What is the approximate viscosity of your average OVERPRICED boutique reel oil? I bet I can get a full quart of auto oil for the same price as the two ounce bottle of reel lube. Thanks in advance. Hot Ajax
I have ben buying a 1 pint container of synthetic oil, & appying it with a serynge & needle, very little waist that way & you can place it right were you need it, I cant recall the price I paid,cheers Don.
But what weight oil seems to work best on a reel?
:) Like any frugal old man , the last drops from the 1 gallon 5w 20 oil when doing a oil change . :d
Alright!! Thanks.
Quote from: hotajax on April 08, 2023, 01:37:53 AMBut what weight oil seems to work best on a reel?
Good question. Don't know. I only use it on ball bearings, bushings, spool shafts and gear sleeves. Oil an be cut with other stuff, to reduce viscosity. Question is, what do you use that doesn't evaporate? I'd like to just use motor oil.
"OVERPRICED boutique reel oil"...I like that term. There is more to it than just viscosity, that's only one of a multitude of properties. Like does it stay where you put it or does it migrate. Does it evaporate, wash off, or oxidize. Does it play well with water. These properties are formulated and manipulated with chemistry and process. I've never found a 'one size fits all solution'. Some of our benches look like we're bartenders with all the slippery stuff we use. Different reels need different lubes in different places.
I like to scavenge leftover oil change drippings in small eye dropper style bottles. I use this for assessing 'new' old reals. I put a few drops in the old solidified grease and give her a whirl. This tells me a lot about the current condition and which parts I will likely replace.
Synthetic oil has many meanings. I see many auction listings that say "treated with synthetic reel oil" as if it's some kind of magic formula. Some people will apply this term to any oil other than a petroleum based oil...like a silicone. I once had a BASF petroleum engineer explain to me that when it comes to motor oil, both conventional and synthetic oil are formulated from the same feed-stock. He made an analogy that traditional oil has many random molecules but synthetic oil has precise molecules that are all identical. Think of these molecules as ball bearings. Put a coffee can full of random ball-bearings between two plates of steel and it will reduce friction but all the contact will be only on the larger bearings. With a synthetic oil all the bearings will be the same size so all the bearings will share the load and the plates would be completely supported. Previously I thought that 'synthetic oil' was produced from something other than crude oil.
My recommendation is to experiment and find what works best for you and your level of preventative maintenance. Hell, I'll chose an oil because I like the way it smells (like Marvelous Mystery Oil).
Fred shared Jaymor's 191S with us and it has become one of my favorites. I use it all sorts of stuff now. It can be expensive but I have found that I can purchase an aerosol can and transfer it to little pen oilers and it will last a very long time.
If you're casting a conventional and you need a 'fast' oil. It's hard to beat TSI 321. This has been proven by our members
You just need to figure out what works for you.
Quote from: hotajax on April 08, 2023, 12:25:20 AMWhat is the approximate viscosity of your average OVERPRICED boutique reel oil? I bet I can get a full quart of auto oil for the same price as the two ounce bottle of reel lube. Thanks in advance. Hot Ajax
Yeah you can. But you didn't say what kind of reel or intended purpose. There's a reason you use a grease gun on ball joints but 10W30 in the engine....Max rpm, low centepoise, but needs more attention to service. Use 10-40 and you may never service again in your lifetime but you may not cast past the yard. If your are concerned about price, a squirt of 3M actually does well. Just not WD40.
I spilled a quarter of my small bottle of TSI and it still lasted over a year and a half. And that was I think under $10. is that expensive? What am I missing?
In most cases with reels you will be best off with grease for sliding and low RPM rotating surfaces, and something lighter viscosity than motor oil for the higher rpm surfaces and exposed surfaces, such as spool bearings and levelwinds. As John (Thorhammer) noted- the thicker the oil, the longer it will last but the more it will inhibit casting distance on conventional reels. If you are looking for generic products, sewing machine oil is a good starting point for light viscocity reel oil.
If you want to go high performance on the casting bearings, a thin film lubricant (such as TSI) is probably a better bet than magic reel oils, but be prepared to refresh thin films more frequently than oils.
It is more important to just keep parts lubricated with any lubricant. Those old Penns could be fished for decades as long as you replenished regularly with just that oil that came in those metal tubes.
-J
I agree with Jason, even though he has problems. I bought (3) bottles of ts321 a couple of years ago. $21. I still have 2-1/2 bottles.
