Reel Repair by Alan Tani

General Maintenance Tips => General Questions and Trouble Shooting => Topic started by: hotajax on May 27, 2023, 03:24:55 PM

Title: Reel Took a Bath In Sand / Salt water
Post by: hotajax on May 27, 2023, 03:24:55 PM
I got knocked over by a rogue wave in the middle of a cast.  This reel has turned into a sand dispenser. 
To wash off the sand, I was thinking about putting the small parts in a food strainer, with grids big enough to let the sand out, but keep the clean parts inside.  Then dunking the whole mess in a tank of mineral spirits ( outdoors of course ). 

Any other ideas to get gross amounts of sand off out of the reel?  Thanks.

Do ultrasonic cleaners usually come with a strainer to lift out the clean parts and keep the crap in the bottom of the tank?
Title: Re: Reel Took a Bath In Sand / Salt water
Post by: JasonGotaProblem on May 27, 2023, 03:56:49 PM
Put the disassembled parts in the strainer. Spray with a hose to get all the excess off. Then go from there.
Title: Re: Reel Took a Bath In Sand / Salt water
Post by: foakes on May 27, 2023, 04:00:11 PM
Which reel?

What type?

Best, Fred
Title: Re: Reel Took a Bath In Sand / Salt water
Post by: hotajax on May 27, 2023, 04:08:11 PM
Penn 7500 SS.  Spinning
Title: Re: Reel Took a Bath In Sand / Salt water
Post by: foakes on May 27, 2023, 04:52:06 PM
Before I started using US cleaners exclusively for reel servicing and restoration —- I would disassemble everything —- clean with rinsing and toothbrushes in various cleaning solutions.  The process took hours —- and there was always a few hidden grains afterwards.

With a decent US cleaner —- using just (2) smaller containers inside the tub —- Dawn HD dish soap for any painted or plastic parts — and Lacquer Thinner for any SS, brass, bronze, steel, or aluminum parts —- the process is 100% —- and takes about 15 minutes, including rinsing and drying.

But I do a lot of reels —- and do not like part-way results —- and don't want to waste my time or efforts.

ALL of the grease, grime, crud, salt and sand must be removed one way or another.

Best, Fred
Title: Re: Reel Took a Bath In Sand / Salt water
Post by: Midway Tommy on May 27, 2023, 05:27:57 PM
There is more than one way to skin a cat but a complete disassembly  with every part removed, cleaned and buffed/brushed is the only way to be sure your reel is as close to clean as humanly possible. You can do it as Fred suggested with a USC or you can do the process manually, part by part. Lacquer thinner soak is great for removing grease & oil but the warm water, Dawn & a tooth, or Flux, brush will get rid of the dirt & sand if you don't have a USC, as long as you are thorough.
Title: Re: Reel Took a Bath In Sand / Salt water
Post by: hotajax on May 27, 2023, 11:17:48 PM
Quote from: foakes on May 27, 2023, 04:52:06 PMBefore I started using US cleaners exclusively for reel servicing and restoration —- I would disassemble everything —- clean with rinsing and toothbrushes in various cleaning solutions.  The process took hours —- and there was always a few hidden grains afterwards.

With a decent US cleaner —- using just (2) smaller containers inside the tub —- Dawn HD dish soap for any painted or plastic parts — and Lacquer Thinner for any SS, brass, bronze, steel, or aluminum parts —- the process is 100% —- and takes about 15 minutes, including rinsing and drying.

But I do a lot of reels —- and do not like part-way results —- and don't want to waste my time or efforts.

ALL of the grease, grime, crud, salt and sand must be removed one way or another.

Best, Fred
Fred:  Puzzled.  I thought they all had one basket.  I'm soaking twice?  Whatever it takes.  Thanks.

Will mineral spirits remove the black finish from Penn Spinfishers?
Title: Re: Reel Took a Bath In Sand / Salt water
Post by: foakes on May 27, 2023, 11:56:46 PM
Quote from: hotajax on May 27, 2023, 11:17:48 PM
Quote from: foakes on May 27, 2023, 04:52:06 PMBefore I started using US cleaners exclusively for reel servicing and restoration —- I would disassemble everything —- clean with rinsing and toothbrushes in various cleaning solutions.  The process took hours —- and there was always a few hidden grains afterwards.

