When lubricating a reel, do you oil the spool shaft ends or not? I have read yes, and no. Which is it?

Hootie

I'm no expert, but I put it on the bearing which bleeds off onto the spool shaft ends. Maybe an expert will weigh in.

When lubricating a reel, do you oil the spool shaft ends or not? I have read yes, and no. Which is it?

Hootie

When you take the shim out to polish it, when you replace it place a drop of oil on it instead..

Tight Lines!

Yup, the spool shaft rides in the bearing and doesn't require lube. A small drop of oil on the shims is all that's needed like RM said. If oil is leaking out of a bearing onto anything else you are way over lubricating and performance is suffering.

Yup, the spool shaft rides in the bearing and doesn't require lube. A small drop of oil on the shims is all that's needed like RM said. If oil is leaking out of a bearing onto anything else you are way over lubricating and performance is suffering.

X2.......

Wow, you got your question answered by two of the best in short notice. How cool is that!

Thanks guys, now I know.

Hootie

What are the shims?

What are the shims?

The little peices at each end of the spool shaft. Unscrew your cast control knob and look inside it. The shim is the mtl. on the inside of the cap. Tightening the knob causes more resistance which slows the spool. There is another one on the opposite side of the reel, often under a bearing.

I use a little bit of grease on the spool shaft. Dont know if it helps, but never failed me yet. My SHIMANOS cast soo smooth after I clean them out myself and lube it my way.

PS-notice the capitol letters all the way?LOL.

I use a little bit of grease on the spool shaft. Dont know if it helps, but never failed me yet. My SHIMANOS cast soo smooth after I clean them out myself and lube it my way.

PS-notice the capitol letters all the way?LOL.

All you're doing is slowing down the spool. Even SHIMANO will tell you that.

See what I did there?

All you're doing is slowing down the spool. Even SHIMANO will tell you that.

See what I did there?

Dont the bearings do the spinning? I have never noticed a distance problem. When Im done, my reels cast smoother and farther.

A very light film of grease on the spool end is the same as putting it on the shims but you get a little wider coverage imo by traeting the shims. The point is to flush the factory grease out of the bearings and then oil them LIGHTLY. (See what I did there?) lol