Maintenance? 2025
Toallhisdoom reply :
So was wondering if there is any maintenance I should do to my reels over the winter.
I have a pflueger supreme xt that I wanna make sure to take good care of.
And a few other spinnnig reels and 1 bait caster(abu garcia vengance combo).
So do I just need to get some reel gear grease? (what brand?)
And I read maybe there a different grease for the bearings?
Have never lubed a reel before so gimmie some good details about this! 
ww2farmer reply :
All I do is clean the exterior up good, and put some oil on the worm gear for the level wind, and a few drops in the spool bearings. If they need a full service, off to a specialist the go. I know it's time to send them to a pro when performance is reduced and my basis maintenance is not bringing it back. New reels usually go 3-4 years for me before I need that done,and I fish 100+ days a year.
Tywithay reply :
On 1/15/2015 at 9:41 PM, ww2farmer said:All I do is clean the exterior up good, and put some oil on the worm gear for the level wind, and a few drops in the spool bearings. If they need a full service, off to a specialist the go. I know it's time to send them to a pro when performance is reduced and my basis maintenance is not bringing it back. New reels usually go 3-4 years for me before I need that done,and I fish 100+ days a year.
If you put a few drops of oil on the spool bearings, performance has already been reduced.
roadwarrior reply :
On 1/15/2015 at 9:41 PM, ww2farmer said:If they need a full service, off to a specialist the go.
Especially spinning tackle. Some of those liitle parts that go flying into space are important!
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 1/15/2015 at 9:44 PM, roadwarrior said:Especially spinning tackle. Some of those liitle parts that go flying into space are important!
Plus it's not a good feeling after you put them back together and have spare parts left over.
cottny27 reply :
Depends on how anal you want to be with it. What ww2farmer said will do fine if you are just a weekend fun fisherman. Maybe wipe the old grease/oil off with some alcohol on a q-tip and regrease/oil. I use Quantum hot sauce and like it. Clean the spool shaft real good and put a drop of oil on that. And I know jack about spinning reels..too afraid to open one up.
Tywithay reply :
On 1/15/2015 at 9:54 PM, cottny27 said:Depends on how anal you want to be with it. What ww2farmer said will do fine if you are just a weekend fun fisherman. Maybe wipe the old grease/oil off with some alcohol on a q-tip and regrease/oil. I use Quantum hot sauce and like it. Clean the spool shaft real good and put a drop of oil on that. And I know jack about spinning reels..too afraid to open one up.
The spool shaft should be clean and dry.
ww2farmer reply :
What ever you say expert. I know what works for me. My reels perform better with lubed bearings as opposed to dry. But then again I fish with "junk" ....lmao.On 1/15/2015 at 9:43 PM, Tywithay said:If you put a few drops of oil on the spool bearings, performance has already been reduced.
FloridaFishinFool reply :
Even after polishing the spool shaft and inside the pinion gear I still add a vapor thin amount of an extremely light oil to the spool shaft where it goes inside the pinion gear.
Me personally, I would never allow metal on metal contact and rubbing without some sort of lubricant, but that is just my opinion.
I follow a general lubrication rule- if there are two opposing surfaces that touch and rub, then some form of lubricant is used between those surfaces.
Inside a lot of reels are plastic parts touching and moving constantly against other plastic and metal parts. No lubrication means more friction and more wear. So I will lightly lubricate any and all touching surfaces that move or rub against another part to reduce friction and wear inside the reel with the hopeful outcome that the lubrication will make the reel and parts last longer before repair or replacement.
Tywithay reply :
SS bearings should be oiled. Putting a few drops only slows them down. One tiny drop is plenty.On 1/15/2015 at 10:27 PM, ww2farmer said:What ever you say expert. I know what works for me. My reels perform better with lubed bearings as opposed to dry. But then again I fish with "junk" ....lmao.
Tywithay reply :
If the reel is machined properly, the tolerance is so tight between the shaft and pinion that there's no benefit to oil.On 1/15/2015 at 10:29 PM, FloridaFishinFool said:Even after polishing the spool shaft and inside the pinion gear I still add a vapor thin amount of an extremely light oil to the spool shaft where it goes inside the pinion gear.
Me personally, I would never allow metal on metal contact and rubbing without some sort of lubricant, but that is just my opinion.
FloridaFishinFool reply :
On 1/15/2015 at 10:39 PM, Tywithay said:If the reel is machined properly, the tolerance is so tight between the shaft and pinion that there's no benefit to oil.
I think the opposite. If the parts are machined that tightly with no tolerance, then metal on metal contact would benefit from oil.
