My new Shimano Spinning Reels are NOT SMOOTH !!

[ksdog]

I ended up buying a Shimano Symetre 1500 and Shimano Sahara 750 spinning reels. I'm on my second day of fishing with them. Granted it is below freezing out, but these reels feel sluggish and difficult to crank ! Is this a break in period ? I hope. There is nothing binding or out of balance while cranking this guys. It just seems like a workout. I wanted smooth and powerful for all the fishing I do. What is the deal !

[Deitz Dittrich]

I have never had this problem, I would call shimano cust service... Its possible that being new they had extra greese in the gears that may get stiff when cold!

[andy j]

I am with Deitz on this one. I have never used one of these reels in the winter but alot in the open water season, great reels. But my guess is the gearing will show a little more resitance in the colder weather, Shimano gearings are superior over other brands, If you notice most other brands are to loose (some think smooth) this is lack or quality bearings and are all ball bearings. I think there are ways to winterize your reels, I have never done it but that is what I have heard.

[Northlander]

My Sedona 500,s used to get the same way but then I used some Frabil lube on them and now they work great. I also have a Symetre 4000 that when it gets cold shorefishing it will get stiff. Must be in the grease they use.

[huntnfish]

I use Sahara's on a couple of my ice rods. This winter while fishing in the cold for a while mine were very sluggish. I took the handle off the crank (the plastic piece that you hold onto when realing in) and cleaned the grease out as best I could and lubed it with some of that HT tip up lube. I think the grease just got to thick in the cold. After that the real seemed to be fine. I am planning on taking them apart when I get a chance and lubing all the moving parts in there. Other lubes might work as well, but that is just what I had with me in the ice house. I also thought about trying some Remington Dri-lube that I have for my shotgun, but haven't gotten around to it.

[Graywolf]

KSdog,

If you take the sideplate off, you will probably find quite a bit of thick grease on the gears. Pick it out with a toothpick and if possible use a toothbrush and a little solvent (gasoline, lacquer thinner, etc) to get that grease out. Then three or four drops of Light (something like rocket oil) oil on the gears. It makes a world of difference. Your post says "sluggish and difficult to crank", does that sound like your power steering or auto transmission when it is very cold outside? You have to relube the gears and don't use "tip up" lube. Use a light weight oil not grease.

[upnorth]

I have used liquid graphite in the past on reels that would get stiff when cold. Clean all the grease off the gears and put a very light coat of the liquid graphite on them, they will stay lubed dang near forever.

[uffdapete]

I would say it's the grease that's used at the factory. I've had the same issue with several reels I've used for winter stream trout fishing. I just switched to a different reel but I'd get a recommendation from either a factory authorized service place or from a reputable reel repair shop with experience regarding what lube would work in subfreezing temps.

...........or what the previous poster suggested - liquid graphite.

[huntnfish]

Like Graywolf said, don't use the tip-up lube inside the reel, use an oil that is made for that. I used the tip-up lube on the actual crank, inside the plastic part that you hold onto. I don't think that kind of lube is meant for gears.

[Bobb-o]

Never had a problem like that with a shimano reel, but one way i know of to break in other reels is to clean out all of the lube and put some toothpaste in their, crank the handle for a little while then clean the toothpaste out and reapply lube, preferably the quantum hot sauce.

[Jackpine Rob]

Remove the spool, handle and sideplate.

Place on a thick bed of absorbent paper towels

Spray the bejeebers out of the insides with Powder Blast or other gun cleaner/degreaser product.

Use a lubricant designed to handle cold weather, such as Breakfree. I also had good luck with some stuff called Hot Sauce - comes in a small red tube.

My ice fishing reels are pretty much winter-only use, and have all been given this treatment.