Reel Maintenance Failure 2025
Mattfrom_NJ reply :
So I tore down my BPS QP for the first time following Tacklejunkie81's video on YouTube. It's my first time doing any reel cleaning/lube so I expected to mess up a bit. I believe I followed his video pretty accurately, but the reel seems louder and not as smooth now. Also, it doesn't seem to be laying line on the spool evenly, seeming heavy on the right side. I want to be able to take care of my equipment myself but I also do not want ruin it. So is there anything I can do or should I just cut my loses and see what Bass Pro will do?
Wbeadlescomb reply :
Been there done that just put it in a cardboard box in top of the closet and go buy a new one. But don't tell your wife/girl friend and just walk in the house like you've owned it forever
MichiganFishing1997 reply :
Send it to DVT? He should be able to fix it all up for you.
tholmes reply :
The first thing I would check is to be sure the line guide pawl is seated correctly. If it is, and the reel still stacks line on one side of the spool, replace the pawl.
Tom
OkobojiEagle reply :
Education is seldom inexpensive. Send it off to DVT and begin your maintenance career with oiling the spool bearings occasionally during the season. More will come over time.
oe
Mattfrom_NJ reply :
On 3/3/2014 at 11:40 PM, tholmes said:The first thing I would check is to be sure the line guide pawl is seated correctly. If it is, and the reel still stacks line on one side of the spool, replace the pawl.
Tom
I will look at this. Not sure whether I'll be able to tell if it's correct or not.
Not_Here reply :
you did it once now, so tear it down and put it back together again...use it for your learning reel since you already cracked that egg...then keep tearing it down and rebuilding it until you can do it without schematics or a vid, practice makes perfect...
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
Off the top of my head, I can't think of anything you could have done that would cause line stacking issues. If the level wind is bad you would have already had problems. I always replace worm gears and pawls as a set if/when the time comes too. No need to junk the reel by any means. If you'd like to send it in I'll go thru it and see if I can tell where you went wrong. I can usually help you cheaper and quicker than Outdoor World. If the pawl weren't seated the level wind would grind and you'd know it right away. Are you re-spooling the reel with fresh line? There may be an issue with the spooling technique. Let me know if I can help.
Mattfrom_NJ reply :
Yeah, I just hope it's salvageable since losing a reel would set me back and money is kinda tight atm.
Mattfrom_NJ reply :
On 3/3/2014 at 11:57 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:Off the top of my head, I can't think of anything you could have done that would cause line stacking issues. If the level wind is bad you would have already had problems. I always replace worm gears and pawls as a set if/when the time comes too. No need to junk the reel by any means. If you'd like to send it in I'll go thru it and see if I can tell where you went wrong. I can usually help you cheaper and quicker than Outdoor World. If the pawl weren't seated the level wind would grind and you'd know it right away. Are you re-spooling the reel with fresh line? There may be an issue with the spooling technique. Let me know if I can help.
I was just checking out your site actually bc so many people on here recommended you. I re spooled it w some eagle claw 20lb mono as backing tied to Yo Zuri Hybrid 12lb.
John G reply :
On 3/4/2014 at 12:01 AM, Mattfrom_NJ said:I was just checking out your site actually bc so many people on here recommended you. I re spooled it w some eagle claw 20lb mono as backing tied to Yo Zuri Hybrid 12lb.
Another recommendation for DVT from me. Mike has serviced some of my reels and has done a fine job every time.
iabass8 reply :
Bearings being a little loud after being flushed is normal. If you tested them before you put them in the reel and they were able to free spin for several seconds, they are fine. Cant stress enough less is more when it comes to oil. As for not being smooth, did you clean every single bearing in the reel or just the spool bearings? Make sure the spool shaft is clean and has no oil on it.
Mattfrom_NJ reply :
On 3/4/2014 at 12:44 AM, iabass8 said:Bearings being a little loud after being flushed is normal. If you tested them before you put them in the reel and they were able to free spin for several seconds, they are fine. Cant stress enough less is more when it comes to oil. As for not being smooth, did you clean every single bearing in the reel or just the spool bearings? Make sure the spool shaft is clean and has no oil on it.