I wish there was some sort of data on this issue to tell whether a dry shaft spins more freely inside the pinion gear or whether oiled spins more freely. I am of the opinion that a super thin lightweight vapor thin coat of oil is better than dry, but as I said, this is just my opinion, and even if it does not help to get me 5 more feet of casting distance, I would rather the oil be there to prevent wear of metal on metal contact.
Just a difference of opinion is all.
HoosierHawgs reply :
This....On 1/15/2015 at 9:41 PM, ww2farmer said:All I do is clean the exterior up good, and put some oil on the worm gear for the level wind, and a few drops in the spool bearings. If they need a full service, off to a specialist the go. I know it's time to send them to a pro when performance is reduced and my basis maintenance is not bringing it back. New reels usually go 3-4 years for me before I need that done,and I fish 100+ days a year.
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 1/15/2015 at 10:27 PM, ww2farmer said:What ever you say expert. I know what works for me. My reels perform better with lubed bearings as opposed to dry. But then again I fish with "junk" ....lmao.[/quote
]What is your preferred reels?
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
The primary spots for DIY interim maintenance on a spinning reel are to oil the spool shaft, light oil on the line roller guide, heavy oil on the crank bearings/bushings under the handle and opposite cap, clean residue off the spool lip. I do not recommend opening a spinning reel for the uninitiated. I used the word "interim" because regular deep cleaning will add life to a spinner just as it does a casting reel, but because the casting on a spinner is not mechanical they are often overlooked.
Toallhisdoom reply :
Straight from pflueger
"CARE AND LUBRICATION
Your new Pflueger spinning reel is designed to provide years of dependable service, but as with all precision instruments, some care is required. Periodically use a light machine oil to lubricate the line roller, the main shaft where it comes out of the reel, and all moving parts of the bail and handle. Remove the spool and gently wash it and the rest of the reel with fresh water. Dry it thoroughly with a soft cloth. At least once a year (more often if you use your reel frequently), remove the handle and reel side plate to clean the exposed parts. Use hot water first and then a non-flammable solvent. Dry with a cloth and then grease the gears, bearings and other moving parts. After fishing in saltwater, or if the reel is accidentally dropped in sand, rinse the reel with fresh water and remove all salt deposits and/or sand particles."
SirSnookalot reply :
Don't fix it if it ain't broke.
My freshwater spinning reels are used well over 300 times a year, the only maintenance I do is a drop of oil in the handle bearings, bail and roller bearing.
My reels have been going strong for a good 6 years, did replace one due to bail problem, the innerds were just fine.
Probably a good reason I stick with Pflueger for freshwater, not all brands I've used are as worry free.
Preytorien reply :
I oil my ceramics, but only VERY lightly. I put some bicycle bearing oil on a q-tip, then just lightly brush it on the bearings.
I only do it to make them a tad quieter. It might slightly degrade their performance, but I'm not long-bombing casts, so the tradeoff for a little more silence is worth it to me. My race bikes are silent, I can't stand for my reels to sound like an old reel-to-reel movie projector!
Smokinal reply :
Just don't forget the maintenance wipe....
Jaheff reply :
Now that's Funny !
ww2farmer reply :
On 1/15/2015 at 11:00 PM, jakob1010 said:On 1/15/2015 at 10:27 PM, ww2farmer said:What ever you say expert. I know what works for me. My reels perform better with lubed bearings as opposed to dry. But then again I fish with "junk" ....lmao.[/quote
]What is your preferred reels?
A
Right now it's the Daiwa Lexa/Exceler platform.
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 1/16/2015 at 2:09 AM, ww2farmer said:ame="jakob1010" post="1679127" timestamp="1421334006"]
Nice! Those and the Tatula platform are all excellent built reels. I enjoy my Lexa platform reel as well.
A
Right now it's the Daiwa Lexa/Exceler platform.
Alpha Male reply :
On 1/15/2015 at 10:39 PM, Tywithay said:If the reel is machined properly, the tolerance is so tight between the shaft and pinion that there's no benefit to oil.
there is room for oil especially if its machined properly. keep in mind that during freespool the pinion doesnt turn so there is room in there and there will be contact. I put a drop of oil on my finger and lube the shaft that way to just put a coat on it.
Tywithay reply :
The contact is minimal, and any minute scratches from machining will kind of naturally polish themselves out, making the spool faster and creating just the right amount of spacing. There will not be any contact to wear after that.On 1/16/2015 at 7:15 AM, Alpha Male said:there is room for oil especially if its machined properly. keep in mind that during freespool the pinion doesnt turn so there is room in there and there will be contact. I put a drop of oil on my finger and lube the shaft that way to just put a coat on it.
