I have an Abu Garcia Black Max reel that really needs to be cleaned and re-greased/oiled. I've done it a few times, but I am not getting the longevity that I should so I must be doing it wrong. I take it apart, clean off the gears, grease them, and then I soak my bearings in grease remover. I clean the and dry them well, then add the new oil. Am I doing something wrong?

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that's more or less what I do. Maybe your bearings need replacement. I just dismantle mine, use white gas to decrease everything, let it dry off, relube, and rebuild it. I will say that once you clean it out really well, it wont ever feel like it did from the factory because they tend to overlube things and use different greases and oil than you probably will. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. To me it doesn't feel right until I break it down and put it back together.

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X2  That is how I clean my reels. 

I don't know what kind of longevity you think or expect from a black max. If it has been fished super heavy it could just be beat. If it feel rough and like gears when you crank it's likely cause your main gear is beat up even if you can't see it.

The best way to flush bearings is lighter fluid. Not the big bottle of grill stuff either that doesn't work well. I find actual zippo brand to be the best I have tried. Clean your gears out with a toothbrush and then out about half a gear of grease on it and that should be good. Also just a drop of very lightweight oil on bearings. Maybe 2 drop but less is usually more.

what are black max gears made of?

Define longevity. After a down to the frame cleaning it shouldn't need it again for a good while. I'm not meaning just pulling the gear stack and wiping off the old grease. The entire reel is torn down. Every clip,bearing,retainer,ect. I do it over the winter to my whole lineup. Then I fish them for the next 6-8 months. I'll take the handle side plate off about 1/2 way through and just take a look inside. I add oil to the spool bearings when needed.

I fill a sink full of water and soap and toss my reels in.

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this is my preferred cleaning method....quick TAT and i know it will be done right.

I found Penn reel grease to work great and last.

I've been using Lews oil, it very thin as it should be.

I'll use acetone to flush out the bearings then

pressurized air to get them fully dried before I drop

that tiny bit of oil on them.

Last time I cleaned and lubed it was back in May. Although at that time I only used oil, no grease so I think that may be my problem.

Light oil on spool bearings, grease on gears, gear oil on non-spool bearings, sliding parts and levelwind. Keep the AR clutch dry or oiled very lightly with a swab. 

I have always done my own reels and picked up a good tip from a guy in the business and that is to use CFC Electric spray cleaner on the bearings.  I put them in a tiny strainer my wife gave me, step outdoors and with the red tube in the spray nozzle, spray the bearings until they spin freely.  CFC removes grease really fast, dries fast and leaves no residue. The stuff is incredible for a fast degrease. I even use it to clean grease packed pinion bearings.  Being as anal as I am I still give the bearings a quick bath in lighter fluid, blow dry with my keyboard blower and oil.

I fill a sink full of water and soap and toss my reels in.

Then after they're done soaking, throw them in a bucket full of motor oil. 5w works best for the warmer months, something heavier if you fish during the winter. Just remember to take your handle off so it's not all oily when you get the reel out.