Didn't flush the bearings bc I am not exactly sure how to get them out. All I did was take the side plates off, spool out, removed the handle, star drag, washers, etc. Removed all the gunk and old grease, and put on new Reel Butter. Bearings got a drop of oil, no more.
iabass8 reply :
you may have added too much grease or oil. it's very easy to over do it. you have even got grease into a bearing. take the side plate off, remove the bearing from the side plate. a small clip holds it in. put your finger over 2/3 of it and use a small screwdriver to pop the other side out. then just pull. be careful because this clip will fly away into never-find-me-again land if you aren't careful. pop the bearing out and put it in a small glass of acetone or 50/50 mix of perfect solution or simple green and hot water. swish it around a bit and let all the junk come out of the bearing. could take a little as 5 minutes or some do it overnight. pull it out and rinse in hot water quick and let it dry. spin it on a pencil or a qtip to make sure it free spins effortlessly. it should spin a bit. put one very small drop of oil on it and put it back in. take it apart and wipe down any excess grease in the reel. you really shouldn't even see the grease if you put the right amount on. make sure that spool shaft is clean and dry. any oil on that can slow down a reel. do this and then come back if the problem persists and we will go from there.
OkobojiEagle reply :
Mike... with all of this on-line help, I think you're going to be very busy.
oe
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
Believe it or not, the size of the drop of oil can make a difference in casting, mostly initially. Any roughness in cranking wouldn't be attributed to spool bearings anyway. You can try loosening the cast control cap and remove the spool and reinstall it then readjust the tension cap. If it's too tight sometimes the spool will bind a little and not seat correctly. What is louder, the spool spinning in free-spool? It doesn't take much lint or grit to contaminate a tight tolerance. You can try cleaning out the frame with a swab again. This is really all just conjecture though. It's impossible to diagnose the issue sight-unseen. My offer stands to look it over for you if you'd like.
Preytorien reply :
In my searches for line piling issues, someone said to hold the rod at the very base of the butt of the rod while you're reeling......that did the trick. Now I never get line piling issues. I'm not all certain what holding the rod by the butt does, but whatever it is....it works.
Mattfrom_NJ reply :
On 3/4/2014 at 1:47 AM, iabass8 said:you may have added too much grease or oil. it's very easy to over do it. you have even got grease into a bearing. take the side plate off, remove the bearing from the side plate. a small clip holds it in. put your finger over 2/3 of it and use a small screwdriver to pop the other side out. then just pull. be careful because this clip will fly away into never-find-me-again land if you aren't careful. pop the bearing out and put it in a small glass of acetone or 50/50 mix of perfect solution or simple green and hot water. swish it around a bit and let all the junk come out of the bearing. could take a little as 5 minutes or some do it overnight. pull it out and rinse in hot water quick and let it dry. spin it on a pencil or a qtip to make sure it free spins effortlessly. it should spin a bit. put one very small drop of oil on it and put it back in. take it apart and wipe down any excess grease in the reel. you really shouldn't even see the grease if you put the right amount on. make sure that spool shaft is clean and dry. any oil on that can slow down a reel. do this and then come back if the problem persists and we will go from there.
Sweet. I'll have to make a Walmart run or simple green once the snow lets up. Thanks
Mattfrom_NJ reply :
On 3/4/2014 at 1:56 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:Believe it or not, the size of the drop of oil can make a difference in casting, mostly initially. Any roughness in cranking wouldn't be attributed to spool bearings anyway. You can try loosening the cast control cap and remove the spool and reinstall it then readjust the tension cap. If it's too tight sometimes the spool will bind a little and not seat correctly. What is louder, the spool spinning in free-spool? It doesn't take much lint or grit to contaminate a tight tolerance. You can try cleaning out the frame with a swab again. This is really all just conjecture though. It's impossible to diagnose the issue sight-unseen. My offer stands to look it over for you if you'd like.
I'll take it apart a few more times since I am currently snowed in. This coming week I'll send it out to you if the problem persists.
