Carb Cleaner Warning

[Rancanfish]

I have used carb cleaner on many reels (mostly Penns) and never had an issue until the other day.  I was looking at my toy box and found a clean, used, Daiwa PMF55H.  Basically a wide spool saltwater baitcaster with a magnetic control.  Circa 1978

Anyway,  tore it down and was cleaning out the bearings with the carb spray.  The spray splashed out one of the holes, between my palm and the outside of the sideplate,  and melted the finish!  Not good.  I don't know of a way to test the finish, so I'm not using it again.

I will use simple green in the future and employ more patience to avoid a repeat.  If this was a pristine example of this reel I would have been heartbroken.  But it would have been worse if I was cleaning up a friends reel.

[Reel 224]

I have used carb cleaner on many reels (mostly Penns) and never had an issue until the other day.  I was looking at my toy box and found a clean, used, Daiwa PMF55H.  Basically a wide spool saltwater baitcaster with a magnetic control.  Circa 1978

Anyway,  tore it down and was cleaning out the bearings with the carb spray.  The spray splashed out one of the holes, between my palm and the outside of the sideplate,  and melted the finish!  Not good.  I don't know of a way to test the finish, so I'm not using it again.

I will use simple green in the future and employ more patience to avoid a repeat.  If this was a pristine example of this reel I would have been heartbroken.  But it would have been worse if I was cleaning up a friends reel.

First I would like to say I'm sorry that this happened to you and I'm glad you posted your experience here. I have read various posts on different solutions that people are using to clean there reels with. I am always a bit cautious when using the various chemicals that are on the market today. Okay having said that, let me give you a brief background on me. I'm an amateur gun smith and have been doing this for some 35 years or better, in that time I have used various chemicals designed for gun cleaning and bluing, some of them are quite caustic and need to be to accomplish there intended use. I always wear eye protection and gloves (Rubber).

The key word here is "INTENDED USE". Carburetor Cleaner is not intended for cleaning reels, or any of these HOT SHOT cleaners like Brake clean etc. I know there are people here that will say, they work and they are fast. "TRUE". and they can harm you as well as your equipment. I'm not trying to over ride the experience or those that have been repairing reels and servicing them, nor do I profess to have more knowledge then they do in there field of expertise. I just think we all need to practice common sense and due caution when using clean materials that are caustic and dangerous to our health.

I'm going to go a bit further in saying your work station should have a first aid kit that has the proper materials in case of a mishap, such as eye wash. And you should have protective clothing and materials when performing your various operations. Always wash your hands after working with any of these materials, such as grease and various lubricants, as soon as you are done. Not an hour later.

Nuff said. I hope this makes some of you think about what you do every day without giving it much thought on what harm can be done to you and your equipment, more importantly YOU!!! Sorry if I got a little windy here, but this is a subject that is close to my heart. Please be careful.           

[Bryan Young]

It sounds like you tried to clean the bearing without removing it from the reel.  Whenever I clean bearings, I always take them out of the reel.

Sorry to hear about your reel.

[Rancanfish]

Bingo Bryan.  Just wanted to post up the warning because lots of people read what we're doing and assume that it must be ok.

[alantani]

yeah, i've had problems with a couple of thumb bars from the shimano bait casters. 

[Tiddlerbasher]

Acetone can have a similar effect on some plastics. My prference is IPA (one of the more benign solvents ). Remember some bearings have 'plastic' cages - unless you remove the shields you'll never know!

[Tunacious]

All good info. If I'm inside while cleaning a reel, I take the bearings outside and spray them in my garage sink basin or over dirt (away from grass and plants etc). The bearings are always out of the cups. I extend my arm (holding the bearing) as far as I can and spray at a slight angle to ensure nothing splashes back on me.

[steelfish]

well, I think most of us have an experience like that one.

reel plastic parts can come and go, but I better start using plastic gloves when using carb cleaner for the bearings.

my 1st or 2nd time using it I sprayed a good amount of carb cleaner on the bearing which it was on my bare hand (palm) averything went good for the bearing, it spinned like crazy, but withing the next hour I started to feel a tremendous itch on my hand when the carb cleaner and old grease and oil poured, now I just left the bearing on a big stainless steel dog food plate and later put a good amount of dish washer soap on it.. no more itchy hands for me after that.
but a pair of plastic gloves is in my buying list for this matter too.

[Keta]

Nitrile gloves, plastic gloves will melt.

[bluefish69]

I remove the Bearings ASAP when doing Service. Put the Bearing in a glass jar with a cover & put enough Carb or Brake cleaner to cover them. Let soak, blow dry & grease them. You will be surprised what comes out of the Bearings.

Mike

[steelfish]

Nitrile gloves, plastic gloves will melt.

gotcha..thanks

[Tightlines667]

I too use heavy Nitrile gloves. 

To clean bearings, I typically: remove shields, use a toothbrush and simple green to remove most grease, submerge in a jar of mineral spirits, run for 15mins in my sonic cleaner, spray with carb cleaner, blow dry, and lube.  I have been lubing with TSI301, then packing all bearings (on larger trolling reels) with Penn Blue, or non-spool bearings on smaller or live/dead bait/casting/jigging reels. 

[Alto Mare]

Try this stuff and you'll be amazed, no need for brushes or stinky carb cleaners :
http://www.amazon.com/Paslode-Degreaser-For-Cordless-Tools/dp/B004BGBB5W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431119188&sr=8-1&keywords=paslode+cleaner

This is all that I would use on my bearings.

[Reel 224]

Try this stuff and you'll be amazed, no need for brushes or stinky carb cleaners :
http://www.amazon.com/Paslode-Degreaser-For-Cordless-Tools/dp/B004BGBB5W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431119188&sr=8-1&keywords=paslode+cleaner

This is all that I would use on my bearings.

Ive not tried that product, but I'm sure the local HD has it. Ill give it a go.

[Wolli]

sorry to hear that.
I use Caramba Brake Cleaner and had never any troubles.