I May Never Clean My Reels Again

[gunsinger]

Haven't been on the water since October due to temps, weather, and business but decided to pull the rods out of the rod locker and give each one a good cleaning/lube.  Man, what a disaster that was.  Of the 6 I've disassembled, cleaned/lubed, and reassembled, not a one worked upon reassembly the first time.  Some I had to take apart multiple times before I figured out what I'd done wrong.   One, I never found what was wrong but when I put it back together the last time, it just worked.

 

Dr. Google wasn't a lot of help as it was hard to find videos on the exact model reel I have but I was able to get close enough.  

 

All that being said, I didn't have any parts left over when I was done though I am short a yoke sprint that apparently went flying off into an alternate universe.

 

Is there a site that gives good teardown/cleaning video's for specific models?  Reel manufacturers maybe?  Perhaps Glenn would do a video on reel maintenance?

 

Also, anybody know a good site to order replacement parts for a variety of reels?  Parts such as yoke springs or click pawls/springs?

[Eric 26]

Exactly why I don’t even bother 😬 With that said you can call site sponsor DVT as he seems to be more than willing to help out including advice as far as I can tell. Best of luck. 

[MN Fisher]

It's a methodical process - taking pics or video as you dis-assemble for cleaning is one of the best hints given. I doubt there's vids on every single reel since some people keep and use reels a long time (decades even) and the sheer number of reel models is overwhelming.

 

Even those of us who do our own reels occasionally make an 'oopsie'...like me installing the A/R Ratchet backwards in one reel this past cleaning cycle...easy to fix, but took me a bit to figure it out.

 

Mike at DVT is probably your best bet for helping get them back together properly.

[Mobasser]

I don't always tear mine down completely. Especially spinning reels. If they feel smooth when reeling, I clean the outside good with a soft toothbrush, and lightly oil and moving parts,(  bail, handle knob, line roller, etc). I remove the handle and lightly oil the bearings.                   For a full teardown, I've had a local guy do some for me. I really couldn't tell much difference in before or after the tear down cleaning.

[A-Jay]

44 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

It's a methodical process - taking pics or video as you dis-assemble for cleaning is one of the best hints given. I doubt there's vids on every single reel since some people keep and use reels a long time (decades even) and the sheer number of reel models is overwhelming.

 

Even those of us who do our own reels occasionally make an 'oopsie'...like me installing the A/R Ratchet backwards in one reel this past cleaning cycle...easy to fix, but took me a bit to figure it out.

 

Mike at DVT is probably your best bet for helping get them back together properly.

I agree with @MN Fisher Having a process is a good thing.

And I think @J Francho has mentioned that the Egg carton method (for parts) can be helpful.

I use something very similar. 

Either way, I ALWAYS stay in my lane.

Meaning, I'll only break a reel down as far as I "Know" I can reassemble it correctly.

No guessing for this hack.

Finally @Delaware Valley Tackle has serviced 'several' of my reels

every few years for the deep clean.  #topnotch 

Checking and replacing worn parts in advance of failure is an important aspect of that IMO.

Between full service visits, I'll Clean and do a 'light' & 'as needed' deal.  

Oil, grease and a drop or two of fine oil on easily accessed bearings takes care of it.

A-Jay

 

 

[Mobasser]

1 minute ago, A-Jay said:

I agree with @MN Fisher Having a process is a good thing.

And I think @J Francho gas mentioned that the Egg carton method (for parts) can be helpful.

I use something very similar. 

Either way, I ALWAYS stay in my lane.

Meaning, I'll only break a reel down as far as I "Know" I can reassemble it correctly.

No guessing for this hack.

Finally @Delaware Valley Tackle has serviced 'several' of my reels

every few years for the deep clean.  #topnotch 

Checking and replacing worn parts in an important aspect of that IMO.

Between full service visits, I'll Clean and do a 'light' & 'as needed' deal.  

Oil, grease and a drop or two of fine oil on easily accessed bearings takes care of it.

A-Jay

 

 

A-Jay, Im with you on the egg carton method for small parts. Nothing worse than hearing a faint " boing" and crawling around on the floor searching for a part. That part of cleaning reels is no fun.

[A-Jay]

22 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

A-Jay, Im with you on the egg carton method for small parts. Nothing worse than hearing a faint " boing" and crawling around on the floor searching for a part. That part of cleaning reels is no fun.

