

nboucher,

I picked up a tube of Abu Garcia Silicote Reel Lube at Dick's this summer, but haven't used it yet. Is it any good?

Have never used it. But if it is the grease make sure you use it sparingly on the gear teeth only.

[FishTank]

ReelMech,

I have noticed this at four different stores; a BPS, two Dick's Sporting Goods, and a Gander Mountian.  All of the reels where Shimano.  I purchased five 201 Curados (2005 model), a 251 Calcutta, and 201A Calais each of these had oil.  I have looked at some Chronarchs and some new Curados, not all had it but some did.  Most were unopened, still seeled with a factory sticker.  I could also feel it on the inside of the plastic bags they come in.  

The oil thing is not a big deal.  I am just curious.  I thought maybe it was on there for storage reasons.

[Tom Bass]

The Abu Garcia lube is PTFE based (Teflon). I went to Bass Pro yesterday to buy the lube that Reel Mech and Jim Blair mentioned and they don't carry it at my BPS here. They only carry the Hot Sauce and the Abu Garcis PTFE lubes.

In my experience with firearms PTFE (Teflon) lubes are not good for high temperature mechanisms but might be okay for reels and such. In my work on trains and door mechanisms PTFE has a tendency to migrate. Which may not be a problem with a reel but I'll let the more experienced people here speak about that.

[Guest DavidGreen]

FishTank,

I have made this statement before. The factories over lube everything, to help with the long boat rides to the US. Much of the grease you see inside the reels made today, is there because they use it to hold parts in place while on the assembly lines. Depending on the demand and the speed of the assembly lines I would suspect a lot of over lubing of reels, just being in a hurry to get them out of the manufacturers doors. When ever one of my clients contacts me about a new purchase, I always remind them to have the reel cleaned and lubed right out of the box. The ones that do always thank me...

Tom Bass,

Try my Supply Shop..

Tight Lines All!!

[Tom Bass]

Thanks Reel Mech. You have an order. Your system wouldn't let me place two seperate items on the same order so there will be two orders from me.

Thanks very much.

Tom

[FishTank]

ReelMech,

As always, thanks for the info.  From now on when I purchase a new reel, I will make sure I clean it and relube it.

FishTank

[Tom Bass]

Thanks Reel Mech.

I placed my order on 11/28 and today I have my order in hand.

Thank you for very good service.

Tom

[justfishin]

Reel Mech,

You obviously know what you are talking about and after reading this post I value your opinion. I have always used the Lithium 777 on all my reels. I also use sewing machine oil on some of the parts. I am a stickler for keeping up my equipment since my clients put some of my reels through heck. I mentioned in an earlier post that I also spray some WD-40 on my reel once in a while, especially on the outside worm gear on my Curado's and Abu Garcia 5601's. Is this a bad idea?,and is the sewing machine oil ok or do you recommend something else? ------Jim

[Guest DavidGreen]

Jim Blair,

I am a stickler for keeping up my equipment since my clients put some of my reels through heck.

I hear that. As a guide you must cringe at what some of your clients do to the gear. It is a good thing that you have the abilities to keep the service up on your gear.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I also spray some WD-40 on my reel once in a while, especially on the outside worm gear on my Curado's and Abu Garcia 5601's. Is this a bad idea?,and is the sewing machine oil ok or do you recommend something else?

I cringe every time someone mentions WD-40 use on a reel. But then they are using it is places that it can be detrimental to the reel (spraying the whole reel with it).  I would say a spray of it just on a old tooth brush, and a good brushing of it on the worm gear, wouldn't be a bad thing (never letting it enter the reel). The worm gear does load up with crud causing line carriage sticking and line stacking on the spool. Keeping this area clean will prevent that, and the having to replace pawls as often. But I recommend switching to a product made just for reels called Reel Scrubber by Birchwood Casey®. As for sewing machine oil, it can be used but has to be replenished more often. It is a very light viscosity oil, that never see's the outdoor elements (rain, hot, cold, etc.). I would switch to a slightly heavier weighted oil for fishing reels...

Hope this helps..

Tight Lines!!

[justfishin]

Thanks for your help ReelMech. I clicked your link and saw your available products. I am good for the rest of the season but, I am sure before spring I will be placing and order with you. I will pass on your site as well. I appreciate your time. Equipment and clients, sometimes you just wouldn't believe it, LOL. I am getting older now and my weekend G trips are getting too expensive and it seems the people have changed as well and I just want to go fishing for myself and with my son in my 50's. A few trips here and there. Good luck on the Good ones !!!, and thanks again.---Jim