Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Welcome

Hi members, I found this board while looking up reel maintenance for salt water reels. I'm from So Cal and started doing longer multiday trips. These trips have put a lot of stress on my reels so I think I'm in the right place. There is so much information here, I'm really thankful for all this free information. Thank you members.


Armando.         

Hi.

Welcome!!

Welcome Armando!  You are in the right place, and SoCal Long Range can really test the limits of equipment and the last place to want to have problems is 4 days into an 8 day trip or when hooked onto the fish of a lifetime!  You will find a lot of great minds on just about any reel on this site, as well as quite a few of us for San Diego long range (two Alan Tani trips on Spirit of Adventure coming up!) - john

welcome!!!!

Hey everyone - I found this page while researching how to service my reels. I fish in the northern gulf out of Florida. This will be my first time serving my reels and am sure questions will come up! I have all Shimano reels for offshore fishing and look forward to servicing my Talicas, Tiagras and Saragossa's. Plan right now is Cal's for the drag, Yamaha marine for everything else and TSI 321 for spool bearings on the Talicas (honestly I never cast them though). It appears that most of yall recommend these products for the best performance and saltwater protection. Curious what everyone likes to use to clean off their reels when breaking them down to clean off old grease, crud etc.

welcome!  cleaning is easy.  just an old greasy toothbrush will work fine!!!

Welcome Seabird from the SoCal Inland Empire!  Sounds like you are set on lubricants (and there are many other fine choices as well such as Superlube to name one, but you look to be good).  You will find a lot of advice on cleaning/breakdowns here as well!  My "Go-tos" are usually IPA (Isopropyl, not the hoppy beer) and in extreme cases mineral spirits or BrakeKleen.  Also, Dawn dish soap is a regular "go to" on just about every reel, I personally feel better using milder cleaners and degreasers and allowing more time/using a little more elbow grease.  You are in the right place and don't hesitate to ask questions! - john

Hi, !!

Quote from: SeaBird on September 02, 2025, 08:13:27 PMHey everyone - I found this page while researching how to service my reels. I fish in the northern gulf out of Florida. This will be my first time serving my reels and am sure questions will come up! I have all Shimano reels for offshore fishing and look forward to servicing my Talicas, Tiagras and Saragossa's. Plan right now is Cal's for the drag, Yamaha marine for everything else and TSI 321 for spool bearings on the Talicas (honestly I never cast them though). It appears that most of yall recommend these products for the best performance and saltwater protection. Curious what everyone likes to use to clean off their reels when breaking them down to clean off old grease, crud etc.

Welcome from a fellow gulf coast Floridian. I use alcohol or charcoal lighter fluid, and and electric toothbrush for cleaning.

Welcome from Salem va,,,,

Yes welcome to anyone I have missed recently, any of the pressure packs cleaners are quite good, like carb  & brake cleaners, if you wish to finnish of with air preasure, double check for any shims before you pull the trigger, not to much pressure, yamaha marine grease is the best for any heavy reels, & not exspencive like other lubes, cheers Don. from Sunny Western Australia.

Greetings from the PNW.  I have some reels I've hung onto since the early 80's and decided to change the drag washers on my old Penn Senator 4/0 so I could go sturgeon fishing in the Snake River.  One thing lead to another and now I have developed an old Penn reel obsession.  Started buying parts reels on ebay and fixing them.

welcome!!!