Yup ~

My 'tackle room' has this dark grey carpet that absolutely EATS small parts, springs, even hooks & split rings.  Collectively I have spent Literally hours doing the hands & knees with a flash light & a magnet trying to locate anything dropped.  It's Never where I think it is.

And if I manage to be lucky enough to locate it,

it's Always in the last place I would think to be looking.

I spread white towels down now. 

Sometimes it helps.

🤓

A-Jay

 

 

 

[J Francho]

An egg carton would work. I use a muffin pan. If you have to stop mid way, cover it with plastic wrap. 

[A-Jay]

12 minutes ago, J Francho said:

An egg carton would work. I use a muffin pan. If you have to stop mid way, cover it with plastic wrap. 

OK Thanks ~ I was close, sort of. 

Great Tip btw.

Especially when residing with long legged & curious canine companions.

A-Jay

[J Francho]

My Siamese taught me this. 

[Tackleholic]

44 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I agree with @MN Fisher Having a process is a good thing.

And I think @J Francho has mentioned that the Egg carton method (for parts) can be helpful.

I use something very similar. 

Either way, I ALWAYS stay in my lane.

Meaning, I'll only break a reel down as far as I "Know" I can reassemble it correctly.

No guessing for this hack.

Finally @Delaware Valley Tackle has serviced 'several' of my reels

every few years for the deep clean.  #topnotch 

Checking and replacing worn parts in advance of failure is an important aspect of that IMO.

Between full service visits, I'll Clean and do a 'light' & 'as needed' deal.  

Oil, grease and a drop or two of fine oil on easily accessed bearings takes care of it.

A-Jay

 

 

Not a braid fan, are you?

[A-Jay]

16 minutes ago, Tackleholic said:

Not a braid fan, are you?

LOL ~ What gave it away ?

 

Light braid is reserved exclusively for my spinning gear.

Or as @AlabamaSpothunter  calls them, the pixy wands. 

A-Jay

[TheWitness33]

As you take the parts off, put them in a line in order of removal. When you're ready to put it back together, the last part off is the first part in. Orient things also in the way you're taking them off (if you have a screw left, top and bottom on a side cover, orient them that way if they're different lengths). I find baitcasters more fun than spinning reels. Keep stacked parts stacked if you can as assemblies. And do it all in one sitting!

[swhit140]

3 hours ago, gunsinger said:

Haven't been on the water since October due to temps, weather, and business but decided to pull the rods out of the rod locker and give each one a good cleaning/lube.  Man, what a disaster that was.  Of the 6 I've disassembled, cleaned/lubed, and reassembled, not a one worked upon reassembly the first time.  Some I had to take apart multiple times before I figured out what I'd done wrong.   One, I never found what was wrong but when I put it back together the last time, it just worked.

 

Dr. Google wasn't a lot of help as it was hard to find videos on the exact model reel I have but I was able to get close enough.  

 

All that being said, I didn't have any parts left over when I was done though I am short a yoke sprint that apparently went flying off into an alternate universe.

 

Is there a site that gives good teardown/cleaning video's for specific models?  Reel manufacturers maybe?  Perhaps Glenn would do a video on reel maintenance?

 

Also, anybody know a good site to order replacement parts for a variety of reels?  Parts such as yoke springs or click pawls/springs?

 

What brand of reels are you working on??

[Marty-WI]

So appropriate for my situation..  I broke down a few older reels last winter (‘23).   A few Abu 5500’s and 2 Daiwa BG 15’s.   All backup reels so not a huge concern.  Thought I’d be smart and followed some threads about cleaninng and maintenance of reels.  One Diawa the bearing came apart.   Not sure how but here I sit not knowing how to fix.  Missing a washer on one of my Abu’s.  Couldn t find a place that has the correct parts.  
 

YouTube has saved me literally a few thousand dollars fixing my older vehicles and I’m not a mechanic, but I can’t fix a $100 reel. 
 

Maybe I need to call DVT. 

[slowworm]

4 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

It's a methodical process - taking pics or video as you dis-assemble for cleaning is one of the best hints given. I doubt there's vids on every single reel since some people keep and use reels a long time (decades even) and the sheer number of reel models is overwhelming.

 

Even those of us who do our own reels occasionally make an 'oopsie'...like me installing the A/R Ratchet backwards in one reel this past cleaning cycle...easy to fix, but took me a bit to figure it out.

 

Mike at DVT is probably your best bet for helping get them back together properly.

Well, you know when they say assembly is the reverse of the disassembly steps? 

