Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Hi folks. Never having used carbotex drag washers before (my 1975 6000 is still as original as the day I bought it, brand new, but it still gets used!) I am thinking of upgrading a couple of reels to this system. The trouble is, it would appear Shimano drag grease or Cals drag grease is not available in the UK - I have been searching and phoning for weeks.

SO, the question is, why can't you use a lithium based grease, or a molybednum based grease (I have moly grease in the shed) be used, or even a light smear of the Yamaha marine grease?

Now, before you all jump in, PLEASE consider that here in the UK the kind of fish I fish for, a big fish is a 20lber and it MIGHT run as far as 10 yards a couple of times. Also the weather is HOT if it gets to 70 degrees F, our water peaks at around 65 degrees F - so don't answer thinking of your tropical, hard running fish and hot temperatures. Think of cod off Newfoundland, but at a max size of about 20lb - or stripers of Cape Cod, to a maximum size of 15lbs (maybe ONE in five lifetimes!) or flounders, that kind of thing.

We do get bigger fish - blue sharks, conger and skate, but I wouldn't be using these reels for those fish. I am thinking 6000 and 6500 - I will worry about the 9000 s later. 

Those other greases are sticky and will cause your drags to be jerky.  If your country has pure Teflon grease that is commonly used for bicycles, that would be a better solution.

UK based - http://www.blakdogtackle.com/product_info.php?products_id=1035

Also stock carbontex washers for your Abu 6000 - http://www.blakdogtackle.com/?cPath=86_120

Quote from: Fish-aholic on October 22, 2014, 09:17:30 PM
UK based - http://www.blakdogtackle.com/product_info.php?products_id=1035

Also stock carbontex washers for your Abu 6000 - http://www.blakdogtackle.com/?cPath=86_120

YES - until you ring them up! They have the washers but no drag grease.

We can get plenty of bicycle grease from Shimano, and stuff for making skateboards go supersonic...fishing? Forget it (we aren't meant to do things like that, or go hunting   )

Thanks. I shall see if they do Teflon cycle grease or skateboard grease. It will probably be a lot cheaper too.

I have a little split shot pot that I could pack with Cal's drag grease and post out to you. If used only for drag washers it should be able to lubricate about 5-6 sets of drag washers. Message me via PM if your interested? 

I have sent Blakdog grease just a couple weeks ago, he probably has it by now.

Dawn

Dawn - do you mean Blackdog Tackle in England, or over your side of the Atlantic?

I'll give them another ing and see if they have any again. They had Cals light grease and Barracuda something or other, but for gears, not drags.

Fishaholic, that is a kind offer, but the postage would probably be more than the grease is worth. If I get really stuck I'll take you up on it. Thanks.

Cal's Lite works on CF drag washers.

Well, there you go Simon. Your search is over!
Is all Cal's Teflon based?

Just phoned them - they have the drag grease in stock, so I take it Dawn did mean OUR Blackdog Tackle shop down in deepest, darkest, Essex - only deal with them by mail order. They eat their younguns down there.

Both of Cal's greases, light and regular, can be used on the drags and gears, or any other thing that needs greased.
I believe they are both teflon based, it's a deep dark top secret formula   

I should of mentioned in my post that my offer was FOC.  


 

I applaud your generosity Fish-aholic!  But mainly I wanted to post FOC = free of charge, lol.

Had this old fogged mind stumped for a tick or two, before the coffee kicked in.

Washers and grease will be here in the morning. I have a coaching course (First Aid and Child Protection tickets are up for renewal) this weekend, but I will get onto it next week. After reading all the hype on here I am expecting a new lease of life for these reels.

I ordered a pot of grease and Carbontex washers for:
Ambassadeur 5500c (74 reel foot)
Ambassadeur 6000 (74 reel foot)
Ambassadeur 6500c (81 reel foot)
and 2x Ambassadeur 9000 (75 and 76 reel foot nos)

I bet modern reels won't be having their first major refit after 40 years of use!

Quote from: Rancanfish on October 23, 2014, 03:10:07 PM
I applaud your generosity Fish-aholic!  But mainly I wanted to post FOC = free of charge, lol.

Had this old fogged mind stumped for a tick or two, before the coffee kicked in.

I was close to flouting the 12yr old rule on this forum with that abbreviation without even realising