Speedy reel cleaning tutorial 2025
burleytog reply :
With all the recent talk concerning reel cleaning, I thought I'd give a quick and easy photo tutorial on doing a speedy bearing job. A clean bearing is a happy bearing. 
I'm using a Shimano Curado 200E5 as the test subject. Patient is about six months old.
Before you do anything at all, obtain a schematic for the reel.
First, if you don't have a can of this, head to Lowe's, Home Depot or your local hardware store and grab a can. It will be the best $7 you spend this winter.
Second, remove the palm sideplate and spool. In the palm sideplate, you'll find the first spool support bearing.
Carefully remove the retaining clip (CAREFUL!, these things can fly far away).
Next you will need a tool to remove the bearing from it's housing. On the top is a small paper clip that has been expertly engineered for this task. On the bottom is a tool Jimzee gave me.
Here you'll see the bearing removed from it's housing.
Here I'm holding the bearing by it's hub with a pair of lab forceps.
I use small glass jars to soak the bearings. Baby food jars or caper jars are perfect. Just make sure it has a tight-fitting lid so the acetone doesn't evaporate.
Next you'll need to remove the other spool support bearing. In the Shimano, it is located under the spool tension knob.
Carefully remove that spring...
And remove the bearing in the same manner as referenced above. Place into the jar of acetone.
Some reels may have bearing supported knobs. If this is the case, removal is quite easy.
Using the same tool from above, remove the knob cap to reveal the knob nut.
These will be reverse threaded, so make sure you don't bugger the slot when removing.
Once the knob is removed, you can remove the bearing.
Remove the bearing, wipe off the grease and pop into the acetone bath.
Make sure you don't lose the washer under the knob nut.
Soak the bearings for 8-10 hours. I generally change the acetone 2-3 times for each set of bearings, depending on how dirty they are. After an hour or so, you'll see a lot of suspended white solids in the acetone. When that happens, remove the bearings, dump the acetone, wipe the jar, refill and put the bearings back into their chemical bath.
More to come later...
islandbass reply :
Burley,
This is great information! Thank you very much. I look forward to the rest. Thanks! This looks to be a sticky worthy post. 8-)
lubina reply :
This is what Shimano recommend for the care of their reels.
http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/index/customer_service0/reel_maintenance_instructions.download.-mainParsys-0001-downloadFile.html/Maintenance%20Tips-%20Baitcasting%20Reels%20(2%20pages).pdf
I wouldn't put any kind of grease near the spool support bearings either.
Nice pictures
Jimzee reply :
Very good job on the thread so far. I been wanting to do this but my picture taking skills suck. Maybe I'll put that new tripod to use and do one for Daiwa later on when I get finished with all these reels.
Great pictures BTW.
KevO reply :
Excellent, I was wondering how to get the bearings out of the handle knobs.
Big Tom reply :
Burley, this is awesome!!!
I look forward to the next installment.
FordNFishinLover reply :
BURLEY! This is being added to my favorites. Been waiting for someone to produce a good quality picture thread on how to take apart your reels.
Great info already! An cant wait too see the rest!!
Btw, when you say its reverse threaded does that just mean you would unscrew it the opposite way?? Thanks loads!!!
The_Natural reply :
I'll add that if you strip your bearings and relube them with low-viscosity oil like Yellow Rocket Fuel or Hot Sauce; you really need to perform a quick clean and relube once a month during the fishing season. The factory packs them with grease because it lasts significantly longer than oil, and the 'average Joe' will not strip his reel and maintain the bearings. You can experience all the benefits of using a thin oil on your bearings, but they will require more maintenance to ensure a good lifespan. Trust me...it's worth it.
FordNFishinLover reply :
So burley, when are you gunna add to this? 
J Francho reply :
If you keep a finger over the retainer clip, as you pop each apex out, it won't go flying.QuoteCarefully remove the retaining clip (CAREFUL!, these things can fly far away).
Nice work man.
LAO162 reply :
Thanks Burley! I just added this thread to my favorites
SWMIBASSER reply :
Nice GREASED bearings
Pay attention to how a reel comes apart and you don't need a schematic.
roadwarrior reply :
QuotePay attention to how a reel comes apart and you don't need a schematic.
Our members who make a living servicing reels recommend
NEVER opening a reel without schematics.
8-)
SWMIBASSER reply :
QuoteQuotePay attention to how a reel comes apart and you don't need a schematic.Our members who make a living servicing reels recommend
NEVER opening a reel without schematics.
