Reel Maintenance

[Wackyrig]

What's your take on reel Maintenance? I have several Curado 200e series reels I recently had serviced up at Ken's Custom Reels and they were completely serviced and all bearing replaced and any issues dialed in. Haven't had a chance to fish since picking them up but seem they are smooth like new. I also had them service an Avet, Trinidad-12 that's been used for about 8 years and Okuma Titus reel that the drag went out on years ago, my saltwater reels have been used and abused for years with little to no maintenance.

They showed me the bag of used parts the removed and replaced and it was a full sack.

Shimano used to service the 200e series but they are off their roster now. I own about 8 of them 5 and sevens.

Give them a call if you need reel service and or repair. Ken's Custom Reels.

[Gotfish?]

Good to know. I usually do my own take apart, clean and lube but sometimes I will send stuff out.

[Wackyrig]

I've done it before but it never went back together again correctly.

[Gotfish?]

So here are some tips to get it back together correctly:

1. Use an egg carton (18 egg size) and put items in it sequentially as you take them out.
2. Take pictures with your phone of anything complex. Or even of the starting condition if not sure.
3. Pay close attention to items that can go back in either way. Such as curved spring washers.
4. Watch a YouTube video before taking apart. Sometimes there are nonobvious tricks to removing or reinstalling parts.
5. Expect that there can be hidden parts such as in a stack of several washers. Look at both sides of every part you remove, there may be springs or washers stuck to the bottom side with grease. Have a print out of the schematic so you can see the order. Most schematics kind of suck though, they are barely readable. Would be a good idea to compare each step to the schematic to verify all parts are accounted for (I should do this).
6. Have the right tools: small size screwdrivers, metric hex wrenches, bearing removal tool, tweezers, pick, small brush, precision tip swabs.
7. Put a small magnet on the screwdriver shank, this will catch most screws. I use a magnet from an old Sonicare head.
8. Avoid tilting the reel where small parts from unknown locations might fall out. This is when that schematic may come in very handy.
9. Practice makes perfect. Suggest you do 1 reel, then do a few more the same week and you will then have a good hang of it.
10. Have everything you need to do the job including reel oil and grease. Your odds of putting it back together right are much higher if you do it all in one sitting.
11. If you have a buddy (not me) who is good at reel service, bribe him with some beers and food to watch and instruct. Not to do it, you won't learn much that way. No beer for you until finished.

[Mike M]

Gotfish generated a very good list. I would add,

1. Have the schematic handy and study it before opening the reel.
2. Gotfish already mentioned this, but YouTube has a surprising large number of videos. Watch and study them first.
3. As I disassemble the handle, I thread each of the part in sequence and with the correct orientation onto a screwdriver/coat hanger/pipe cleaner to make sure they go back in the same order.
4. If you feel a scratchy bearing, more oil and/or grease will not fix it. Get a new bearing, or accept it.
5. Use a small paintbrush for grease. Plastic on plastic doesn't need grease. Only metal to metal. Make sure not to co-mingle Cal's grease with normal grease on the drag washers.
6. If you're looking to maximize freespool, use a dremmel tool with a q-tip and toothpaste to polish the inside of the pinion gear.
7. Photos are gold... take many, you never know which one will be the one to save you frustration.
8. Use a towel as a placemat. There will be less likelihood of parts bouncing around and off the table.
9. Enjoy the process

[Midnightpass]

Good ideas guys… Someone on another fishing forum mentioned that he uses cell phone silicone gel mats to work on… Just google it.. I tried to upload a pic, but it was the wrong format…
Butch

[Gotfish?]

Good ideas guys… Someone on another fishing forum mentioned that he uses cell phone silicone gel mats to work on… Just google it.. I tried to upload a pic, but it was the wrong format…
Butch

I have one similar to this: https://www.walmart.com/ip/500-Silicone ... 1YQAvD_BwE . I tried dropping a metal washer on it, doesn't bounce like some surfaces and the edges of the one I have are slightly cupped so parts do not roll off. I will try using that the next time I work on a reel. Runaway small parts are no fun.