I am not very familiar with level winding reels and wonder what lubrication you would use/recommend on the wormgear?
I currently use Teflon Grease (http://www.finishlineusa.com/products/bicycle-greases/premium-grease-made-with-teflon-fluoropolymer) yes I know its actually for my bike, but seems to do the job well enough.
Thanks
I use 321 it works fine.
Joe
I wonder if that teflon grease has properties similar to Cal's drag grease....??
Sid
Use a very light oil for a synchronized level wind, but you can use something thicker that will last longer for a disengaging level wind.
-steve
Joe, Sid, and Steve are all correct, Cor --
321, or a light oil that is preferably synthetic.
The most important thing is to clean the entire mechanism completely outside of the reel.
This would include the worm, worm gear, pawl, pawl screw cover, any shim in the pawl cap, line guide, upper guide rod, etc.
Then reassemble and adjust for proper operation with the right oil and just the right amount of freeplay without being tight or binding in either direction.
Keep the grease for the gears inside the reel.
Best,
Fred
x2 What Fred said :).
What I would add, is that daily maintenance can be simply a little oil on the worm itself, then I tilt the reel on one side and put a drop on the lower end and give it a few spins, then repeat on the other end tipping it on that side. This is to get a little oil into the bushings/bearings on the ends where corrosion is trying to do it's worst and staves off more serious trouble.
Quote from: sdlehr on May 11, 2016, 07:36:31 PM
I wonder if that teflon grease has properties similar to Cal's drag grease....??
Sid
It is less sticky then Cal's but stays on well, even in the wet.
Thanks for the information. Its a bugger to keep that thing clean without dismantling the whole reel and removing it first.
Quote from: Cor on May 12, 2016, 04:14:09 AM
Quote from: sdlehr on May 11, 2016, 07:36:31 PM
I wonder if that teflon grease has properties similar to Cal's drag grease....??
Sid
It is less sticky then Cal's but stays on well, even in the wet.
Thanks for the information. Its a bugger to keep that thing clean without dismantling the whole reel and removing it first.
It would much less a problem if you used a product like 321 and 301 (to clean) the worm gear and Pawl. Grease attracts dirt and sand much easier then a lite coating of oil. If salt water fishing it is necessary to wash the reel down with fresh water and let dry and reapply a light coat of oil too the auto wind, that is just maintenance practice.
Joe
I've had them come in greased but they go out oiled...
Any good quality light oil will work. I use either Rem-Oil or Tri-Flow.
Tom
Quote from: tholmes on May 16, 2016, 03:58:35 PM
Any good quality light oil will work. I use either Rem-Oil or Tri-Flow.
Tom
That's what I used on guns for years, I do know 321 is a excellent light lube as well.
Joe
Again thanks for all the advice!
I have stripped and cleaned the reel 100% and am giving it a complete service. Am waiting on some parts and will then assemble and oil with 321.
Will see how that goes. Must say I am not impressed with the amount of time it takes to service a level winder :-[ :-[ :'(
Quote from: Cor on May 16, 2016, 06:58:23 PM
Again thanks for all the advice!
I have stripped and cleaned the reel 100% and am giving it a complete service. Am waiting on some parts and will then assemble and oil with 321.
Will see how that goes. Must say I am not impressed with the amount of time it takes to service a level winder :-[ :-[ :'(
Welcome to our world. ;) ;D
Joe
It takes me an hour to do any reel..!
Quote from: handi2 on May 16, 2016, 11:16:36 PM
It takes me an hour to do any reel..!
I am retired and work slowly, otherwise a spring or something runs away from me. :)
I use corrosion x. It's pretty thick, but not like grease. I been doing it for a while now. I add more on if it looks too dry. FYI, I see a lot of levelwinds, specifically lowprofiles, actually greased, perhaps diluted with a little bit of oil.
Joe's point about attracting sand and grit is the only reason not to use thick grease on a disengaging levelwind. I mix blue lube and 321 to get a consistency that is easy to paint on in a relatively thin coat. If casting a synchronized levelwind you want the lightest oil you can find coupled with frequent cleaning to minimize how much the pawl slows down the spool.
-steve
I recieved the parts 10 days ago and finished the reel. Lubed the wormgear with Corrosion X as it is not possible to obtain 321 in this end of the wood.
I will use Corrosion X for the next year or so on all 3 my level winders and perhaps will comment again at the end of next season.
Keep in mind, Cor --
If you had a good friend or family member traveling from the States to South Africa -- we could send them a sealed new container of 321 that could come back in their checked luggage.
I just use a high quality synthetic oil -- and the LW is routinely oiled whenever needed.
Best,
Fred
When it comes to Oil or Grease on a Level Wind or Baitcaster does the Conditions the Angler fishes come into play. Seems Oil would degrade faster than thin Grease. Also seems that many anglers never look to see if the worm gear is lubed or not. I have ask many reel techs the same question Grease or Oil for worm gear and have heard all kinds of things. Dont use Oil it will disappear faster and Grease attracts to much trash. So whats the consensus. In East Tennessee we dont have much grass but down the road an hour or so is Chickamauga which has a ton of grass and it attracts all kinds of Stuff on a Worm Gear. Which is better for each condition on Freshwater lakes. Thanks you guys and this site are AWESOME.
Quote from: foakes on June 03, 2016, 09:30:40 PM
Keep in mind, Cor --
If you had a good friend or family member traveling from the States to South Africa -- we could send them a sealed new container of 321 that could come back in their checked luggage.
I just use a high quality synthetic oil -- and the LW is routinely oiled whenever needed.
Best,
Fred
Is appreciated. I usually have lots of orders for hard to get stuff when someone travels to the US. :)
Quote from: Blacklabelsociety on June 03, 2016, 11:54:58 PM
When it comes to Oil or Grease on a Level Wind or Baitcaster does the Conditions the Angler fishes come into play. Seems Oil would degrade faster than thin Grease. Also seems that many anglers never look to see if the worm gear is lubed or not. I have ask many reel techs the same question Grease or Oil for worm gear and have heard all kinds of things. Dont use Oil it will disappear faster and Grease attracts to much trash. So whats the consensus. In East Tennessee we dont have much grass but down the road an hour or so is Chickamauga which has a ton of grass and it attracts all kinds of Stuff on a Worm Gear. Which is better for each condition on Freshwater lakes. Thanks you guys and this site are AWESOME.
1. Oil if you keep after it.
2. Lt. Grease if you don't.
Abu greases their LW from the factory (lt. silicon lube). But Factory prep is usually a sort of "one time for the life of the reel" sort of thing.
Oil is better, but requires more frequent application.