8-)
Been taking my own apart for 15 years......Never payed anyone who was making a living doing it, to do it for me, and never needed a picture. 8-)
skunked_again reply :
QuoteQuoteQuotePay attention to how a reel comes apart and you don't need a schematic.Our members who make a living servicing reels recommend
NEVER opening a reel without schematics.
8-)
Been taking my own apart for 15 years......Never payed anyone who was making a living doing it, to do it for me, and never needed a picture. 8-)
a factory trained tech says you should always have a schematic before cracking your reel open i tend to believe them. not saying that in youre case you cant service your reels without a schematic. i used to think the same as yourself until i serviced a abu 5600 C4 mag and couldnt get the thing back together.
skunked_again reply :
this thread would make a great sticky.
J Francho reply :
I've opened up enough reels that I generally only consult the schematic when reassembling. I do occasionally take notes while breaking the reel down. Every once in a while, I come across a new reel (usually a spinning reel) where disassembly isn't quite clear. Then I will consult the schematic until I am comfortable about my understanding of how the reel was assembled in the first place. This saves time by passing by my old, trial and error method.
Redhed reply :
original poster, how do you put oil in those bearings?? looks sealed to me or tight enough where oil wont get in or am i totally wrong. never done this
J Francho reply :
Quotehow do you put oil in a sealed bearing??
If you look closely, the bearing is most likely shielded, not sealed. DO NOT TRY TO REMOVE THE SHIELD. There is usually a small notch in the flanged shield, and this is the ideal location to place a drop of high grade oil. You may need a magnifying glass to see it. you can also simply fill the outermost channel in the shield, and oil will eventually get in there. One other thing, some Floogers use NMB or NHBB (New Hampshire Ball bearinf) and the shields have six or more notches, so just place the oiil on the side. you can just put the oil right on the ball bearings on a Shimano A-RB.
tyrius. reply :
QuoteQuoteQuotePay attention to how a reel comes apart and you don't need a schematic.Our members who make a living servicing reels recommend
NEVER opening a reel without schematics.
8-)
Been taking my own apart for 15 years......Never payed anyone who was making a living doing it, to do it for me, and never needed a picture. 8-)
Yeah for you!!!!!
SWMIBASSER reply :
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuotePay attention to how a reel comes apart and you don't need a schematic.Our members who make a living servicing reels recommend
NEVER opening a reel without schematics.
8-)
Been taking my own apart for 15 years......Never payed anyone who was making a living doing it, to do it for me, and never needed a picture. 8-)
Yeah for you!!!!!
With patience and common sense yeah for anybody.
Redhed reply :
QuoteQuotehow do you put oil in a sealed bearing??If you look closely, the bearing is most likely shielded, not sealed. DO NOT TRY TO REMOVE THE SHIELD. There is usually a small notch in the flanged shield, and this is the ideal location to place a drop of high grade oil. You may need a magnifying glass to see it. you can also simply fill the outermost channel in the shield, and oil will eventually get in there. One other thing, some Floogers use NMB or NHBB (New Hampshire Ball bearinf) and the shields have six or more notches, so just place the oiil on the side. you can just put the oil right on the ball bearings on a Shimano A-RB.
oh ok... i took my cheapo Shakespeare Agility (yes its a POS but i didnt buy it) and was trying to figure out how to oil the bearings bc everytime i cast its ZZZZZ so i ordered some of real mech's oil and grease but couldnt figure out how to oil the bearings correctly (as in how much to use and how to get it in there)
dman reply :
burley,
thanks for taking the time to do this....it helps me a lot
Saladmander reply :
Great pictures too!! 8-)
burleytog reply :
Ok, finally took the time to process the final few photos for this series.
Bearings are clean and have been dried using Kimwipes and canned air.
**** and span
One drop of oil per bearing from a needle oiler.
Handle bearing oiled and back on the handle.
The finished product.
I apologize for not taking more photos and taking so long to post what I did. Kind of hard to take photos of the reassembly with just two hands.
OnthePotomac reply :
If anyone wants to get into cleaning their own reels, I recommend an excellent DVD on reel cleaning by http://www.lakeforktacklerepair.com/
It is a detailed, step-by-step on how to lay out your parts and how to lube them properly. I think it is $30, but well worth the money. They do not use pictures, but are video taped doing each step with an explanation of what they are doing in sequence.
I believe they won an award for the DVD.
Gone_Phishin reply :
Nice job Burley....God, those Curados look saweeeet.
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