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Cry and MoanI have an issue with new reel lubrication. This is something that has bugged me for a long time and it’s also something most folks don’t realize. This mainly pertains to open face or spinning reels because of the way they’re built but it’s also necessary to realize this with ALL reels. Not all but many reels come out of the box with very little lubrication. That’s one reason they spin so freely and feel so smooth when they’re new. Take it out of the box, spin the handle and it free wheels 10/12 turns. Wow that’s great…. for the salesman. It’s bad for the consumer. Reason, there’s little to no grease in the bearings. All that's needed is a little condensation and your bearings start freezing up or the pinion gear starts wearing away. A properly lubed reel should have a little resistance when you turn the handle due to that fact that there’s grease in the bearings taking up the empty space. Ever notice after 3 or 4 outings your reel feels lumpy, makes a whirling sound or just doesn’t feel like it did out of the box? Or you notice the first couple turns of the handle are stiff and you think, hmm, it wasn’t like that last weekend? It loosens up after a couple turns so you go on about your business. Or you take the spool off and notice the main shaft is black? Aside from poor lubrication the other problem is moisture. Plain ol’ condensation. Reels don’t necessarily have to be dunked in water to get wet. They just need a little moisture to condense inside them. When small amounts of moisture condense inside your reel, then dry, it leaves behind the salts. Those salts are abrasive; they mix within the grease and oil then start grinding away at bearings, bushings, gears or anything that moves. When this starts happening, it’s time to have your reel serviced. If ignored, oxidation WILL occur seizing bearings, handles, knobs pivot points, etc. Deposits will also form in the bottom of gear teeth. Under continued use, the excess pressure put on the gears will in turn put excess pressure on the bearings and bushings causing premature failure.Personally I won’t put a new reel in the water until its taken apart and properly lubricated. In years past I’ve been through too many reels that turned into a piece of junk in short order because I believed in the manufacturer to do the right thing. The joke was on me! The other issue with lubrication is to often a servicer will tell their customer not to over lubricate. In proper context that's correct but to often it sounds as though you'll destroy your reel if you lubricate it so you tend to under lube it. In short, excess grease will make your reel a little stiff. Over oiling will only leak out. My friend says he'd rather have oil drip out by over oiling then have the bearings seize by under oiling. I agree...
Bay Area Reel Service 11201 Linden Lane Port Richey, FL. 34668 813-728-5865 |
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