Do you guys check to see if your new reel needs any oiling or greasing?

Anytime I buy a new reel, it generally has too much oil and grease.  I clean it and re-lube it.  I find they are much smoother and cast further. 

If it's bad enough I can feel if it needs it.  Bought a new Revo LTX and the pinion and main gear were dry.  Added grease and it feels as sweet as it should.  yes, I could feel it.

You guys using Ardent butter?

You guys using Ardent butter?

 

Yap.  I bought one of the cleaning kits last year and love this stuff so far.   I do still use the Shimano oil I got years ago with a few of my reels and the bearing oil I go with my Daiwa Zillion. 

I bought a small tube of butter, I didn't buy the oil or cleaner. I'll order both tonight.

I'm going to clean all my new reels and oil and grease them. I want to know I'm getting the most out of them.

Any thoughts on Boca bearings?

Boca bearings are good but not necessary. The ceramic hybrids are loud (which I like).

Normally you don't need to clean new reels unless there is a problem. Flushing the stock bearings is all you need to do. I'd also suggest Carbontex drag washers because they are inexpensive but great.

Are the stock bearings generally oiled at the factory? The ardent cleaner will flush them right?

There's nothing special about the Ardent products. If running a greased drag you need specific drag grease (Cal's, Shimano...) which can serve on gears as well. If not, a marine grease will lubricate, resist emulsification (water contamination) and fight corrosion. Perfect Solution cleaner is the best I've found for total reel cleaning including bearings. If you can't find it, settle on Simple Green for the reel and acetone for the bearings. Ceramic bearings and a minimal upgrade over properly treated quality stock bearings. A new reel will benefit from deep cleaning but I recommend fishing a new reel hard right out of the box to eliminate any warranty covered issues. 

There's nothing special about the Ardent products. If running a greased drag you need specific drag grease (Cal's, Shimano...) which can serve on gears as well. If not, a marine grease will lubricate, resist emulsification (water contamination) and fight corrosion. Perfect Solution cleaner is the best I've found for total reel cleaning including bearings. If you can't find it, settle on Simple Green for the reel and acetone for the bearings. Ceramic bearings and a minimal upgrade over properly treated quality stock bearings. A new reel will benefit from deep cleaning but I recommend fishing a new reel hard right out of the box to eliminate any warranty covered issues. 

 

 

Good idea to break it in as is from the factory, Thanks for the tips. Another qustion. I'm not so sure I want to oil the bearings after cleaning them. From what I read using them dry is a benefit. I know that's true of ceramics. Is it also true for steel?

No. The ceramic balls are harder and rounder. Lubricate SS bearings with 1 drop of light oil. The Bantam oil from Shimano is decent.