Reel Maintenance

**Gottagofishin** · #1 06-26-2007, 10:08 PM

What is the official Shimano recommendation for how to treat our reels after a day fisghing in the salt water?

I have green Curados, new Curados, Citigas, and Chronarchs. At the end of a day of fishing, what should I do to my reels to make sure they are ready for my next trip?

Spray them with fresh water? Spritz them with Reel Magic? Tear them down and do a full cleaning?

I have heard all of the above recommended and denounced. What is the right answer?

**Aggieangler** · #2 06-26-2007, 10:51 PM

See the shimano link in the sticky above for reel maintenance step by step. The baitcaster one was very informative for me.

**Gottagofishin** · #3 06-26-2007, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aggieangler

See the shimano link in the sticky above for reel maintenance step by step. The baitcaster one was very informative for me.

The sticky was the one thread I didn't look at before posting. Thanks.

**Aggieangler** · #4 06-26-2007, 11:13 PM

No problem. I only knew about it because I was bored at work today and read every single thing on the board!

**Bantam1** · #5 06-27-2007, 09:27 AM

Follow the steps and you'll be fine.

Here is what I do to my personal reels after each trip in salt water. I lightly rinse the reels with fresh water. I wipe the exterior with a towel. Then open the side plate that allows access to the spool and leave it open to let any excess water drain from the reel. I let it dry out over night and then I remove the spool from the frame. I then take some q-tips with rubbing alcohol and clean the spool lip, spool raceway on the frame and anywhere I see salt deposits. This seems to keep my reels free of any corrosion. I also make sure all the drain holes on the reel are free of obstructions to allow any water that migth enter the reel to exit.

I also tear the reels down after every few trips and inspect and/or service the reel. If the reel becomes submerged then it will need to be torn down that day and cleaned thoroughly to remove any salt deposits.

Here is what I do not recommend:

Soaking the reel in a bucket of water

Taking the reel in the shower with you (Don't laugh I have heard this several times)

Spraying the reel with WD40, Corrosion X or any other kind of oils. The oils will break the grease down from the gears and drag. I have repaired thousands of reels from your area and every reel that has been soaked in WD40 has been ruined. It causes the drag to become "jerky" and premature failure of the gears. It didn't really prevent any corrosion from taking place either...

Cleaning the reel with carb cleaner or Gasoline (obvious)

Submersing in fresh water to "rinse"

I have seen that the humid and salty environment lends itself to corrosion. Try if at all possible to bring the reels into a dry place for storage. I realize the climate can be humid in the summer months, but the reels will not loose the trapped moisture in your area.

Try this and let me know any other things that each of you have been doing

**johnyb777** · #6 06-27-2007, 09:58 AM

Bantam, how about the reel/line sprays that are available at Academy, there is one that is made my Penn, I think it is called Reel Magic, and there is another by another brand. Are these just as bad as WD-40 or are they ok to use?
Anthony

**Bantam1** · #7 06-27-2007, 10:27 AM

Just avoid getting the reel magic inside the reel. The reel magic is a silicone based product and it should be OK.

**Gottagofishin** · #8 06-27-2007, 02:29 PM

That's not too different from what I have been doing, but I do admit to occasionally soaking a reel in fresh water and the opening it up to dry.

**texasflyfisher** · #9 06-27-2007, 03:10 PM

I've also rinsed and/or dipped/submersed my reels in a solution of Salt Killer and water thinking that would help but from what I'm reading dipping your reel is a no no.

**BondBroker1** · #10 06-27-2007, 03:25 PM

Dropped my Calcutta in the water last weekend when I was unhooking a redfish and took it apart to the last screw to clean it and noticed that it had a pad in one of the gears that holds grease for the real. my garcia brand grease didn't look like it would work and I bought the shimano grease that has kind of a creamy consistancy. I was told to just put it on that pad and it works its way through all the gears in the real. The guy at the discount tackle shop said that I shouldn't put them in the shower because it just works the gunk into the bearings.