reel maintenance

[Klinger988]

What do u guys do to keep your reels in good shape?  I just got a curado last spring, and dont know if I should oil it or just let it go. Any advice would be great!

[ernel]

Take it apart and clean the bearings in lighter fluid or other mild solvent to remove the old oil and dirt. Clean the line guide and worm gear also. You can also use lighter fluid to remove the grease on the reel gears. Remember how you took it apart.

When you do put it back together, use the grease sparingly on the gears. Place one drop of oil on each bearing and each end of the worm gear. Clean the drum where your centrifigal brake is located and apply one drop of oil and spread with a dry Q-tip. Definatly don't wont any excess here.

I clean mine at least twice a year. I will also take them apart after fishing in a heavy rain. Not so much to clean, but to remove the worst of the water that is trapped inside.

[Stickling]

send it to the reel shop.. lol too much work involved in ernals post.

[conniek]

Annglers should take good care of their reels just like they do their vehicles. A once a year complete tear down of reel for servicing will provide good performance throughout the year. Cleaning bearings as mentioned above is crucial to bearing longevity and performance. After cleaning in bottle cap of lighter fluid, let bearing dry and then put on a pencil and spin, the bearing should spin for good length of time and you should be able to hear it spin. If you don'thear it spin, go back and re-clean again until you get all the crud out of the bearing. If after cleaning and bearing does not spin freely, you will probably need a new one.A good rule of thumb is this"Grease the Gears, Oil the Bearings" Hope this helps. conniek

cv

[Will]

I have my reels cleaned and oiled once a year by a proffessional. Everytime I try the reels won't work and I have to have them repaired and cleaned. Throughout the year I will use Reel Magic though, especially in harsh conditions.

[ernel]

At 15-20 dollars per reel, I would go broke paying someone else to clean my reels. With 12 for the boat and 5 more for the pond it would take anywhere from $255-340 dollars to pay someone else to do it. Learn to do it at home and save the money. It will also give you something to do when you can't fish due to cold weather and frozen water in the winter.

[roadwarrior]

For guys that are technically challenged, like me, $15- $20 is a GREAT value!  I haven't actually sent anything down to "The Reel Lady" but I have read several great recommendations for her shop. (Must be a good egg since she joined the Forum).

[conniek]

thanks for the compliment. actually, i've been around this joint for quite awhile and even ran a banner,however, just now re-joined. Fishing folks are always nice and fun and Glenn is a good guy too with a great site. conniek

[earthworm77]

You have to get them serviced at least once a year. They will provide you with years of service if you do.

[Jake P]

i think i may be technically challenged like road warrior, im afraid if i take it apart i wont be able to get it back together lol

[.ghoti.]

What do u guys do to keep your reels in good shape? I just got a curado last spring, and dont know if I should oil it or just let it go. Any advice would be great!

Don't just let it go, unless you want to buy a new one every 3 or 4 years. OR LESS.

Check out Reel Mechanic's website for some excellent info, and if it looks like too much of a mechanical challenge for you, send it to him. He offers a discount to Bass Resource members.

If you decide you can handle it, don't take the reel apart without having the schematic on hand.

Cheers,

GK

[Crestliner2008]

Since I was 12 yrs. old (when dinosaurs ruled the earth!)   I always maintained my own reels. Including those of several neighbors and my friends as well. I use to enjoy the task; always looking forward to a new make of reel to take apart. Then I got to middle age and my wife hated it when I took out the cleaning board. She knew, sooner or later, I'd yell, "JAN!!!! Quick!" She'd bring the flashlight and we'd spend a few tense moments searching for that spring that went "PING" into the air  ! Now in my later years, my eyes can't do what they use to and my fingers certainly can't do what my brain tells them to - all the time  ;D. And of course, the reels today are so much more sophistocated than in my youth; now you definitely need a set of specialized tools and spare clips & springs. I now let a pro do it for me, through necessity more than desire. Which ever way you choose to do go however, believe this sincerely - it HAS to be done!

[burleytog]

Holy resurrected thread Batman!!!!  

[Jimzee]

Holy resurrected thread Batman!!!!

You know, I would have never noticed that until you posted. Here I thought we had another person on the site that works on reels. (Maybe even JDM reels)

Nevermind.... I checked their shop,  they only do Shimano.  

[Jake P]

touche'

[lubina]

At 15-20 dollars per reel, I would go broke paying someone else to clean my reels. With 12 for the boat and 5 more for the pond it would take anywhere from $255-340 dollars to pay someone else to do it. Learn to do it at home and save the money. It will also give you something to do when you can't fish due to cold weather and frozen water in the winter.

That is exactly why I started doing it myself. Reelmech ( David Green ) manual was and is indispensable for me.

[links_man2]

Man was I lucky, I learned from my Dad starting with watching him clean and lube his old Shakespere President (I think).  Reels were less complicated back then, no drag, no free spool---something you kids probably never knew----lol.  I got broke in on MY Abassadeur 5000, it even had free spool and a drag.  Still do these dang complicated reels and enjoy it, plus it keeps me busy in the winter.  Best advice I have ever had on servicing a reel is lay out the parts in the order you take them off.  Second best is like someone else said, have a schematic.

Like crestliner, the fingers don't work as smooth any more.  Been looking for a work table that has a sticky and magnetic top.  That way when I drop that little part---usually a spring----it is stuck right there for me.  If anyone see's such a table top let me know.  Still searching for the spring from my Citica i dropped couple of weeks ago----work room in the garage isn't that big, I know it is in there some place.  Luckily I had preordered a few spare hard to hold parts.