How Do I? clean my reel after salt water use

BBQ BOB · Sep-09-2009, 08:16 PM

what do you do to you reels when done for the day

BOILER · Sep-09-2009, 08:20 PM

I like to lock down my drag, spray some salt-x on my reels and let it sit for a few minutes then gently wash them down with fresh water. After that I take a sponge with some regular dish soap, midly mixed with water, and gently wipe them down and rinse again. After that I let them dry and apply oil and grease if needed. I also put the reel back into freespool to let it dry out completely.

coryellk · Sep-09-2009, 11:24 PM

Boiler is the exception. Most people do less than him. His reels certainly will last him a long time. If he sends them to a reputable reel repair shop, (I like Ken's in Oceanside, Alan Tani is popular as well) for a clean and inspect once a year for about $20 a reel, his kids will inherit some nice gear.

I'm the exception in that I clean all the parts except the drag washers and maybe the grips in naptha, dry, and reassemble them. I pay special attention to regrease the reel seat screws, clamp screws, frame screws, clicker, and the drag washers. Yes, even the Avet washers I have get greased. The spool shafts are polished with scotchbrite and reoiled with Extreme Lube. All bearings are soaked in naptha (a wide coffee cup with an inch or two of naptha works good here) and dryed in paper towels before reoiling with ReelX or Black Market oil. If a couple of minutes of freespool is your thing you can use one drop of oil and a second drop of Extreme Lube to the spool bearings. All other bearings get ReelX or even CorrosionX if I'm not going to get back into it in awhile. I brush Boeshield T9 on the inside sideplates and the spool sides. I brush Cals into the maingear teeth. I avoid getting grease on my spool shafts and the spool bearings.

I'm weird this way but there's more than a couple guys on this board that do this to each of their reels several times a year. All of us will help you in a pinch. I know some Penn's, Pro Gears, and Shimano Calcutta's pretty well. PM me if you get in a bind. I'm a former pilot that likes to fish.

coryellk · Sep-09-2009, 11:26 PM

Oh yeah, I'm learning my way around Tiburon's and Accurates now that I have more disposable income.

AKSalmon · Sep-10-2009, 07:23 AM

By far the most important thing is to rise your reels in fresh water after every use. Every use. Alternatively, you might spray the with Salt-X and then wipe down. You also need to have them completely disassembled at least annually to clean and grease the internal parts. There really isn't s substitute for this... but doing it will make your reels last a long time.

1974jim · Sep-10-2009, 07:39 AM

"When you are done for the day" I spray them with distilled water. It really pulls the salt into itself.
This is no substitute for a real cleaning after the season.

Old&In The Way · Sep-10-2009, 08:25 AM

If I'm on a trip, I keep a spray/mist bottle of fresh water. At night, I thouroughly spray clean reels and rods, and wipe with towel. Put on Avet reel covers, and go to bed. Next morning, they're ready to go.
P.S. : while you're cleaning reels, put lever forward to strike position, when you're done, put in free position, and engage clicker.

BBQ BOB · Sep-10-2009, 04:26 PM

cool I leared a lot I bought 2 and spent more on these than my wife for xmas. So my wife took one reel and wont let me have it back she loves it so well . Thay are a great reel. so i will do just that. Salt x and dry them . Thank you for all your help cant wait to buy me the raptor for xmas