CYP reply :
Matt, dont know where you are in South Jersey but Blackwater sports does cleaning/lube starting at 18.00. Delsea Drive, Vineland. I havent used them but Im bringing them my Quantum later this week. Have always read great things.
edfitzvb reply :
I was a Newbie to reel maintenance until I started reading this forum. In the last couple of weeks I have gone through and cleaned/repaired all of my reels that I want in service. I was amazed at how much added casting distance I gained. I never was scared of spinning reels, since most of mine were older Mitchell 300s, DAM Quick reels, and Shakespeare Maroon reels from the '60's and '70's. They were simple and built to last. I was scared to death to mess with a bait caster, though. Since I started researching reel maintenance as a result of this site, I have learned A LOT. Don't give up. I had a spinning reel that seized up last summer that I kept meaning to get to. I started on it... no luck. It took me four tries before I got everything working again. As long as you didn't lose any parts and didn't force anything you should be able to re-do it and fix whatever the problem is.
shootermcbob reply :
On 3/4/2014 at 2:18 AM, Mattfrom_NJ said:I'll take it apart a few more times since I am currently snowed in. This coming week I'll send it out to you if the problem persists.
Matt, if you can't figure it out, send it to Mike at DVT. He supports these forums as a sponsor, and is quick to offer help here to any member that needs it. I have sent several reels to him and have always been satisfied above expectations.
bflp3 reply :
The Reel Butter grease could be your issue. I am unimpressed with the stuff. I was trying different greases as I cleaned my reels, and on the three I used reel butter on the gears, they were loud and rough afterwards. I thought maybe I didn't put enough, so I added more to one through the lube port. That quieted them momentarily, but after spinning the handle a bit more eventually the noise came back. I didn't have noise problems on the reels I used shimano or BPS grease on.On 3/4/2014 at 1:07 AM, Mattfrom_NJ said:Didn't flush the bearings bc I am not exactly sure how to get them out. All I did was take the side plates off, spool out, removed the handle, star drag, washers, etc. Removed all the gunk and old grease, and put on new Reel Butter. Bearings got a drop of oil, no more.
When I took the reel back apart, the grease had piled up at the pinion gear. It was like all of the grease had been pushed out of the teeth. I cleaned those three reels out again, used shimano grease on the gears, they were much quieter and smoother after.
Maybe give a different grease a try. I won't be using reel butter on the main gear anymore.
Mattfrom_NJ reply :
On 3/4/2014 at 6:37 AM, bflp3 said:The Reel Butter grease could be your issue. I am unimpressed with the stuff. I was trying different greases as I cleaned my reels, and on the three I used reel butter on the gears, they were loud and rough afterwards. I thought maybe I didn't put enough, so I added more to one through the lube port. That quieted them momentarily, but after spinning the handle a bit more eventually the noise came back. I didn't have noise problems on the reels I used shimano or BPS grease on.
When I took the reel back apart, the grease had piled up at the pinion gear. It was like all of the grease had been pushed out of the teeth. I cleaned those three reels out again, used shimano grease on the gears, they were much quieter and smoother after.
Maybe give a different grease a try. I won't be using reel butter on the main gear anymore.
Now that you mention it I noticed the same issue with the grease piled up on the pinion gear
Stingray23 reply :
I've always been hesitant to take a reel apart and really clean and re-lube it because of all the parts, but i just finished 10 of my reels in the last 10 or so days. I thoroughly cleaned everything and applied Hot Sauce grease and oil and Abu Garcia silicone grease as well. They are now better then new. So smooth and effortless. I actually enjoyed doing it. I wish I had more to do. lol. Some advice I can offer is take pics of the different stages of disassembling of the reel. Also, lay them down in the order that you removed them and take pics of that too. Use the reel schematic that comes in the box. Use Just enough grease and oil. I use the Hot Sauce grease for metal gears and Abu Garcia grease for the plastic gears. Hot Sauce oil for the bearings, spool shaft, and handle knobs. Its really simple. BTW, my reels are all Quantum PT Energy, Tour Edition, Smoke, EXO, Catalyst.
AQUA VELVA reply :
I used to see guys oil and grease their reels until it actually ran out of the reel on hot days. Just remember, when it comes to reel lube , if a little is good, more is NOT better.
msk reply :
You could give cal's a try. I've never had problems using it on drags and gears. I use reelx on bearings.
Alonerankin2 reply :
Yea that reel butter.... It doesn't want to spread easily... It's about like shoe polish in a can
Skippy
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