Cleaning and Lubricating reels

[Hawgeye]

I have a few reels that I plan on disassembling completely, cleaning, and lubricating. Reels range from Diawa SG27, Shimano spin cast reels and a few old Ambassedeurs 5000's etc. that I have picked up on garage sales that have been sitting in the garage for a long time...

Anyway, for those of you that have done this, do you have any recommendations on what type of cleaning detergents, soap, etc on your methods? Will dishwashing soap work or should some other solution be used?

Thanks

[Chad]

I use Reel Scrupper to clean out to old.

Then use reel oil to libricate everything in the inside and put some reel grease on the gears only. If ice fishing you will want to use a lighter weight grease and oil for cold weather.

[Goldpig]

I remember reading an article awhile back that suggested using an old egg carton, and then take out piece by piece, placing the parts in order. Then the author suggested closing the egg carton, throwing it in the trash, and buying new reels:) I guess magazine article authors get cabin fever too.

[Reels]

:-) Thats a good one!

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[WAeyes]

I am sure REW will be responding shortly so we will all have the right answer. This sounds like his baby.

[Hawgeye]

Back to the top!

[Chad]

I like that one too.

[REW]

You have several options:
If you want to do the best job - the idea would be to completely take every nut, screw, washer, and bearing out of your reel - clean it - reassemble everything, with the correct lubrication and you will be good to go.

Lets assume that you want to go this route.
Before starting you want to get the correct oil and reel grease.
The important thing about reel lubrication - is that you want to use just enough - but not too much. Many reels give folks problems, because they are over lubricated - as well as under lubricated. One of the biggest head aches - as far as over lubrication is concerned - is the action of the drag - and the contamination of drag washers with the incorrect or "any" lubrication - on the drag washers.

The way that I work on reels is as follows:
1. Remove the reel from the rod -
2. Remove all of the line from the spool.
3. Remove the spool from the reel - in the case of a spinning reel.
4. I like to use high pressure air, at this point - to blow out any debris - etc. that is still hanging, around - before actually scrubbing the reel.
5. For cleaning the reels I basically use two things.
a. Ordinary hand dish soap, or liquid laundry detergent. Both of these are mild and won't hurt any of the plastic that is found in some reels.
b. Mineral spirits. Ordinary paint thinner - will completely dissolve - and flush out - nearly any kind of grease - or other sorts of residue.

6. I completely disassemble the reel - using an egg carton, or a divided plany (shallow) box, to place the various reel pieces in.
WARNING --- disassemble, clean and REASSEMBLE - only ONE reel at a time). You would be quite embarassed - if you took several reels apart - and started trying to put pieces from one reel into another reel. Rembember - during the reassembly - make sure that EVERY piece is put back where it belongs.

7. After disassembling the reel, I use a combination of - first mineral spirits, a tooth brush, and high pressure air - to completely eliminate all grease and other residue from the reel.

8. I then clean again - using hand dish soap, a tooth brush, and high pressure air. Finally - I dry everything 100% using high pressure air.

9. I relube each bearing, and shaft - per the mfg directions - with respect to type of oil, or grease, and amount of oil, or grease. Remember - in most cases - less is better. Be very careful around the drag washers - and pay special attention to the type and amount of oil required for the drag washers. Many drag washers will use no oil, or other lubricant - and "will in fact, stick, grab, and then let go at the most inopportune moment - if oil is used on the drag washers. Other drag washers - particularly those reels using felt or similar - require a few drops of oil added to the washers.

10. Then reassamble each part of the reel, in the correct order, and tighten each part of the reel securely, before moving to the next stage.

11. Don't forget to lube the reel handle, and the hand paddles on the ends of the reel crank as well.

12. After reassembling - put on an old rod - crank like crazy - to insure that if there did happen to be excess lube put somewhere - that at least the bulk of the excess gets :"flung " from the reel. I caution you again -- try to avoid over lubing the reel. But don't underlube it either. As is mentioned by sewing machine repairmen - often a bearing needs a single "small" drop of oil on a particular surface.

13. Again - using the old rod as a reel holder - go ahead and spool up new line on the spool.

p.s. During the cleaning process - don't skip on cleaing the line spools - spares also - with soap and water - and a good scrub brush - with all line removed from the spool.

Take care

REW

p.s.

If possible - don't trail your reels in an open boat. Many roads have lots of flying dust - this is particularly true on gravel and dirt roads. You can completely waste all of your reel cleaning time - if you transit your open boat - with open rods - left out - during a dirty road transit. If you must do this - take the reels off the rods before transiting on these dusty and dirty roads - with the reels inside a bag, inside the tow vehicle - to keep them clean.

[Hawgeye]

Hey REW, thanks a ton as usual. I am already started on the process with "ONE" reel. I found an old Ambassedeur 5000 at a garage sale that is immaculate aside from being extremely gritty and dirty. Figure it should work as a great trolling reel for certain applications.

[Piscatorian]

This is reel good stuff (pun intended), just one thing to add and one thing is disagree with. The best thing I have found to clean the inside of a reel and remove all grease is Rosignol lighter fluid. Works like a champ. Flush it out a couple of times, then let it air dry. The remainder will evaporate pretty quickly.

I personally would never use soap on the inside off a reel, or water for that matter. Soap is always going to leave some residue, and it may mess with the grease or oil.

Also, Simple Green works great for cleaning the outside of the reel, but I don't use it on the inside.

[REW]

I agree with both of your posts - with one proviso.
I use Simple Green a lot - all kinds of general cleaning as well as reel cleaning - if I am away from the other soaps mentioned.

I also agree with your comment about the lighter fluid - which is in fact - nothing more than slightly refined mineral spirits or paint thinner.

I also agree with our comment about not using soap on the inside of the reel -- if I didn't have access to high pressure air.

As long as I have high pressure air - to aid in the drying and soap removal - I feel comfortable in using the combination of chemical - or mineral spirits and soap to completely clean the inside and outside of the reel.

However, if I am away from my supply of high pressure air - as at the lake or cabin - then I will only use a solvent - as you suggested - inside the reel.

Take care - and "stay clean".

REW