Reel Cleaning

[huskertko]

I know Reel Mech has a great deal for members to clean/lube reels but I don't have the money to send them to him and we are getting close to spawn and don't want to be without my reels for a week or so.  That being said does anyone have any good step by step instructions on how to do it, I don't want to screw anything up.  I do have the schematics for all my reels to I have that going for me.

[.ghoti.]

If you're going to tear them all the way down, and you may want to if it's been a while, try this.

Tear off about three sheets of paper towel,and tape it down to your bench or table. Nothing worse than dumping all those tiny parts on the floor, so use the tape.

As you remove parts from the reel, clean them and lay them out in order on the towels.

Put all the bearings in a small container with enough lighter fluid to cover, and let them soak while you're cleaning other parts. About half way through, swish them around, dump off the dirty fluid and put in some fresh lighter fluid. And, don't smoke around this stuff. A fine cigar goes with many things. An open container of lighter fluid is not one of them.

After the bearings have soaked, blow them out, and let them dry on a clean towel. I always check mine by slipping them on an old tapered punch. I put the big end of the punch against my ear, and rotate the bearing, listening for any rough sounds. If all sounds good the bearings each get a drop of oil.

All the sliding parts of the spool engage/disengage mechanism get a very light coat of grease. I use a small soft brush for this. The gears all get grease. Eveything else gets oil. And not too much. It doesn't take as much as you think. The levelwind gets a light coat of oil also. I used to use grease on the level wind gear and pawl, and reel mechanic set me straight on that.

I started using Reel Butter oil and grease last year, and I will continue to use this.The oil is very thin and slippery, and the grease stays where you put it.

Once everything is clean and lubed, you can reverse the order of parts on the towel to start putting things back together.

I've probably forgotten something here, so if you have any problems, ask again, or PM me. I'll help if I can.

Cheers,

GK

[SV1000]

I did my Cruxis for the first time about two weeks ago.

I am mechanically inclined but my memory SUX...how I made it through college I do not know.  

My recommendation is to use a digital cameral to document the disassembly, just do a few practice tests to make sure you can focus close.

I was convinced after tearing my ATV down to the case two years ago trying to find an internal knock, without the photos I would have been doomed.

[huskertko]

If you're going to tear them all the way down, and you may want to if it's been a while, try this.

Tear off about three sheets of paper towel,and tape it down to your bench or table. Nothing worse than dumping all those tiny parts on the floor, so use the tape.

As you remove parts from the reel, clean them and lay them out in order on the towels.

Put all the bearings in a small container with enough lighter fluid to cover, and let them soak while you're cleaning other parts. About half way through, swish them around, dump off the dirty fluid and put in some fresh lighter fluid. And, don't smoke around this stuff. A fine cigar goes with many things. An open container of lighter fluid is not one of them.

After the bearings have soaked, blow them out, and let them dry on a clean towel. I always check mine by slipping them on an old tapered punch. I put the big end of the punch against my ear, and rotate the bearing, listening for any rough sounds. If all sounds good the bearings each get a drop of oil.

All the sliding parts of the spool engage/disengage mechanism get a very light coat of grease. I use a small soft brush for this. The gears all get grease. Eveything else gets oil. And not too much. It doesn't take as much as you think. The levelwind gets a light coat of oil also. I used to use grease on the level wind gear and pawl, and reel mechanic set me straight on that.

I started using Reel Butter oil and grease last year, and I will continue to use this.The oil is very thin and slippery, and the grease stays where you put it.

Once everything is clean and lubed, you can reverse the order of parts on the towel to start putting things back together.

I've probably forgotten something here, so if you have any problems, ask again, or PM me. I'll help if I can.

Cheers,

GK

That is exactly the type of info in was looking for, Thanks.

[Grey Wolf]

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Captain Chaos II]

Put a drop of oil on your bearings once in a while and put off the full maintenance for the off season.  Unless your reels are behaving badly.

[NBR]

About annually I remove the bearings, soak them in lighter fluid and air dry on a piece of clean paper towel. While the bearings are drying I spray some reel scrub (available from Reel Mechanic) and clean the old grease out and lightly regrease the gears. A drop of oil(two absolute max) in each bearing and put the bearings back in place and close up the reel. I rarely clean or oil the roller bearing.

Anything more than the above would be sent to RM.

Watch the wire clips that hold the bearings in place the jump out and are next to impossible to find.

I do give the bearings oil a time or two during the summer.

[Jig Man]

Here is some good info.  Take time to read it.

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/Reel_Care_tips.html