Washing reels

[Pete]

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

All reels are bound to corrode if proper maintenance isn't performed. ESPECIALLY SALTWATER REELS! But, first and foremost preventive maintenance is the key to a long reel life. The single most important method of prevention is lubrication. Oh yeah, most guys do grease and oil where directed according to the manufacturer, at least once a year. But, only on the moving parts. All inner metal parts should get a protective light coat of a good salt inhibiting grease, yamaha marine is an excellent example, as well as grease the drag washers. Although, those should get a drag specific grease. The drag washers if other than carbon fiber should be switched out, to carbon fiber and greased. All screwholes should get a drop of grease as well to prevent siezing. There are many sites with tutorials on how to do this. It ain't rocket science guys. Sure, all those little parts can be intimidating, but if done in sections, it becomes simple. And furthermore, rewarding, and rather economic as well.

As previously posted, Alan Tani is a real, reel guru. His website can make even the most mechanically challenged, a reel repair pro in no time. Any questions you may have can and will be answered, by experts, shortly after the question is posted. His website is in a previous reply in this thread.

If you have simply just regreased and or oiled your bearings for the past five years or so, without salt inhibiting grease or oils. Or just kept piling it on chances are that your bearings are rust corroded and now siezed. (Gobs of grease give a place for the salt to attach. In this case more is not better.) And, reduced to nothing more than bushings. The simplest way to know this is if when the reel has just been lubed, you put her in freespool and let the line drop to the ground using a sinker. If the spool moves ever so slowly, it is likely you have a bearing problem. No need for panic. They can be degreased, and then re-greased. However, if they are badly corroded. They will need replacement. Bearings are not a bank breaker, but depending on what type you use for replacement, and how many are needed it can mount up and some reels have as many as eight roller bearings.

Anyway, I'm getting long winded. I could go on and on, how to best care for reels. But, my point is a properly lubed reel will last forever, with proper preventive maintenance.

I always rinse my reels with a light spray. Or, in the winter toss them in the shower. Light spray is the key here. Blasting her with a hose will only remove the applied greases and oils that you took the time to apply. Store the reel with the drags loosened and in an upright position, as if you were fishing with it. Some reels have drain weep holes in their bottoms which will enable the now diluted salt water to exit the reel.

As to the previous poster, regarding the soaking of Penn reels. If the reels are greased in the aforementioned manner. That would be an excellent way to rid the salt. That is if all the inner metal has been greased. If not you still open yourself up to corrosion issues. Most Penn reels only come with a one year warranty. What happens in the subsequent years when you followed their instructions and your anti reverse bearing fails. I believe it will be your turn to pony up. Prevention is the key to success! Now getting the fish to cooperate with your now properly lubricated reel. That's another story!

Reels are machines. Not unlike cars. Hell, I've even seen a Rolls Royce or two on a towtruck. Bring along a spare rod and reel, as a backup for the unknown. AAA doesn't do reels!

Oh yeah, sorry, one more thing. Don't lube the plastic parts, especially the gears. It will only gum up and give the salt, dirt and grime a place to attach. Again, a light rinse will remove the salt from those parts.

Catch 'em up!

Pete

[Pete]

Originally Posted by JD in Trenton

Here's something by Alan Tani on lubes to use. The Yamaha Multi Purpose Grease is made for salt water, will not wash out, and best of all is cheap. I feel that applying it you will prevent water from entering the reel from ocean spray or washing.

The grease doesn't prevent the water from coming in. Nothing can. Reels are full of gaps, nooks and crannies. Think about how much spray you reel takes on over the course of a season. The grease doesn't allow the salts a place to attach. And, yes the yamaha grease applied to all your bare, dry metal, will adhere nicely and in all likelihood remain there throughout countless light freshwater rinses.

Hope this helps.

[Kup]

I spray my reels liberally with WD40 and wipe clean.

[Leif]

I have always rinsed off my rods and reels with an outside hose or in the shower if it was freezing out.

After rinsing I just hang them up. I have been using the same Penn spinfishers, jigmasters and senators for 20-30 years or more with no corrosion. At the end of the season or winter I will "service" them, lube, change drags, line rollers, ect...That's it.

Leif

[sportfishingusa]

Dont wash them! lol just kidding, hit them with fresh water at the dock, use a rag with soapy water if it makes you feel better, the reel breaks, bring it to your local reel repair man and boost the economy let them repair whats broken!!

[Tuna Tales]

What Leif said....




Joe T.

[Semper Fish]

It's MY rod, and MY shower...I'll wash it as often and as fast as I please !!!
I can only say that, since I started cleaning my rods/reels in the shower, I've had no corrsion problems. Problem spots used to be the guides and reel foot (feet? foot?). I remove the reels from the reel seat and flood the seat area....it's all about eliminating salt hiding in the nooks and cranies.
Me, 2 rods and a cold beer in the shower....the wife just doesn't get it!

[Dirty]

I spray them down with a light mist for a few minutes. Never had a problem with them at all. Every week I oil them up also..

Not sure if I'm ready for showering with them. I'm sure it works good for those who are into that.

[Michael82929]

If my wife caught me in the shower with my rods, she just may call the lawyer...my wife is jealous enough with me spending countless hours with a passion that doesnt have female body parts.

lol.. spray the rod down and wipe dry.

Soak reel in freshwater and dry - lube every so often as soon as i hear a squeek.

[dadinthesuds]

i keep a freshwater spray bottle in the beach truck. spray the reels off soon as i am off jetty or out of surf, dry them off and call it a day. will also spray them with "reel magic". no prob so far