Reel Maintenance for PERFECT operation.

[Railroader]

At this point, I have a small fortune invested in my rods and reels, and I have to say that the Blue Yonder, CS Rocket, 525 Mag, and 545 are the slickest, smoothest, and best casting reels I have ever owned. I am wanting to KEEP THEM THAT WAY for the long haul.

Up to now, after every trip, they have been getting washed, wiped, dried, broken down and all bearings re-oiled after every trip. I want ZERO salt corrosion, and a like-new-slick reel every time I go out.

A simple rinse with the hose will not cut it for me, but I don't think I need to be spending the time necessary to disassemble, clean, and re-oil every reel every time. Sooner or later I'm gonna lose a screw or c-clip, and that will suck.

Where's the middle ground????

I just spent an hour working on two 6500's for my fishing buddy Bill....All he does is rinse after each trip. His reels are two years old, and I wouldn't have fished with them in the condition they were in. I even found sand in one of 'em.

They run slick as a whistle now, though!

I think that a spray and wipe with reel magic should keep the salt at bay, therefore keeping the rinse water out of the bearings.....and making it less necessary to disassemble.

I gotta have 'em slick as possible when I make that first cast, nothing else will do.

Is anyone else as crazy as me? If so, what is YOUR procedure?:cool:

[Dyhard]

I feel your pain and share your obsession. A clean well oiled smooth running reel....oooohhhh! When your are in the middle of a huge blitz theres nothing like the confidence of knowing that your stuff will not fail you.
I caught a citation flounder on a clean 1950 #180 Penn reel. It does have modern drag washers and 30lb/6lb diameter Spider Wire..Very smooth! No surging at all.

[Samurai]

I have freinds who tear-down after every trip.I've found that over kill for me.I generally drop some oil on the bearings every couple of trips and look inside for any discoloration of grease.If needed I'll overhaul it.I wash down after every trip with Salt-away and fresh water.I use Corrosion Block grease on internals and Speed-X oil on Bearings.---I have reels that are many years old and still running smooth.I should overhaul more than I should but when the fish are biting,I just got to go fish.:D

[Seachaser]

http://www.floridasurffishing.com/reelarticle2.html
I have not tried the grease part yet but its a sound idea.

[Mark G]

Seems like oiling the bearings every trip might be overkill. I try to use my best judgement, and will do more work based on use and abuse, (dunking in the surf, etc.) I have spares for back ups, and will generally oil the bearings every 3rd or 4th outing. ( I do have one Penn 525 with ceramic bearings that I pay particular attention too. ) Irregardless of the amount of maintenance, you are correct in that sooner or later you are likely to lose a part. Those pesky retaining clips can fly off in any direction if they slip out of your grip during reinstallation. Penn has a pretty good parts department and will ship you stuff no problem, but That is why I have spares. If i need to fish I just pull out a spare while waiting on parts.

one question , if you are oiling bearings after every use, are you removing old oil or just adding new each time? After removing bearings I spray them with WD-40 or soak in lighter fluid to remove old oil, then Heat with a blow drier, (aids in removing old oil, resoak in lighter fluid, let dry, then add new oil before reassembly.

Hope this helps.

.02

[rattler]

i agree with surfcat...to much oil is as bad as not enough...a good wash and air dry after each trip...and a through cleaning in the winter and half way through the summer...i have 20 year old reels that are smoother than when i bought them...

[big brother]

MAIN-TE-NANCE, uuuuum, interesting concept.
charlie

[FeedMeSilence]

I heard Naptha is a good solvent to clean the bearings. I don't really do much to my reels then to add some oil to the level wind part.