Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Hi there, My name is Marlon, aka Congerslayer on all fishing boards/forums and I'm just getting into servicing my own reels, looking to get a base of some good lubes, don't mind spending a bit more, I won't be using too much any way. Now I'm in the Process of getting an avet HXW 3 Speed MC Raptor, thought a long time about it and I'm pretty sure it's the right reel, I will be casting with it so my question is which grease should I get for drags, bearings, gears and all the other metal parts. Also I have plenty if spinners, so if some different grease there makes sense(all my reels are intended to handle heavy saltwater use, I don't mind a reel that's a bit tighter, as long as, in case of conversationals, it doesn't make them cast worse. Other than that, my reels get punished hard, had many tough reels blow up,  but I do wash and take care of them.otherwise, just use loads of drag, when necessary I straight stick the rod, like that I can comfortably use over 100lb of drag for a while(of course I do try to stay under the reels and line's limit) so if that kind of fishing influences the types of grease and/Or oil that is used, let me know.
Best Regards,  Marlon

Conger: welcome aboard. If you use the search feature there is a thread on grease on oil that guys here use. Lots if good tips and thoughts in there.

Todd

For casting spool bearings you want the lightest oil.  The dogma here is TSI-321.  I use 3-N-ONE pneumatic tool oil.  For drags use Cals drag grease if available.  For everything else use marine wheel-bearing grease.  Another dogma here is do a full lubrication job before the first use.

You can also search in google by entering alantani.com and the topic of interest.

Thanks,  so no specific grease for the spool itself before putting line on?

Some people swear by wax; like a car wax.  Some just use the same grease they have for lubrication.

i use a very thin coat of yamaha marine grease.

Been reading these posts for years but never joined. You all help a lot of people beyond even those who ask directly so I'd like to first say thank you. I'm a gear nut with a problem. I've got every Penn Senator outside the elusive 16/0 which I scour the world for. I am curious where the Penn collectors go from here. I have the Jigmaster's, Squidder, 49, 149, 349, Long each 60, 65 and 66, the 155 and 160 and a couple Delmars and such. I have others but I'd spend all day if I had to go through my case. Where do you go when you feel like you've covered the fundamentals to a degree?

Just had my 1/0 rings and posts rechromed and found a new old stock chrome over brass spool for it so I'm not sure if I'm as bad as some but I certainly have a gear problem. I don't even fish these reels. I've got Makaira's and Alijos's for my conventional gear and TwinPowers if I'm in the mood. I am southeast coaster but I fish more like a west coaster as I grew up outside of San Diego.

Quote from: Quinnhun on December 20, 2024, 10:46:43 PMBeen reading these posts for years but never joined... I don't even fish these reels... I am southeast coaster

Wow, what took you so long, lol. Don't think there are enough days in a year to fish all those reels! Welcome aboard from a fellow southeast coaster.

welcome!  i'm curious to know how the chrome work went.  i'd often thought of plating some of these old penn brass parts where the chrome is badly corroded. 

Alan, from my experience it comes down to finding a quality shop and the level of corrosion. I learned the hard way that not all shops that do chrome plating do a whole lot of it but the plating shops that focus more on antiques than industrial stuff and car parts, from my experience at least, will do a much more detailed job. If the corrosion is simply through the chrome exposing brass the results are phenomenal. The chrome plating done well is thick enough to hide any light scratches and the rings, posts, stars, handles even come out beautifully. Price is certainly an issue but I find myself preferring to redo the chrome plating on original parts than buy new parts for reels that are on my shelf. It just matches so much better.

I'm the same guy that uses shrink wrap on corroded posts and Rust-Oleum on reel seats if I plan to fish the reel so I don't recommend chrome plating if it's going back out into the salt.

Nelz, that's a great question. This site has answered an endless number of questions of mine the past dozen years or so. I have also probably watched every video Alan has ever posted. Heck, I watched him boost the drag on some Shimano TLD's and I had one basically blow up in my hand fighting a fish so I'm not exactly a fan! I've got too many reels. Why? I don't know I like playing with them. Funny part is when I'm on the water I've got my favorites and stick to them like glue.

I'm lucky that I've got a wife who enjoys her own antiquing so my vintage collection doesn't seem completely insane to her yet. It's getting there though.

Quote from: Quinnhun on December 21, 2024, 04:16:31 AMI've got too many reels.

No such thing .... ;0)

Keta, that's definitely true. Sometimes I question the collecting aspect as I feel bad for the reels not getting fished! Problem is I just enjoy the refurbishing process too much. I don't know why but taking a corroded $15 reel and making it a beautiful $50 reel is fun. I have some that are more valuable than that certainly but that's the general process for me!

Just think about the alternative, a land fill or scrap yard somewhere.

I do not like putting things in landfills, we compose what is compostable, recycle when POSSABLE and ALL metals get taken to a scrap yard.  I donate steel unless I have a lot.  I got $2.00 for the steel from a stripped down dishwasher a few weeks ago and will strip the copper from the motor when it warms up. The scrap dealer is 1.5 miles away and between our house and my shop so it was break even fire fuel used.