Is it worth paying someone to disassemble and clean your reels or is it relatively simple to learn?

[ABU is overpriced]

If you send it in, it will be expensive to clean all your reels. Absolutely worth learning to do it yourself, it really is not complicated at all, especially older reels like the og steez, og alphas, og zillion, pixy, etc. Those reels were so simple and well built.

[swhit140]

I've been doing my own reels for around 6 years. You'll have the initial cost for tools/lube/oil but will pay for itself after one reel. 

[Gera]

I believe its a pretty simple mechanism, however not everyone has the patience, time or tools to do this job so sending it someone is completely fine. 

I run my reels until they die and only disassemble them if they feel dry after purchasing (I still love you Daiwa) or if they start having issues.. I do not have personal attachment to any gear so if it starts failing its replaced, all donated reels gets the deep mechanical service treatment, what is not goes to the trash. 

 

 

[padlin]

I do mine yearly but started sending a couple at a year to DVT, peace of mind if nothing else. For the ones I do there are videos online that walk you through it, but I have no idea if this is comparable to what DVT does. Still, ending up with an extra washer or searching the floor for a small something or other is not unheard of.

[bowhunter63]

Our Bass Pro Shops does for 20 bucks. I go there . Usually about 3 days there done 

[redmeansdistortion]

On 9/13/2024 at 1:25 AM, bowhunter63 said:

Our Bass Pro Shops does for 20 bucks. I go there . Usually about 3 days there done 

I wonder what they're doing exactly for $20?  A lot of the low dollar jobs I've seen usually involved adding lubrication without cleaning anything.  Sometimes that may be enough, especially on a reel that's close to new or saw little use.  Those are usually very quick jobs and can be done in minutes.  A full disassembly and deep cleaning is more involved and will take a skilled technician 45+ minutes assuming they are familiar with the model.  Those jobs are typically more costly, with the usual rate being somewhere between $25 and $60 depending on who does it.  Some places do charge more than that.  I've seen guys in Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan charging the equivalent of $80 to $100 for a full service.  It is a good chunk of change, but they're only servicing higher end models to begin with.

[dodgeguy]

I've been rebuilding automotive engines and transmissions since 1978. That said I hate taking reels apart. Everything is to small. I do take them apart and clean and lube them and have even repaired a few but I'm not comfortable with it. I'd rather rebuild transmissions.

[new2BC4bass]

4 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

I've been rebuilding automotive engines and transmissions since 1978. That said I hate taking reels apart. Everything is to small. I do take them apart and clean and lube them and have even repaired a few but I'm not comfortable with it. I'd rather rebuild transmissions.

I don't think I could be called 'fat fingered' but at my age 'agile', 'nimble', 'excellent coordination', etc. can be left out to describe my ability when handling small parts.