Do you service your reels?

[GRiver]

Who has the spool pin removal tool or the pliers or both? 
I don’t have ether. Been using a regular set of pliers.

[bulldog1935]

@GRiver  Rorolure.com has the best tool for the best price.  

https://rorolure.com/collections/spool-bearing-remover

 

The TX6 tool is required for Daiwa , which has the bearing and pinion pin farther recessed into the spool hollow.  

 

The nice thing, the TX6 tool also has adjustable pin height, so it can also be used for Shimano and Abu (Doyo).  Roro TX6 does everything that the $45 SLP Works tool does.  

 

The Roro TX8 tool is a copy of the Hedgehog tool, and only works on full-shaft reels and full-flange spools, where bearing and pinion pin sits farther away from the spool.  

 

[papajoe222]

I use 15 different baitcasters and 4 spinning reels during a season.  There are 6 baitcasters that do most of the work and they all get a full breakdown, cleaning and lube before ice-out.  I started working on them last week.  The six I use most often get the bearings an level wind cleaned and lubed sometime in late July.  Sooner if I feel they need it.  I actually dislike taking apart spinning reels, but once I got some experience with them, I still dislike them and not just cleaning them.

[MichaelN]

Like many of you, I take my reels apart once a year and give them a good cleaning and fresh oil. Don't have the fancy tools, but i like the looks of some of the tools posted above.

[GreenPig]

Yes, annually. Pond/Bank rigs gets attention as needed.

[bulldog1935]

22 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Every few Hedgehog orders, I throw in a few of the common sizes, 2-mm to 3-mm (cheap).  When I need one, I have a parts bin.  

Quoting myself here about useful spares.  

Avail sells drag-stack brass shim washers in 1- and 0.5-mm thickness.  

These are extremely useful to have around, fit every M8 drag stack, and increase travel on your star drag, so it won't bottom out.  

  

Just about every drag stack has a flat washer, in addition to the concave, keyed spring washers.  On more than a couple of used reels, the stainless flat shim washer in the drag stack had been mashed well below its original thickness.  

The brass Avail shim washers are keeper spares.  

[redmeansdistortion]

12 hours ago, GRiver said:

Who has the spool pin removal tool or the pliers or both? 
I don’t have ether. Been using a regular set of pliers.

The best is no longer made, they were made by a now defunct company named ReelSpeed.  I was lucky to grab a set when Dawn at Smooth Drag had them in stock.  They work great with any spool that has a long tail shaft, so this rules out some Daiwa models.  For those Daiwas, I have the SLP tool, and also have a Hedgehog Tool just in case.

[redmeansdistortion]

For what it's worth, those E clips can be bought in bulk from McMaster Carr.  Abu Ambassadeurs use a M3 x 0.8mm.  Daiwa driveshafts use a M4 x 1mm as does the kick lever in the clutch assembly.  I ordered them about 5 years ago in packs of 50 for ~$7 each.  I keep other sizes on hand as well.  

 

Another tool I love is the Arc Hobby bearing cleaner/packer.  With some reels I like to use a NLGI 00 grease in the support bearings.  This makes packing small bearings a breeze.  The grease doesn't run out as quickly as oil and gives a very smooth feel.  You aren't going to watch the handle spin forever, but you get a very smooth and connected feel. 

[bulldog1935]

With McMaster, add $9 UPS charge.  Still, a great place for materials and tools you can't find anywhere else.  (sheet phosphor-bronze and press-brake cutter for making antique springs) 

Bolt Depot should always be checked first if you need a replacemet fastener.  

They sell piecemeal and mail 1st class - service is over the top - they treat piecemeal orders with the same respect as industrial orders.  

 

Another good vendor to check for small tools is Micro Mark.  

Amazon is the quickest source and amazing selection.  

 

Cool thread - should be a sticky.  

[redmeansdistortion]

KC Tools specializes in German hand tools.  I buy most of my punches, pliers, and drivers from there.  Knipex are by far my favorite pliers.  All the way to the right is the pliers wrench, it fits perfectly to any nut or bolt.  The flat jaw pliers on the left I use for forming metal, similar with the round nose which also work great for reinstalling torsion springs.  The grabbing pliers on the middle are excellent for E clips or installing/removing parts in very tight spaces.

 

 

[Skunkmaster-k]

Nah. I just use them till they make bad noises then throw them in my pile and buy another one. 

[ABU is overpriced]

22 hours ago, GRiver said:

Who has the spool pin removal tool or the pliers or both? 
I don’t have ether. Been using a regular set of pliers.

Just get one from aliexpress. Don't buy the cheapo one, but the one from Gomexus for example is pretty good.

