I was talking with a fellow angler about reel cleaning and he related how he simply squirts in a magic lubricant into his reels and they instantly work better, turn with less resistance, etc. Nothing perhaps could be worse for your reel or more damaging and reducing reel life or causing subsequent repairs. While in the short term reel performance may improve the cause for poor performance remains….reel contamination, contaminants include sand, silt, dried grease, water (salty and fresh) and in some reels drag washer wear. The magic lubricant simply redistributed the contamination around and into critical components, including sealed bearings. When reels are built they are lubricated with the correct lubricant in the correct amount at the correct location. Whoever you bring your reels to for service or if you service them yourself the best first step is to remove the old lubricant, both grease and oil and then re-lubricate using high quality water resistant grease and low viscosity oils. For excessively contaminated reels the reel should be completely disassembled and parts solvent cleaned in an ultra-sonic cleaner with precision bearings excepted. Precision bearing should be carefully inspected and replaced if water contaminated. While precision bearings are “sealed” they are not water tight, fresh or saltwater contamination likely carried in small silt or sand particles into the bearing and saltwater contamination will leave behind dried salts in the bearings.

Reel Contamination Causes

• No Periodic Cleaning or Lubrication
• Improper water wash down after use with direct hose spray and no dilute detergent
• Water immersion, salt or fresh
• Silt, sand, dust: ground/beach contact, wind blown, dirty storage area
• Wear and tear thru normal use, component wear, drag washer wear.

Modern reels are precision machines and require care and upkeep, should you need assistance we are available to assist, contact us at foolishangler@protonmail.com.