26 replies to this topic

[burleytog]

With all the recent talk concerning reel cleaning, I thought I'd give a quick and easy photo tutorial on doing a speedy bearing job. A clean bearing is a happy bearing.

I'm using a Shimano Curado 200E5 as the test subject. Patient is about six months old.

Before you do anything at all, obtain a schematic for the reel.

First, if you don't have a can of this, head to Lowe's, Home Depot or your local hardware store and grab a can. It will be the best $7 you spend this winter.



Second, remove the palm sideplate and spool. In the palm sideplate, you'll find the first spool support bearing.




Carefully remove the retaining clip (CAREFUL!, these things can fly far away).



Next you will need a tool to remove the bearing from it's housing. On the top is a small paper clip that has been expertly engineered for this task. On the bottom is a tool Jimzee gave me.




Here you'll see the bearing removed from it's housing.




Here I'm holding the bearing by it's hub with a pair of lab forceps.




I use small glass jars to soak the bearings. Baby food jars or caper jars are perfect. Just make sure it has a tight-fitting lid so the acetone doesn't evaporate.



Next you'll need to remove the other spool support bearing. In the Shimano, it is located under the spool tension knob.



Carefully remove that spring...



And remove the bearing in the same manner as referenced above. Place into the jar of acetone.

Some reels may have bearing supported knobs. If this is the case, removal is quite easy.



Using the same tool from above, remove the knob cap to reveal the knob nut.


http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l53/blpjr77/reelclean11.jpg

These will be reverse threaded, so make sure you don't bugger the slot when removing.

Once the knob is removed, you can remove the bearing.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l53/blpjr77/reelclean12.jpg

Remove the bearing, wipe off the grease and pop into the acetone bath.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l53/blpjr77/reelclean13.jpg

Make sure you don't lose the washer under the knob nut.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l53/blpjr77/reelclean14.jpg

Soak the bearings for 8-10 hours. I generally change the acetone 2-3 times for each set of bearings, depending on how dirty they are. After an hour or so, you'll see a lot of suspended white solids in the acetone. When that happens, remove the bearings, dump the acetone, wipe the jar, refill and put the bearings back into their chemical bath.

More to come later...

[islandbass]

Burley,

This is great information! Thank you very much. I look forward to the rest. Thanks!  This looks to be a sticky worthy post. 8-)

[lubina]

This is what Shimano recommend for the care of their reels.
http://fish.shimano.... Reels (2 pages).pdf
I wouldn't put any kind of grease near the spool support bearings either.

Nice pictures

[Jimzee]

Very good job on the thread so far. I been wanting to do this but my picture taking skills suck. Maybe I'll put that new tripod to use and do one for Daiwa later on when I get finished with all these reels.

Great pictures BTW.

[KevO]

Excellent, I was wondering how to get the bearings out of the handle knobs.

[Big Tom]

Burley, this is awesome!!!

I look forward to the next installment.

[FordNFishinLover]

BURLEY! This is being added to my favorites. Been waiting for someone to produce a good quality picture thread on how to take apart your reels.

Great info already! An cant wait too see the rest!!

Btw, when you say its reverse threaded does that just mean you would unscrew it the opposite way?? Thanks loads!!!

[The_Natural]

I'll add that if you strip your bearings and relube them with low-viscosity oil like Yellow Rocket Fuel or Hot Sauce; you really need to perform a quick clean and relube once a month during the fishing season. The factory packs them with grease because it lasts significantly longer than oil, and the 'average Joe' will not strip his reel and maintain the bearings. You can experience all the benefits of using a thin oil on your bearings, but they will require more maintenance to ensure a good lifespan. Trust me...it's worth it.

[FordNFishinLover]

So burley, when are you gunna add to this?    

[J Francho]

Carefully remove the retaining clip (CAREFUL!, these things can fly far away).

If you keep a finger over the retainer clip, as you pop each apex out, it won't go flying.

Nice work man.

[LAO162]

Thanks Burley! I just added this thread to my favorites

[SWMIBASSER]

Nice GREASED bearings


Pay attention to how a reel comes apart and you don't need a schematic.

[roadwarrior]

Pay attention to how a reel comes apart and you don't need a schematic.

Our members who make a living servicing reels recommend
NEVER opening a reel without schematics.


8-)

[SWMIBASSER]

Pay attention to how a reel comes apart and you don't need a schematic.

Our members who make a living servicing reels recommend
NEVER opening a reel without schematics.


8-)

Been taking my own apart for 15 years......Never payed anyone who was making a living doing it, to do it for me, and never needed a picture. 8-)

[skunked_again]

Pay attention to how a reel comes apart and you don't need a schematic.

Our members who make a living servicing reels recommend
NEVER opening a reel without schematics.


8-)

Been taking my own apart for 15 years......Never payed anyone who was making a living doing it, to do it for me, and never needed a picture. 8-)

a factory trained tech says you should always have a schematic before cracking your reel open i tend to believe them. not saying that in youre case you cant service your reels without a schematic. i used to think the same as yourself until i serviced a abu 5600 C4 mag and couldnt get the thing back together.