Is this normal?

[Dunky]

I paid a shop 20 yrs ago to service reel? I never used it since service.  It has been sitting on a shelf since

I have injured my elbow so I have been going through all my reels one by one! This was stiff, I opened it up and found this

Never the less it has now been wiped out and parts are in cleaning bath

[Swami805]

Looks like 20 year old solidified grease. Nothing lasts forever, grease dries out and hardens like that. Looks like they used a lot

[alantani]

newer synthetic greases should not harden in this way.  i come across this occasionally.  growing up, we would have this old thick chevron grease that we used for everything, including the tractors.  it has a very distinctive odor.  it brings back alot of memories when i crack open at reel and smell that same old smell. 

[Shark Hunter]

I only clean out the tractor grease one time.

[Midway Tommy]

Pretty standard for petroleum based greases when the oil evaporates. Most synthetic and marine greases and oils don't do that. 

[Shark Hunter]

that's why I know not to use them