I am pleased to learn I am in the 'boutique' class, lol. :d
I don't think you will find an automotive oil that is as light as oil intended for reels. Automotive oil has to deal with heat and pressure a reel will never encounter, therefore it's formulated much differently. As Alan has said use any oil/grease, what type is not as important as using something. I have a bottle of ReelX that I bought 8 years ago for around $7 and just getting to the point I will need to pick up another bottle. Will be trying TSI321 this time. I service maybe 15-20 reels a year.
For grease I'm relying on a recipe from the late Sal, which is Valvoline Marine grease cut with automatic transmission fluid. I vary the amount of ATF based on the reel, a conventional will have less a spinning reel will have more.
My reels have seen 5 long range trips and multiple 1 day trips and are running fine without any corrosion noted. But these are some of the 15-20 that get serviced every year.
When I need speed from my bearing I use ReelX, when I need a general oil Penn Blue Oil, when I'm greasing drags Cal's Drag Grease, and general grease the ATF/Valvoline recipe.
If you stick around here long enough you will find everyone has their preference but when they find something that works for them that's it no need to look further.
There are plenty too choose from, some have been around for a long time and some are gone in a flash. Bill
Quote from: Bill B on April 08, 2023, 10:20:59 PMsome have been around for a long time and some are gone in a flash.
It's a journey. I'm the guy at the estate sale that rummages through all the garage workshop stuff that nobody else looks at. No need to use the "good stuff" on an old worn reel that isn't ever getting wet again. Some of these assist as a solvent. Probably would have wound up in a landfill.
There's some oldies and goodies in that picture. Bill
I have to say Inox mx 4,5 or 6, is quite hin, it is formulated from grease, scoured from sheep wool, cheers Don.
I use tsi 321 cut with ethanol,
This is my fav syn motor oil as lube if I am not reaching out for grease, specially for hard to reach stuff.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-Advanced-Fuel-Economy-Full-Synthetic-Motor-Oil-0W-16-1-qt/805628775
flows like water.
Before I 'fell' for the 'need' for posh reel oil, I used standard 20/50 multigrade motor oil and Castrol LM grease (from the days when I had to grease the various bits of the car myself each month) to maintain all my reels. Given that some of my reels are over half a century old and I had them from new and they still look like new even after a lot of use, I believe those lubricants were not too bad.
Mind you, I do use Rocket Fuel in my distance casting reels (Abu 6500C Mag Elite) for the beach, but the rest get motor oil and grease. A gallon can of oil and a pound tin of grease lasts a long time ;D !
any oil is better than no oil at all. ;)
that said, I feel better using a drop of a 4oz bottle TSI 321 oil for $19.99 on my $500 dlls reel than a drop of motorcraft 5w-20w synt oil and if that 321 oil is good for a $500 dll reel then should be great for my $35 - $70 dlls spinning reels, even servicing reels for my friends and personal reels that 4oz TSI bottle had lasted years.
Expensive is to buy a 16pc combo meal at KFC fo $49.99 :-\ :-\ or taking the kids to the movies :'( :'(
Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on April 08, 2023, 04:19:31 AMI spilled a quarter of my small bottle of TSI and it still lasted over a year and a half. And that was I think under $10. is that expensive? What am I missing?
You're not missing anything. I'm frugal. Also, if you wanna read some crazy stuff, go on gun forums and read the discussions about what is the best oil.
A few people asked the purpose for the oil: Lube the bearings and center shaft on my good casting reels, and lube up the bail mechanism and rollers on my spinning gear.
I do have a bottle of TSI-321, and it sure is clingy stuff. I like it. Appreciate the info. Thanks.
Quote from: UKChris1 on April 14, 2023, 10:19:18 AMBefore I 'fell' for the 'need' for posh reel oil, I used standard 20/50 multigrade motor oil and Castrol LM grease (from the days when I had to grease the various bits of the car myself each month) to maintain all my reels. Given that some of my reels are over half a century old and I had them from new and they still look like new even after a lot of use, I believe those lubricants were not too bad.
Mind you, I do use Rocket Fuel in my distance casting reels (Abu 6500C Mag Elite) for the beach, but the rest get motor oil and grease. A gallon can of oil and a pound tin of grease lasts a long time ;D !
Question: I have that reel, I think. Here's all the descriptors: Abu Ambassadeur 6500 C3 CT Mag Elite, the greenie. I would love to know how to lube those bearings. I took out the spool and squirted TSI-321 on the ends of the spool for an hour to soak in, then turned it around and did the same thing with the other bearing. I'm sure there's a better way.
