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Posts: 8781
| Over the years, I've seen just about every complaint imaginable about reels on this site. This reel or that reel is "junk", because this or that happened... I've also experienced many of those same issues. I've found that a set of tools, some reel grease, reel oil, the reel schematic, and an hour can typically resolve nearly ALL of them.
So here's a few tidbits. Feel free to add your own!
1. Thumb bar/spool release sticking? Take it apart, clean the clutch arm assembly, put a small drop of oil at all places that contact other surfaces
2. Line piling up on one side of the reel? Pull the side plate, remove the pawl/worm gear. Clean both, along with the "rail" that the pawl slides back and forth on. Oil. Still doesn't work? Flip the pawl around. (temporary fix) If that still doesn't do it? Replace the pawl. (they're like $3) Keep the new one clean and oiled. It will last MUCH longer. Carry a spare anyway. Takes about 30 seconds to change one.
3. Drag malfunctioning? Take off the handle. Take out all the drag washers, and wipe them dry. Re-assemble. If the black carbon fiber washers look flattened or deformed? Switch them around, and/or flip them over. Do NOT store your reel with the drag cranked down.
4. "screaming" reel? Take off the side plate, pull the spool. Oil the spool bearings, and clean/oil the spool shaft
5. When they build and ship a reel, they coat EVERYTHING with what looks to be white lithium grease. That's just not what belongs on anything but the gears. Before you use a reel the first time? Clean all the grease out of it, and put a SMALL drop of oil on the spool bearings, anti-reverse bearing, spool shaft, and the clutch mechanism.
6. Buy some quality reel grease. That's for the main drive gear and pinion gear. Generally speaking? If it's got teeth, grease it. If it doesn't? Oil it, but just a small drop.
I've found that those simple things will keep your reels working faithfully from season to season, and you can avoid many of the problems everyone else complains about. I've had several reels break, and parts wear out on several others. That's part of fishing. But a great percentage of the "problems" I've had with reels were easily solved with a little grease, oil, and a few paper towels.
Anybody else got any tips?? | |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | When reassembling your reel make sure your drag washers are opposing each other (if you have spring washers)
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Posts: 1169
Location: New Hope MN | These are nice little tips. Do you grease your drag washers? The salt water guys do. I did this year and found that dirt gets stuck in there easier, but the drag seemed smoother.... not that we ever use it that much anyway. We don't fish tuna. | |
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Posts: 8781
| There are certain types of drag washers that you do grease. Anytime any oil or grease has gotten into any of my muskie reels, all that happened was that the drag slipped. Cost me a few fish, too. | |
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Posts: 1270
| If your line is only mildly building up on one side of the reel it might just be how you are holding the reel. If you are one who holds the reel on the side instead of on top often times gravity will cause more line to pile up on the down side of the spool. It's not a big deal unless you have your spool filled to the hilt to begin with. | |
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | Great information. Aside from buying the cheapest equipment out there, I have not had many issues with my reels. I simply clean them every year. It takes about an hour per reel. I have some Daiwa Millionaires that are probably 10 years old now that are just as smooth as they were the day I bought them. I have had to replace parts on different reels from time to time, but its easy once you learn how to tear them down and reassemble them. | |
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Reel tips