With a decent US cleaner —- using just (2) smaller containers inside the tub —- Dawn HD dish soap for any painted or plastic parts — and Lacquer Thinner for any SS, brass, bronze, steel, or aluminum parts —- the process is 100% —- and takes about 15 minutes, including rinsing and drying.

But I do a lot of reels —- and do not like part-way results —- and don't want to waste my time or efforts.

ALL of the grease, grime, crud, salt and sand must be removed one way or another.

Best, Fred
Fred:  Puzzled.  I thought they all had one basket.  I'm soaking twice?  Whatever it takes.  Thanks.

Will mineral spirits remove the black finish from Penn Spinfishers?

I fill the US cleaner reservoir with water —

Then use wide-mouth jars for the parts.

Dawn HD goes in one —- plastic or glass —- for plastic, painted, or anodized parts.

Lacquer Thinner goes in only a GLASS wide-mouth jar —- for SS, Steel, bronze, brass, or bare aluminum parts.

I do not use the heat setting.

When done —- just pour the solutions into another container —-

Then water rinse the parts —- and just pour them out onto a tray with a paper towel.

Dry the parts —- burnish and polish as necessary for best and smoothest operation.

Particularly any friction parts such as the spool shaft, inside the worm-pinion gear, etc.

Mineral Spirits are fairly gentle —- but could either dull the black paint —- or soften and allow it to come off.

There are lots of ways to use a US cleaner —- this is my procedure on nearly all reels I work on.

Quick, simple, effective.  No fancy or expensive solutions.

US cleaners do come with baskets.  But the cleanup, as well as the mess and wasted cleaning solution is not for me.

I can do one reel after another in a fairly smooth assembly line operation.

Best, Fred
Title: Re: Reel Took a Bath In Sand / Salt water
Post by: hotajax on May 28, 2023, 01:02:34 PM
Quote from: foakes on May 27, 2023, 11:56:46 PM
Quote from: hotajax on May 27, 2023, 11:17:48 PM
Quote from: foakes on May 27, 2023, 04:52:06 PMBefore I started using US cleaners exclusively for reel servicing and restoration —- I would disassemble everything —- clean with rinsing and toothbrushes in various cleaning solutions.  The process took hours —- and there was always a few hidden grains afterwards.

With a decent US cleaner —- using just (2) smaller containers inside the tub —- Dawn HD dish soap for any painted or plastic parts — and Lacquer Thinner for any SS, brass, bronze, steel, or aluminum parts —- the process is 100% —- and takes about 15 minutes, including rinsing and drying.

But I do a lot of reels —- and do not like part-way results —- and don't want to waste my time or efforts.

ALL of the grease, grime, crud, salt and sand must be removed one way or another.

Best, Fred
Fred:  Puzzled.  I thought they all had one basket.  I'm soaking twice?  Whatever it takes.  Thanks.

Will mineral spirits remove the black finish from Penn Spinfishers?

I fill the US cleaner reservoir with water —

Then use wide-mouth jars for the parts.

Dawn HD goes in one —- plastic or glass —- for plastic, painted, or anodized parts.

Lacquer Thinner goes in only a GLASS wide-mouth jar —- for SS, Steel, bronze, brass, or bare aluminum parts.

I do not use the heat setting.

When done —- just pour the solutions into another container —-

Then water rinse the parts —- and just pour them out onto a tray with a paper towel.

Dry the parts —- burnish and polish as necessary for best and smoothest operation.

Particularly any friction parts such as the spool shaft, inside the worm-pinion gear, etc.

Mineral Spirits are fairly gentle —- but could either dull the black paint —- or soften and allow it to come off.

There are lots of ways to use a US cleaner —- this is my procedure on nearly all reels I work on.

Quick, simple, effective.  No fancy or expensive solutions.

US cleaners do come with baskets.  But the cleanup, as well as the mess and wasted cleaning solution is not for me.

I can do one reel after another in a fairly smooth assembly line operation.

Best, Fred
Fred:  The detailed procedures much appreciated.  I'll be getting the US cleaner.  Also hearing good things about those "citrus" degreasing solutions, too.  Take it easy.
Title: Re: Reel Took a Bath In Sand / Salt water
Post by: Midway Tommy on May 28, 2023, 04:05:05 PM
Quote from: hotajax on May 28, 2023, 01:02:34 PMFred:  The detailed procedures much appreciated.  I'll be getting the US cleaner.  Also hearing good things about those "citrus" degreasing solutions, too.  Take it easy.

