What does everyone recommend for reel maintenance lubes?

Boy, you are going to get a zillion answers to this, but this what I have been using for the last 17 years, which is when I decided to learn how to clean/tune my own reels. I only fish fresh water.

SS spool bearings - Yellow Rocket Fuel

Ceramic spool bearings - Aust Met Oil

Pinion bearing - dipped in TSI 301

Crank shaft bearing - ReelX

Anti reverse bearing - A touch of Yellow Rocket Fuel on a QTip wiped inside

Metal and vinyl gears - Super Lube or Yamaha Blue Marine Grease

Worm Gear - ReelX

Handle bearings - ReelX

Shimano drag grease on drag discs

This is a good way to start an argument. LOL

 

I used to have on hand a bunch ofmdifferent lubes for different components. Over time,  I have reduced that to just three.

TSI321 for spool bearings, IAR bearing, and levelwind

Shimano star drag grease for drag washers and gears

90wt gear oil for frame and handle bearings

Spot on .ghoti. There's no magic to any of it. 

I use a moly to lube everything. www.tsmoly.com don't apply too much. Don't get any on your drags. It will seem tight at first but crank the reel while watching tv it will free up and run smooth as silk.

Any decent oil that is not red.  Plus any decent grease that is not red.  

 

I don't use moly because it's so easy to get black stains on anything it spills onto or touches.  It is fine lube; I just don't like the staining.  Clear oil, like sewing machine oil or 3 in 1 works just fine without any problems.

 

I really like Superlube grease.  It's white, PTFE (aka Teflon) enhanced, and doesn't collect into a dirty crust like a lot of other greases do.  Buy a tub of it at NAPA and you're set for many years.  Drags?  Any thick cosmoline based drag grease like Shimano Ace2 or Penn Muscle Grease works fine.  Bearings, levelwind, and centrifugal brake drum?  Depends.  There's a trade-off to consider.  A higher viscosity bearing oil will stay in a bearing longer than a thinner oil but will not be as fast.  A thinner oil will be cast out of a bearing more quickly but will also run faster.  I use moderate speed oil like Yellow Rocket Fuel or Reel Butter bearing oil.  You can use faster oils, even 3 in One oil if you are meticulous about regular maintenance, which most of us are not.  I do a complete tear down, clean and lube yearly and refresh bearing oil about quarterly.  Works for me.  If I fished a lot in cold weather, I'd choose a very thin bearing oil because temperature affects bearing oil viscosity a lot.

I would avoid 3 in 1. But what about Zoom turbine oil?

Abu silicote for all non spool bearings,gears, and worm shaft. 

Zpi zero oil for spool bearings

Cals drag grease if needed

Thanks for all the responses. Making the decision to be more proactive on reel maintenance.

On 9/16/2017 at 10:16 AM, 3crows said:

I would avoid 3 in 1. But what about Zoom turbine oil?

Just curious, why would you avoid 3 in 1 oil?

 

I've been using the Zoom turbine oil on bearings and level winds for about a year with no issues. It is a pretty light oil, but I service my reels monthly during the season and don't worry about how long it stays in the bearings.

 

Tom

This guy uses 3n1 has pretty good credentials

 

"Not to brag but I won 5 National Casting Championships with 3&1 oil and still is my choice with all my conventional fishing reels. Hope this helps..."

Ron Arra 

http://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/topic/26801-rocket-fuel-3-in-1-oil-owl-snotwhat-reel-oil/?page=3

Just knowing how to catch fish does not make one a lubrication expert. The 3 in 1 is known to turn gummy and thicken, there are better lubricants on the market than oil suitable for door hinges.  This is kind of like the firearms forums, there is always somebody who has one a ton of contests and uses 3 in 1 oil in their AR or 1911. Nonetheless, there are better lubricants there as well. 

 

You should use what makes you happy. I think being cheap makes a lot of people happy. In the aviation world where I work, it will just get you dead.

3 n 1.   If you study up, it is about as good of an all around oil as there is.