Quote from: Gobi King on April 10, 2023, 02:44:35 AMI use tsi 321 cut with ethanol,
This is my fav syn motor oil as lube if I am not reaching out for grease, specially for hard to reach stuff.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-Advanced-Fuel-Economy-Full-Synthetic-Motor-Oil-0W-16-1-qt/805628775
flows like water.
Don't know about those 10,000 mile claims for automotive use, gobie. There's godda be some thermal breakdown and deposit build-up before then. I'mina stick to 5,000 for oil change intervals.
My truck has 240K miles on the clock —- and I have always changed my oil & filter every 5K miles —- except the first change which was done at 2000 miles to flush and get rid of any new engine usage debris.
2002 Toyota Tacoma 3.4L V6.
I always use Mobil 1 Synthetic.
In addition, I check all fluids every 1000 miles, as a general practice.
Planning a 3000 mile trip in a couple of weeks —- so will change the oil a little prior to the mileage, check all fluids —- and greases, including PS, front and rear diffs, transfer case, coolant, manual trans, battery, washer fluid, all air filters, and all grease zerk fittings will be greased.
This also gives me a chance to inspect for any under vehicle leaks or evident under hood issues such as belts, vacuum lines, etc.
I pour the old oil into a container slated and marked for slash pile burning —- along with 10+ year old not needed records, and also a couple of boxes of stripped fishing line.
Will do the truck on Saturday.
While I think motor oil would do fine for reels —- I use oil specific to vehicles for vehicles & equipment —- and also I use reel oil —- WRL191S —- for reel work.
I need an oil that is salt-water resistant, stays in place when applied, works smoothly, and flushes out easily with solvents when the next service comes around.
Best, Fred
Quote from: Gfish on April 20, 2023, 03:49:59 PMQuote from: Gobi King on April 10, 2023, 02:44:35 AMI use tsi 321 cut with ethanol,
This is my fav syn motor oil as lube if I am not reaching out for grease, specially for hard to reach stuff.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-Advanced-Fuel-Economy-Full-Synthetic-Motor-Oil-0W-16-1-qt/805628775
flows like water.
Don't know about those 10,000 mile claims for automotive use, gobie. There's godda be some thermal breakdown and deposit build-up before then. I'mina stick to 5,000 for oil change intervals.
10k miles, dunno, oil is cheap, I don't mind changing oil
Fred is on the $$$ with 5k or less for the first time.
I don't do my mine at a set mile, I use my chunky behind to gauge when I need to change oil, yeah I use synthetic but I use any major brand.
I idle a lot, I treat my vehicles like a boat, I go by hours ;-)
I have fuel dilution in my 3.5 twin turbo ford ecoboost.
I have super duper diesel fuel dilution in my 6.6 Duramax (Isuzu) diesel due to DPF clean cycle.
I idle as much as I drive. I clarify one point (not to cause controversy), I use synthetic for good flow at start up in cold MI temps, and most of my driving is 1 mile to middle school, 0.1 mile to grocery store, 4 miles to costco to gas up, 2 mile to play indoor tennis and workout.
I have never used a block warmer for my diesel and starts up in 1.5 crank at -17F after sitting for a week.
Mind you, I do use Rocket Fuel in my distance casting reels (Abu 6500C Mag Elite) for the beach, but the rest get motor oil and grease. A gallon can of oil and a pound tin of grease lasts a long time ;D !
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Question: I have that reel, I think. Here's all the descriptors: Abu Ambassadeur 6500 C3 CT Mag Elite, the greenie. I would love to know how to lube those bearings. I took out the spool and squirted TSI-321 on the ends of the spool for an hour to soak in, then turned it around and did the same thing with the other bearing. I'm sure there's a better way.
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Sorry for the delay. I simply unscrew them - the chrome caps containing the bearings - and clean them and their housing by immersing in lighter fuel a couple of times till no more brown comes out, leave them in a warm place on a paper towel or tissue to dry completely and then add a couple of drops of Rocket Fuel before screwing them back in place. For a quick re-oil, I just put a drop of Rocket Fuel in the bearing housings after taking the reel apart and removing the spool spindle from each bearing in turn or just unscrew the caps with the reel in one piece, add a drop of the oil and replace the caps.. Nothing too complex.