Aluminum Spool Corrosion

Started by Avanti, January 16, 2022, 07:53:08 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Avanti

I am a freshwater fisherman who has maintained my own reels using information learned from this forum.
A friend of mine has had problems with a Shimano Torium 20 that he uses and likes for saltwater sea bass fishing.
I took over maintaining the reel which might see a dozen trips every winter.
The first time I opened it, I was shocked at what I found which was a black tar like substance through out the inside of the reel and a couple of the bearings.
I cleaned it all up, but the  bearings could not be saved. I got a new set of Shimano bearings which come lightly greased.
The next year I found some of the black substance in the right side plate bearing and the bearing on the spool spindle, behind the pin.
But there was also a bunch of stuff between the spool bearing (behind the pin, p/o the spool assembly) and the spool that surprised me.
I cleaned the bearings and packed them with Penn reel grease.
My friend complained about some squealing when he used the reel this year which eventually went away.
I suspected some kind of misalignment in the spool bearing might be occurring as the two sideplate bearings are securely positioned with clips, and the spool bearing is hidden from me when I reassemble the reel.
When I opened the reel after the season, the side plate bearings were well protected by the packed grease. It is clear that water ingresses inside the gear box, looks like through the pinion gear aperture in the side plate. The spool bearing was leached of oil and the grease soap remained, dried out and brown. The bearing could not be saved. More of the stuff I mentioned previously was in between the spool bearing and the spool.
Now, the issue that the subject heading alludes to; the "stuff" between the spool and the spool bearing appears to be corrosion sourcing from the spool. The spool is aluminum with what appears to be a stainless steel spindle pressed through the spool. Where the spindle enters the spool there is a shoulder or pedestal (I don't know what the term should be), that the spool bearing rests against when the spool is inserted into the side plate. That shoulder has significant evidence of corrosion and loss of material. It appears to me that the aluminum spool is corroding due to galvanic corrosion between the spool and the stainless steel bearing and possibly the stainless steal spindle, due to saltwater getting into that interface. I don't know if I have lost a plastic isolator or something that isolates the aluminum spool from the bearing. Or is there some maintenance action that can be taken to prevent this corrosion ?
I told my friend that he would need a new spool and bearing. I regreased and reassembled the reel without the spool bearing which seems to work quite well, and told him that if it doesn't work out he might as well buy a new reel.

Wompus Cat

Sounds like the Grease/Lubricant COULD be reacting with the type of Aluminum /Grade of Aluminum .
Plus  the spool may not be treated or anodized .
Might try to use a different Grease and oils plus coat all parts with silicone before re assembly and adding line.
If a Grass Hopper Carried a Shotgun then the Birds wouldn't MESS with Him

alantani

this is where pictures really help.  hopefully we can get the website fixed soon.
send me an email at alantani@yahoo.com for questions!

Avanti

So, this season the reel started squealing again when it is being used. Only during a cast. I can't get it to repeat by hand. I took the reel apart and didn't find any parts that seemed assembled incorrectly. Noticed some scuffing on the left side of the frame where the spool lip locates. I removed the left sideplate bearing. The spacer seemed worn, with a dimple in the center. I turned over the spacer to get an undimpled surface. The next use of the reel indicated that the squeal is gone. I am surprised that a worn spacer is enough to allow the spool to contact the frame. Seems like the left sideplate spacer should be possibly an annual replacement. I wonder if a slightly thicker spacer can be purchased from Shimano ?

handi2

#4
If that spacer is dimpled i would say that the spool tension knob is too tight. Especially since you are casting.
OCD Reel Service & Repair
Gulf Breeze, FL

handi2

The black goo is from the original drag washers. You can see it stopping the anti reverse dog from working on this reel
OCD Reel Service & Repair
Gulf Breeze, FL

ReelClean

#6
Speaking of black goop,
did it look anything like this?  I suspect a previously serviced reel; looked for all the world like plastidip spray, but was definitely a smooth grease.  First thought was a moly grease, but didn't have the matte colour of moly.  Never seen anything like it myself, has anyone seen a reel grease of this type?
cheers
Steve
Specialist Daiwa reel service, including Magseal.

Avanti

It did look a lot like the pictures above. Bit the black goo was actually inside the bearings also (reel bearing and right sideplate). The bearings could not be saved. Now it has sideplate bearings, completely packed with Penn reel grease. No reel bearing as the spool has lost too much material to support the bearing. Reel seems to work well now. I don't own the reel. The angler that does seems to put 10 years worth of use into a 6 week season.