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Reel Repair and Maintenance

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

For a fisherman, there can be few nightmares worse than arriving at your fishing spot and discovering that your favorite reel desperately needs repair or maintenance. Even though reel repair and maintenance is better left to the experts, you can do it yourself if you are willing to take the risk. Remember: this type of work requires caution and care, and should only be undertaken by someone who understands the working of the reel!

Preparation

How the project is begun is one of the most critical steps to any job that requires care, so you should prepare accordingly. Set aside a workspace that is suitable for the job, and make sure you leave plenty of elbowroom. Make sure that there is space for all of the delicate reel parts. It’s smart to add a detailed photo of the reel piece-by-piece so that it can be put back together after the maintenance/repair is complete, or utilize a hand-drawn diagram.

Take it apart

Most reels come apart the same way, since they are built in a similar fashion (for the most part, some reels may vary slightly). This step is the most important time to photograph or draw each piece as it comes off, so that you can guarantee that you will be able to put the reel back together. Carefully remove each piece and place them in some kind of order (i.e. order removed). Be sure to take special care with very small pieces, such as screws, springs, and similar objects. Every piece has an important function, and each has a particular place in your reel.

The Tools

Repair and maintenance tools are some of the fundamental elements to the success of the project. Before starting the project, make sure that you have what you need, so that you do not have to go hunting for something in the middle of the project. Necessary tools usually include (but are not limited to) screwdrivers in various sizes (Philips and flathead), pliers, ratchets (including heads), clean and absorbent rags, reel grease and reel oil. You will also need a small brush, such as a clean toothbrush. Make sure that the reel grease and reel oil are in closed containers to prevent messy spills.

Starting The Disassembly

Your first step is to take the reel apart bit by bit, taking great caution with every section, to reduce the possibility of misplacing or damaging vital parts. Find the nut that attaches the reel handle and remove it. Rotate the drag star counterclockwise and put it aside. Remove the side plate, making sure to notate the position of the four screws holding it on. Disconnect the main gear assembly. Detach the spool from your reel case. Use your clean cloth to get rid of sand, dirt, and/or old grease. Grease the mechanism in its entirety. If your reel has a worm gear, revolve the level wind (in the left plate) to ensure that this gear is greased correctly. Use a very tiny amount of reel grease to lubricate all teeth. Cleanse the spool. Lubricate the endpins. Finally, you should replace the spool within the end case.

Main Drive Gear Assembly

Cleaning the main drive gear assembly is one of the most critical aspects of the cleaning and maintenance routine, and failure to exercise proper caution could result in your reel not working properly later. Follow each step carefully and pay close attention to details. Carefully remove the screws attaching the main drive gear assembly. Some will be screwed into a mounting plate, but others will be able to be lifted out. Locate the main gear assembly. Use your rag to remove sand, dirt, and old grease, making sure there is no trace of the residue remaining to ensure smooth function later. Grease the gear assembly thoroughly.

The next portion of your cleaning and maintenance will involve the main drive gear assembly. Each step must be followed precisely to avoid problems.

The small parts

Because of the small parts that are involved in this part of maintenance and cleaning, make sure when you place them down you are putting them down in the order you remove them. This will enable you to put them back where they belong and help make sure that your reel is functional. Diagrams or photographs will be indispensable in this part of the process. The top of your main gear will have washers. When you remove them place them down carefully (noting the order or removal) and once you have them all removed, clean them, and place clean grease on them and gently massage it into each washer. Once you’re done, remove any excess grease with a clean rag. Each washer should be dry to the touch and replaced back into the main gear in the proper order

Locked bearings can be a huge setback for some reels, so be sure to carefully lubricate every bearing down all sides or swap the bearing. Do not try to take the bearing apart, or you will end up cleaning BBs from your workplace!

Putting it all together

You start by positioning the spool back in the reel casing. Set the right side plate and gear assembly above the endpin. Align the screw holes, watching that each side is lined up correctly. Attach each screw into the side plate. Reattach the drag star. Next, you should attach your reel’s handle.

Testing

You can test your work by ensuring that all parts are well anchored and also back where they were removed from. Using your digital photos (or hand drawn diagram) will help you make sure that everything has gone back to the proper place.

Summary

Though the process is monotonous and slow, you have the ability to execute these simple maintenance steps and save money. Nevertheless, a calm hand is required, and you may discover that either a magnifying lens or excellent eyesight is very advantageous. No matter what kind of reel you are operating (conventional or bait-casting), these straightforward steps can help you steer clear of waiting for and paying a professional to keep your reel operating efficiently. Since you are probably one of the many fishermen who are finicky about who handles their reels, simply utilizing methods such as these can help put a stop to mistakes and/or repair costs. Keep your reel safe and clean, and you will nearly promise long life and many fishing memories.

There are many great reels out on the market, some of the most popular include: Shimano Fishing Reels and Penn Fishing Reels.

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