You would be better off foregoing the "citrus degreasing solutions" for any painted or plastic parts and opt for Original White Goop. You don't have to be as careful with Original White Goop since it won't harm painted or plastic surfaces. Citrus cleaners can  be really harsh and ruin paint & plastics. As you can see, I'm not a fan of any citrus cleaner and would never use them on anything.
Title: Re: Reel Took a Bath In Sand / Salt water
Post by: Keta on May 28, 2023, 04:07:34 PM
Quote from: Midway Tommy on May 28, 2023, 04:05:05 PM....would never use them on anything.

I like to use them for removing nasty dirty oil and grease from my hands.
Title: Re: Reel Took a Bath In Sand / Salt water
Post by: Donnyboat on May 28, 2023, 11:40:57 PM
Another good way of cleaning parts, mentioned on the forum here a couple of times, is to clip your smaller parts into a Stainless steel tea strainer, that would work good placed into a cleaner, good luck, cheers Don.
Title: Re: Reel Took a Bath In Sand / Salt water
Post by: hotajax on May 29, 2023, 07:40:30 PM
Thanks Donny
Title: Re: Reel Took a Bath In Sand / Salt water
Post by: JasonGotaProblem on May 29, 2023, 08:32:21 PM
Just look at the spool lip. Make sure it didn't get scratched. That's the worst.
Title: Re: Reel Took a Bath In Sand / Salt water
Post by: hotajax on May 30, 2023, 04:51:32 AM
Quote from: foakes on May 27, 2023, 11:56:46 PM
Quote from: hotajax on May 27, 2023, 11:17:48 PM
Quote from: foakes on May 27, 2023, 04:52:06 PMBefore I started using US cleaners exclusively for reel servicing and restoration —- I would disassemble everything —- clean with rinsing and toothbrushes in various cleaning solutions.  The process took hours —- and there was always a few hidden grains afterwards.

With a decent US cleaner —- using just (2) smaller containers inside the tub —- Dawn HD dish soap for any painted or plastic parts — and Lacquer Thinner for any SS, brass, bronze, steel, or aluminum parts —- the process is 100% —- and takes about 15 minutes, including rinsing and drying.

But I do a lot of reels —- and do not like part-way results —- and don't want to waste my time or efforts.

ALL of the grease, grime, crud, salt and sand must be removed one way or another.

Best, Fred
Fred:  Puzzled.  I thought they all had one basket.  I'm soaking twice?  Whatever it takes.  Thanks.

Will mineral spirits remove the black finish from Penn Spinfishers?

I fill the US cleaner reservoir with water —

Then use wide-mouth jars for the parts.

Dawn HD goes in one —- plastic or glass —- for plastic, painted, or anodized parts.

Lacquer Thinner goes in only a GLASS wide-mouth jar —- for SS, Steel, bronze, brass, or bare aluminum parts.

I do not use the heat setting.

When done —- just pour the solutions into another container —-

Then water rinse the parts —- and just pour them out onto a tray with a paper towel.

Dry the parts —- burnish and polish as necessary for best and smoothest operation.

Particularly any friction parts such as the spool shaft, inside the worm-pinion gear, etc.

Mineral Spirits are fairly gentle —- but could either dull the black paint —- or soften and allow it to come off.

There are lots of ways to use a US cleaner —- this is my procedure on nearly all reels I work on.

Quick, simple, effective.  No fancy or expensive solutions.

US cleaners do come with baskets.  But the cleanup, as well as the mess and wasted cleaning solution is not for me.

I can do one reel after another in a fairly smooth assembly line operation.

Best, Fred
Fred:  Got the pics now, thanks a lot.  Much appreciated.
Title: Re: Reel Took a Bath In Sand / Salt water
Post by: kevin cozens on September 04, 2023, 06:46:12 PM
i love my ultrasonic cleaner. i dont just use it for fishing reels. i clean carburettors with it as well. I find the carburettor cleaner does a fairly good job but it does struggle with heavy grease so I wipe the worst of first.
I just might give fairy liquid a go and see how it does