baitcasting reel maintenance

Question
HI Marc

I have a question on how to do regular maintenance on the baitcasting reel .
I have 2 Daiwa millionaire CVZ 203, 2  Shimano Chornarch 100A and 2 Curado 200B, how do I do maintenance on them and how often do I do that? Could you please give me some pointer? I have opened up the side plate and took out the spool before, however not sure where to apply the oil.

Hope you can give me some direction.

Thanks

Bernie


Answer
Hi Bernie,

My best advise is to check the manuals for each of the reels for exact lubrication instructions.

That said, my theory has always been to oil things that spin and grease things that look like a gear with teeth that mesh.

I rarely tear a reel completely down mostly because they have gotten too complicated for me.  The old Ambassadors were easy.  The new stuff is not.  So, I oil and grease what I can and it has worked well for me.  Once a year, I go over them all with oil and grease.  Weekly or monthly, I oil reel handles, the level-wind pawl (the worm gear that makes the level wind go back and forth), and the spool shafts.

I cant emphasize enough to use a good oil that was made for reels.  No WD-40, no 3-in-one oil.  get something in a tackle shop that was intended for reels.  The exception is Super Lube.  I love the stuff and have been using it for years.  It's a synthetic product and they make it in an oil and a grease. In fact they offer it in a sportsmans pack with a tube of each and applicators.  It's good stuff.  You can usually find it in a good hardware store.

I hope that helps!

Good luck and good fishing!