reel maintenance?

[slick2526]

How many of you clean and replace the lube in your reels each year? I had purchased a stradic last summer and a new rod only for use in the summer and would like to take good care of the reel. Is it really that important to change the the reel lube and clean every year or am i good for every other year? Also how big of a pain in the a$$ is it to do myself or should I have this sent in to have it done?

[polarsusd81]

You should be okay to do it every other year, but I do them every year. It really isn't all that hard to do if you are at all handy. The biggest thing to remember is which way the anti-reverse roller bearing case comes off the reel shaft. If you put it on backwards you can only back reel rather than reel line in when you hit the anti reverse switch.

Go onto Shimano's HSOforum and they have exploded view diagrams of all the reels they make on there, as well as older and discontinued models. Follow them and you should be pretty good.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I do all mine yearly. It's becoming more of a pain each year as I accumulate more reels, but what else do I have to do in the winter???

I actually find baitcasters easier, but spinning reels aren't bad. The first one always takes the longest. After that, you get a lot faster and more comfortable (i.e. you know when a little spring will go flying and can prevent it).

[porterhouse]

I do it every year also.

Brian

[SkunkedAgain]

Jeez, I've never done anything to my Shimano reels except to use them. Do you need to do all of this? Most of my reels are 6-8 years old and are the $30-$40 ones you get at Gander.

Where do I buy all of this lube/cleaning stuff?

[polarsusd81]

For cleaning, I just use Isopropyl Alcohol and cotton swabs. For lube, I have been using Quantum Hot Sauce and for grease on drag washers, you have to use the Shimano grease. I haven't had any issues with using Quantum Hot Sauce in my Shimanos, but the manufacture recommends their own lube.

[hunter101]

geesh ive never ever done anything to my reels, some are 20+ years old. maybe i should tho, i never even thought about doing any maintance to a reel.

[PerchJerker]

I clean and lube most of my reels every year or every other year, especially the ones that I use the most. I also use Hot Sauce in my reels.

[Northlander]

I have only had to clean 2 reels my whole life. Those were both Shimano Sedona 500's that worked great in the summer but got stiff when using them ice fishing. I took them apart, took out all the old grease I could and went to Hot Sauce. Worked great. Smooth as silk all year round.

Most newer reels just dont seem to need as much maintanance.

[Cooter]

I strip my Abu baitcasters down each year. I use brake parts cleaner to get rid of old grease/grime. I use mostly oil, little grease - they cast and retrieve much easier. You get familiar with them and repairs become something you can do yourself.

Spinning reels intimidate me, and most of them are different whereas the baitcasters I have are all very similar.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I figure the better I take care of my stuff, the less often I need to replace it.

[Northlander]

Ya I hear that.

[Esox_Magnum]

I just use mine, I have a couple Sedonas going on 12+ years old thats never been touched. The exception is my muskie reels those get sent in if theres a hint of a problem, but those reels get beat on hard. So far only 2 have needed repairs or work done in 5 years of use.