10 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

The best is no longer made, they were made by a now defunct company named ReelSpeed.  I was lucky to grab a set when Dawn at Smooth Drag had them in stock.  They work great with any spool that has a long tail shaft, so this rules out some Daiwa models.  For those Daiwas, I have the SLP tool, and also have a Hedgehog Tool just in case.

Do you happen to have a picture for that tool? 

[redmeansdistortion]

41 minutes ago, ABU is overpriced said:

Just get one from aliexpress. Don't buy the cheapo one, but the one from Gomexus for example is pretty good.

Do you happen to have a picture for that tool? 

[padlin]

The last couple years I’ve been sending 2 or 3 off to DVT each winter for professional cleaning and do the rest myself. The plan is cycling thru them all every couple years, I only really use 5 of them enough to warrant sending off.

 

I do occasionally end up with an extra spool washer. Got to be pretty careful keeping track of what goes where and in what order.

[GRiver]

10 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

Arc Hobby bearing cleaner/packer.

Didn’t know they had one for small bearings, looks like I’m going to be buying me some Xmas presents.

10 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

The grease doesn't run out as quickly as oil and gives a very smooth feel

I use grease instead of oil when I can, I like smooth and quiet.  

[redmeansdistortion]

45 minutes ago, GRiver said:

Didn’t know they had one for small bearings, looks like I’m going to be buying me some Xmas presents.

I use grease instead of oil when I can, I like smooth and quiet.  

You can get the bearing packer on eBay.  I paid $35 shipped, but they can cost double depending on seller, so keep your eyes peeled. 

 

You can also use 90W gear oil.  I opted for grease since I don't have to wait for thick gear oil to work its way past the bearing shields.  If you look on YouTube, you can find the bearing packer in action.

[ABU is overpriced]

5 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

Boca has a pair like this. I personally did not like em at all. Spool pins that are tightly fitted, these pliers can deal some damage to the spool shaft, especially on the rc-001 and rc-002 zpi spools that are full magnesium. Much prefer the SLP Works tool, the one from KTF is also great.

[GRiver]

Does anyone remove the seal cover on the bearing? I usually do it makes it easier to clean and get grease in.

[redmeansdistortion]

6 hours ago, ABU is overpriced said:

Boca has a pair like this. I personally did not like em at all. Spool pins that are tightly fitted, these pliers can deal some damage to the spool shaft, especially on the rc-001 and rc-002 zpi spools that are full magnesium. Much prefer the SLP Works tool, the one from KTF is also great.

There's a risk of damage using any tool incorrectly.  I can say I've serviced countless reels with these, never damaged a thing.  As I stated above, they are not for short shaft spools like the examples you have provided.  Of course there will be risk of damage in that case.  There are other proper tools for those.  Reels with a long tail shaft are what the pliers are used for.

[ike8120]

My service is a simple cleaning, oil and grease where necessary, replace line and back off the drags.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Always serviced my own. Decided to test the water and sent one reel out for service and it came back in worse shape. Plus the issue I sent it for didn't get fixed. Never again.

[ABU is overpriced]

2 hours ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

Always serviced my own. Decided to test the water and sent one reel out for service and it came back in worse shape. Plus the issue I sent it for didn't get fixed. Never again.

Was it a known place, or some no name spot the guy accepted reels for a cleanup?

11 hours ago, GRiver said:

Does anyone remove the seal cover on the bearing? I usually do it makes it easier to clean and get grease in.

Only for the spool and side plate bearings. No reason to do so on internal bearings unless they're crunchy and need cleaning.

[Catt]

Once a year?

 

I bank fish quite often & I ain't talking pond with well manicured lawns. I'm walking through chest high vegetation, up under cypress trees, knee deep marsh mud. I pay special attention to the worm gear area after each trip, making sure its free of any dust & dirt. I'll give the thumb bar area a little love.

 

 

 

[Jigfishn10]

Yup, deep clean once a year....and some of those reels are freshwater reels used exclusively for saltwater fishing. To your point @Catt, the saltwater reels get a thorough rinsing with fresh water after every use. Dried with an 18V leaf blower and the worm gear & thumb bar get a drop of oil. Bearings I oil every 3 or 4 trips. Been doing it for years. The deep clean after the season is more than enough.

 

I will make 1 caveat, my work schedule only has me at a weekend angler, so probably not fishing as much as I'd like or as many as our members here. I'm sure more time on the water will have me cleaning more often...I just don't know, I've never experienced it.

On 12/19/2024 at 4:08 PM, Skunkmaster-k said:

Nah. I just use them till they make bad noises then throw them in my pile and buy another one. 

After 6 months they're outdated anyway ....  

[bulldog1935]

1 hour ago, Jigfishn10 said:

...  After 6 months they're outdated anyway ....  

Silly me.