OkobojiEagle reply :
This is a fun thread to read as some of the posts are about spinning reels and some of the posts are about casting reels...
oe
BobP reply :
Theoretically, you can disassemble a spinning reel and get it back together if you are very meticulous and methodical about how you take it apart - and if you have some basic mechanical aptitude. But very few guys are gonna be methodical enough not to screw it up. They are significantly different from baitcasters. I wouldn't recommend it unless you have no other choice and if you try it, I'd recommend following Delaware Valley Tackle's advice. There's a reason that many reel maintenance shops won't work on spinning reels.
SirSnookalot reply :
On 1/16/2015 at 1:10 PM, BobP said:Theoretically, you can disassemble a spinning reel and get it back together if you are very meticulous and methodical about how you take it apart - and if you have some basic mechanical aptitude. But very few guys are gonna be methodical enough not to screw it up. They are significantly different from baitcasters. I wouldn't recommend it unless you have no other choice and if you try it, I'd recommend following Delaware Valley Tackle's advice. There's a reason that many reel maintenance shops won't work on spinning reels.
To a great extent I think this is true.
Couple of years ago 1 of my sorons had a shot bearing some where in the interior of the reel. I took the reel to my local guy, he's been repairing spinning reels over 50 years. He doesn't work on Abus much and had a little trouble, can only imagine the trouble I would have had. Living 5 minutes from Boca Bearings I take the bearing to them to match it, on their advice I buy a ceramic bearing. That may have been a mistake, smooth yes but a bit of noise from that bearing, I can live with it.
I.rar reply :
On 1/16/2015 at 12:30 PM, OkobojiEagle said:This is a fun thread to read as some of the posts are about spinning reels and some of the posts are about casting reels...
oe
Lol, so I'm not the only one who noticed.
I don't take apart spinning reels. I did take apart and old cheapo/beat up Shakespeare just because and it ended up in the trash. I leave those for the pros.
Casting reels are pretty straight forward until it needs a thorough cleaning. Then off to the pro it goes. DVT does amazing work to reels.
cyclops2 reply :
The only maintenance is spool shaft oil.
Anytime a reel falls in or sits in the rain. New drag discs.
AQUA VELVA reply :
Iv'e been doing tear-down ,clean and lube on my BC's and SR's for years. If you are mechanically inclined and pay attention it gets easier every year. It also helps to have good exploded drawings of your'e reels on hand.I use an egg carton and place the parts in the compartments as they come off the reel. When it's time to re-assemble just work in reverse. Most BC reels are fairly simple. Spinning reels can be a challenge but not impossible. It all depends on your skill and comfort level. Keep in mind that a little lube goes a long way. Iv'e seen guys with reels that are dripping oil, that is not what you want. All metal to metal contact gets lubed. If there is any negative effect on the performance of my reels, I can't tell. I use Hot Sauce grease and oil exclusively.
SirSnookalot reply :
On 1/17/2015 at 8:27 AM, cyclops2 said:The only maintenance is spool shaft oil.
Anytime a reel falls in or sits in the rain. New drag discs.
With all the fishing I do in both fresh and saltwater I've yet to have a major issue with drag pads. I have replaced only a few and when I've done it I took pads from a spool I wasn't using. If I were to order them I'd be buying the best available for just a few bucks more. So far I haven't done that yet as stock drags work fine for me.
cyclops2 reply :
True.
But I use 4# normally. & 1 spool with 2# test. So I keep them dry.
mjseverson24 reply :
Each year my casting reels(25 +/-) get a full tear down and lube... 6+ months of no bass fishing in MN what the heck else am I going to do... Spinning reels while I do the maintenance on them myself I do it on as as needed basis, other than what can be done from the outside...
Mitch
powerduster reply :
it's pretty easy once you do it a few times and understand how everything works. I think the hardest part is getting the screws mixed up if I'm not careful.On 1/16/2015 at 1:10 PM, BobP said:Theoretically, you can disassemble a spinning reel and get it back together if you are very meticulous and methodical about how you take it apart - and if you have some basic mechanical aptitude. But very few guys are gonna be methodical enough not to screw it up. They are significantly different from baitcasters. I wouldn't recommend it unless you have no other choice and if you try it, I'd recommend following Delaware Valley Tackle's advice. There's a reason that many reel maintenance shops won't work on spinning reels.
jignfule reply :
On 1/15/2015 at 9:49 PM, Bluebasser86 said:Plus it's not a good feeling after you put them back together and have spare parts left over.
No problem here. I just save them and figure down the road I'll have enough parts to put together a whole new reel.
related Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic
previous topic
most viewed Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic
© 2025 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.