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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | Maybe you all saw this, but Abu Garcia and I believe Shimano were at the MN Muskie Expo showing people how to take apart their reels and clean them. I watched the ABU people take apart a couple of reels and the insight was very valuable.
I have tried to clean my ABU reels with mixed results. Taking them apart has always been easy. Getting them back together not so much. So I would always pay someone to do it for me. But, after seeing the ABU folks take apart the reels and put them back together, I am now able to do the same - and not have leftover parts.
Taking apart the reels is a lot of fun. I now know why a couple of my reels were not working correctly. It was this little thing called dirt. 
Anyone else taking their reels apart? Any tips for some of us newbees? |
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Posts: 76
Location: Kentucky | I ALWAYS service my own reels and have even resurrected several very old reels that I was given. The biggest tip I can give anyone is to lay out a towel or a couple of paper towels in front of your work area. Starting left and working right I lay out each piece in order as I break down the reel. When I've cleaned or replaced a part it's a snap to just go in reverse order putting the reel back together. This will ensure you put everything back together correctly and avoid that old .. where do these parts go question.
Also, there are invaluable resources online - schematics, new parts, upgrade parts - for most reel makes and models.
Here are a few that I use:
http://www.mikesreelrepair.com/
http://www.smoothdrag.com/
http://store.scottsbt.com/Penn-Parts-Home-Page-W7C1.aspx
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Posts: 38
| I learned how to clean my Abu this past weekend, also got some free oil and a new set of carbon drag washers! I was just bummed Daiwa was not in attendance to teach me about the new Saltist i picked up. |
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Posts: 8844
| Herb... I've done this since the beginning. The best advice I can give? When you take your reels apart,arrange the pieces in the order you took them off, facing in the direction they were facing. Clean them in order, placing them back where you got them from... It seems awfully meticulous, and it IS. But when you put your reel back together, you know which piece comes next and which way it goes. All you have to do is pick the pieces up in order and put them on. Schematics are helpful of course, but for me, taking the time to pay attention to how things come apart and in what order removes all doubt when re-assembling your reel. The only other thing I can say is that unless it has teeth it should be oiled and not greased. And, when oiling? Too much is not "enough", it's just too much. A small drop on moving parts is all you need. Part of what screws up a reel in the first place is grease caked up all over everything attracting dirt and making everything a gummy sticky mess.
As for cleaning... I've tried everything from brake-kleen to careburetor spray to WD40 to just plain hot water. Solvents scare me. Compressed air is effective but makes a terrible mess. Best practce? Dish soap, a toothbrush, and hot water.
There's not much to a reel, Herb. Just take your time, and try to be as organized as you can about it, and pay attention. I WILL admit to having to take apart one reel to see how the one I took apart was supposed to go back together, but I am blaming that adventure on beer and a football game and not my own stupidity!! 
Edited by esoxaddict 4/12/2010 11:28 PM
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Posts: 1270
| Here's another little tip. As you take the reel apart take a lot of digital pix as you remove every piece. Then you can go back and look at the pix when it's time to put it all back together again. |
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Posts: 910
Location: South-Central VA | Reelman, great advice. Take pictures or detailed video of yourself disassembling the reel.
jeremy |
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Posts: 145
| Another tip is to put them on a tray or cookie sheet, something with sides, so that little pieces stay and don't try to escape. I service all my own reels, abu's are all the same in side (pretty much) however I still have exploded views of all of my reels. I recently took apart my Isis and that was one of the worst things I have ever done.... they use e clips everywhere! I nearly sent that one into the company in a bag to be reassembled........
Good luck,
Jacob
Jacob |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | Thanks for all the tips everyone!
The scary part is looking inside a few reels that haven't been cleaned for a few years. Kind of gross. |
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Posts: 994
Location: Minnesota: where it's tough to be a sportsfan! | I used to do all my reels every year. Then all of a sudden I had like too many reels and it was more of a winter job than it was fun. I go through Brainerd on the way to the cabin real often. So I got ahold of Al from Viking Rod & Reel accross from Round Lake. I 'm sure every area has a reel shop. Now I drop off the ones needing attention, and pick up later. I'll never do my own reels again I hope! Several times I'd get a reel torn down and then find I should replace something inside. Then you wait for the part to come. The other benefit like on ABU's is he can get exchange parts like the press fitted stuff turning in the bad one. Having parts right there on hand is the only way to fly! I've even gone in and waited while he makes the repair on something I really need. Allot of the guys walk into his shop with a five gallon bucket full of reels and then return in the spring to pick them up. Great work, great price, and no more getting an ear full from the wife for capturing the dining room table for a day! |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | The Shimano guys recommended rubbing alcohol for cleaning up the parts, and it seems to work great. I've done 4 now since the weekend and I'm getting to know those suckers pretty well. Aside form gears or shafts with nicks in them, the biggest culprit I've found is the dirt that's held in there by all the old grease. Once you get that out, and regrease very sparingly, it's amazing how well they run. |
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Cleaning your reels?