There is little worse for a fisherman than arriving at your special fishing spot and realizing that your much-loved reel badly needs repair or maintenance. Although reel repair and maintenance should usually be left to the experts, you can do it yourself if you are prepared to take the proper precautions. Keep in mind that someone who comprehends the workings of a reel should preferably undertake this kind of work, since it takes a lot of caution and care!
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
Almost all reels are built similarly and therefore they almost all come apart the same way. Ensuring you fully document what the reel looks like when it’s fully assembled will reduce the likelihood that you will put it back together wrong. All pieces should be removed carefully and the proper placement of them should be documented completely. This will help you keep track of these small parts (springs, screws, etc.) so that you don’t lose anything. Remember, each of these pieces is critical to the operation of your reel.
The Tools
The tools used during the repair and maintenance process are elemental components of your project’s success. Before beginning the project, confirm that you have what you should, so that you do not have to go searching for something in the midst of the job. Essential tools typically include an assortment of different sized screwdrivers (Philips and flathead), pliers, ratchets (with appropriate heads), unsoiled and absorbent rags, small brush (such as a clean toothbrush), reel grease, and reel oil. You should check to be sure that the reel grease and reel oil are in sealed containers to avoid messy spills.
Starting The Disassembly
Your first step is to take the reel apart slowly, taking great care with each piece, to decrease the likelihood of losing or breaking important parts. Next, you can proceed carefully with cleaning the reel case. Locate the nut that holds the reel handle in place and remove it. Turn the drag star counterclockwise and place it to the side. Carefully remove the side plate, and make sure to keep the four screws holding it on in a safe place. Separate the main gear assembly. Remove the spool from the reel case. Use a rag to remove sand, dirt, and/or old grease. Grease the whole mechanism. If the reel uses a worm gear, you have to turn the level wind (inside the left plate) to make sure this gear is greased properly. Next, you should use a small amount of reel grease to grease all teeth. Clean the spool. Oil the endpins. Finally, you can replace the spool in the end case.
Main Drive Gear Assembly
This is perhaps one of the most critical parts of your cleaning and maintenance routine. Failure to follow these steps could result in problems down the line. Make sure to carefully remove the screws that join your main gear assembly. Some of these will be attached to a mounting plate while others will be able to simply be lifted out. Once you have freed the main gear assembly remove any old grease, dirt and sand from the gear assembly. Make sure that you are removing all old soil for best results. Once you’ve completed the cleaning, thoroughly grease the gear assembly.
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
The main gear will have washers in the top. After removing them, you should first notate the placement of each. Clean each washer with your clean rag. Grease, making sure to massage the clean grease gently into every washer. Remove excess grease with a clean cloth. After the washers are dry, you can then replace them in the proper order.
Seized bearings can be a major problem for some reels, so you need to be sure to thoroughly grease each bearing along all sides or replace the bearing. Do not attempt to take the bearing apart, or you will wind up cleaning up BBs from your workspace!
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
Using your photos or diagrams, make sure that each part is back where it originally came from. Test your work by making sure the reel is well anchored together.
Summary
Most people are not patient enough to repair or maintain a reel. It’s time consuming and you need not only great eye-sight but an extremely steady hand. Regardless of the type of reel you’re using – conventional or bait-casting – this set of simple steps can help. Whether you’re not willing to spend the money or wait the time needed for a professional to repair it, you’ll have sufficient information to repair or maintain your reel yourself. It’s difficult to find a fisherman who does not prefer to have their reel maintained professionally. There are simply too many things that can go wrong, and there are many things that a professional can quickly and easily identify that are not familiar to you. Regardless of whether you prefer to do it yourself or have a professional do it, a well maintained reel will ensure that you enjoy your fishing without problems.
There are many great reels out on the market, some of the most popular include: Shimano Fishing Reels and Penn Reel.
Technorati Tags: critical steps, elemental components, essential tools, fishing spot, maintenance repair, penn fishing reel, penn fishing reels, penn reel, penn reels, penn reels fishing, pliers, proper precautions, reel repair, screwdrivers, shimano fishing reel, shimano fishing reels, shimano reel, shimano reels, workspace
