Lubing my Tip-up?

[anchor man]

So I took out the shaft spool of my tip up, cleaned it up and added Frabill Sub zero lube back onto the shaft, then replaced it. Seemed like it was spinning much more freely until about 15 degree temps last weekend. Is it more likely that it's stiffening up in the cold due to too much lube, or too little? I read somewhere to wipe off the excess from the shaft then re-install, but then read somewhere else to slather it on the shaft and in the tube, then re-install. I was a bit in the middle, some lube left on shaft, but not much. Anyone have any advice?

[bobbymalone]

trying my hardest...not...to...make...joke....

[gatorslayer]

WD-40

[CaveMan]

Hmm I lubed up all mine this year, and spread it on there pretty good and have not had any problems.

[lovebigbluegills]

trying my hardest...not...to...make...joke....

You and me both...the door's wide open, isn't it?

[Sonicrunch]

Originally Posted By: bobbymalone

trying my hardest...not...to...make...joke....

You and me both...the door's wide open, isn't it?

that's what she......

dang

[gatorslayer]

WD-40

[anchor man]

yeah, I figured this might get a "rise" out of some of you...anyhow

[Supercrew]

Graphite.... my tip up's are spinning like tops.!!

[Crusty old Swede]

It's stiff because there's some water inside the tube and it's freezing on the shaft. The shaft/tube of a tip-up functions like a boat trailer hub - compleatly full of lube to keep water out. There's a longer thread buried many pages back explaining how to lube a tip-up. Short and sweet, clean all the old lube and water out of the tube & refill with new lube right up to the top.

[anchor man]

Thanks Crusty, I'll try fully loading the tube and give it a whirl this weekend.

[kenais]

Funny stuff... I assume this is one of the $10 plastic tipups... The Arctic Fisherman is more involved (and its cost effective to just send them into the factory for service). Crusty is correct, water is getting in the tube and causing friction between the tube and shaft. An easy way to fix.

1) Remove the cross bar and pull out the shaft.

2) Fill a syringe (available at any farm supply) with your lube (I prefer the blue stuff) and trim the tip so its a tight fit in the bottom cap.

2) Put your finger over the top cap and inject the lube from the bottom cap. This will take several injections, the goal is to get all of the air and old lube out of the tube.

3) Sand the shaft to remove any corrosion, lightly lube and re-install the shaft keeping your finger lightly over the top cap to regulate the air/lube release. This should purge any remaining air out of the tube.

4) Re-install the cross bar and clean up the mess you made.

Store your tipups flat and the lube will not migrate out, a properly lubed and stored tipup should be trouble free for a decade or more.

[Supercrew]

I have had 2 of the wood base tip ups since the late 70's-80's and have never had any problems, only thing I do is give it some graghite when it gets sluggish. I have modified the flags from time to time. They are bullet proof. Stock up on them now you will be set for life.

[michael morris]

KY is the secret

[Supercrew]

KY is the secret

Hey, we are talking fishing here right?

[anchor man]

more great advice Kenai, thanks, I see it's about keeping it "packed" in the tube. Will redo and be ready for the weekend.

[Hawg]

I respectfully disagree, I find too much lube is actually worse than too little. When mine are packed tight they do NOT spin freely. The finger over the end to purge the shaft is correct but my advice is to find the middle ground. I've done this many times also, I have some tip ups from back when they first became legal. My info came from the owner of HT many years ago, things may have changed though, give him a call.

[gatorslayer]

wd-40

[kenais]

Its not about keeping it packed. The goal is to keep water out of the tube. Water will freeze and cause friction between the tube and shaft.

Hawg- You really can't overpack lube since it can easily escape through either cap if there is any pressure. What happens is the lube that is above water line gets cold and changes viscosity causing drag between the shaft and tube.

If your using a lube that can freeze or gets stiff at say 0deg then the lube that is above the water line will stiffen up and cause drag between the shaft and the tube at or below that air temperature. I've found that the 'sub-zero' lube will indeed do that, if your using this lube then you would want to keep the lube level in the tube below the water line. The 'blue lube' is noticeably thinner has performed much better for me, I've had no freezing or friction issues at -10.

[JIM C]

After using both Sub-Zero and Blu-Lube to rebuild tip ups, I prefer the Blu-Lube for that job. I do like and use Sub-Zero to replace the factory grease in my ice reels.