 

I'd like to mention that when I took it apart the spring went ping and flew across the room. For reassembly to be the reverse of the above I would place the spring across the room and have it fly back into the reel housing and compress itself ready for the mating part to be added.  Unfortunately, the second law of thermodynamics prevents this critical reassembly step from happening.

 

This is why I never go beyond taking the side plates off and checking if it needs further disassembly for cleaning. If it does, I send it out.

[roadwarrior]

7 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Mike at DVT is probably your best bet for helping get them back together properly.

 

[DaubsNU1]

Most of my reels are 30+ years old...and a few of my "newer" reels are old ones purchased via eBay...and are 30+ years old : )

 

I break them down a little, clean with toothbrush, oil them back up and call it good. Most are doing quite well.

 

Took a spinning reel apart hoping to find root cause of a hitch-in-the-giddy-up...but was unsuccessful. Ended up taking it to a local guy...who disassembled, cleaned...found no issues...but solved the problem (lucky I guess).

 

Some great suggestions here! Thanks all!

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I’m not one to discourage DIY if you’re up to it. I take plenty of calls helping folks through their projects. But in the words of “Dirty” Harry Callahan, “A man’s gotta know his limitations.”lol   Getting fully or partially disassembled reels isn’t ideal but it’s not a deal breaker for me and you wouldn’t be the first or last. Hit me up for whatever level of help you may require. 

[Dan N]

I just lube the accessible parts, never disassemble. Something isn’t working right, I just buy a new reel

[king fisher]

If it aint broke don't fix it.  It has taken me years, and cost me thousands of dollars to learn this simple lesson.

[LCG]

I have torn apart and cleaned a few Shimano and lew's models without issue. Well I had a broken screw on a Shimano, but they sent me the screw for free. I also had some rulon drag washers sent from lew's for free. And I am in Canada, parts here are hard to find and shipping is ridiculous. I always appreciate manufacturer support.

 

However, me and Daiwa reels don't seem to get along at all. Of the three reels I have had from them, two refused to go back together right. It's probably me, not blaming Daiwa. But, I am done taking Daiwa reels apart.

[gunsinger]

6 hours ago, swhit140 said:

 

What brand of reels are you working on??

Shimano, Daiwa, Lews, & Abu Garcia. All baitcasters. Low end stuff. Haven’t tackled the spinning reels yet. 

8 hours ago, TheWitness33 said:

As you take the parts off, put them in a line in order of removal. When you're ready to put it back together, the last part off is the first part in. Orient things also in the way you're taking them off (if you have a screw left, top and bottom on a side cover, orient them that way if they're different lengths). I find baitcasters more fun than spinning reels. Keep stacked parts stacked if you can as assemblies. And do it all in one sitting!

I did this. With the exception of the last Lews reel, my errors have been orientation error (rachet reversed, yoke collar upside down, yoke springs sitting on the bench after assembly, etc). That last Lews real though? Assembled correctly. Held the handle cover on and checked the function, and all was good. Put the handle cover screws in and checked the function again and suddenly, the thumb bar simply would not disengage. I take it all apart and check everything and it all looks right. Rinse and repeat. Finally, I didn’t check the function until I had fully assembled the real one last time and, viola, everything worked fine.  Go figure. 

1 hour ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

I’m not one to discourage DIY if you’re up to it. I take plenty of calls helping folks through their projects. But in the words of “Dirty” Harry Callahan, “A man’s gotta know his limitations.”lol   Getting fully or partially disassembled reels isn’t ideal but it’s not a deal breaker for me and you wouldn’t be the first or last. Hit me up for whatever level of help you may require. 

Thanks. 

[gim]

I take mine to a local guy every couple years for complete disassembly, cleaning, and lubrication. He charges $15 for a spinning reel and $25 for a bait caster.

 

I last took them in for service during the winter of 2022. It took him about a month to do 13 reels.

 

Some of my reels are close to 20 years old and they operate like they are still new. I believe that preventative maintenance is better than doing nothing and then having to replace a $150 reel.

 

I am not up to the task of taking one apart. I know it, and I’m not gonna try either.

[JediAmoeba]

I have cleaned and upgraded a few hundred reels this year. The only parts that can be troublesome are screws that were loctited in place. Once you have a system down the springs and clips aren't a big deal.

 

For all intents and purposes it isn't necessary to take a reel apart 100% to service it. Sometimes it is but that's rare IMO. Remember your time is money - if you don't enjoy doing it or it takes a long time, it may be beneficial to send it to a seasoned pro!