So I clean my reels the quick way like take the sideplate and spool off and clean out the dirt and vegetation. I also grease the wormgear and oil the bearings but, do you have to clean the internal gears?? I know some people do this but why? Isn't it mostly sealed? I understand for salt but why freshwater?

That dirt and vegetation can get into the bearings and gears. Cleaning the old oil/grease out completely before putting new oil/grease on will not only keep the reel smooth but extend the time needed before replacing parts. Just adding oil/grease leaves all that debris behind.

I clean as needed (rarely), and disassemble and lubricate once a year (usually in the winter when it's snowing...and I need to do something fishing related). 

 

Aside from that, no action needed.

 

All my reels are 25+ years old. 

I clean mine once a year, but also wipe down with a rod and reel cleaner on occasion, do some lubrication on key spots through out the season.

6 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

That dirt and vegetation can get into the bearings and gears. Cleaning the old oil/grease out completely before putting new oil/grease on will not only keep the reel smooth but extend the time needed before replacing parts. Just adding oil/grease leaves all that debris behind.

Okay this is good to know, I just am not experienced in taking a reel apart so ik nervous lol

1 minute ago, ike8120 said:

I clean mine once a year, but also wipe down with a rod and reel cleaner on occasion, do some lubrication on key spots through out the season.

Okay this is good to know, thankyou, I will have to learn how to take a baitcaster apart

7 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

I clean as needed (rarely), and disassemble and lubricate once a year (usually in the winter when it's snowing...and I need to do something fishing related). 

 

Aside from that, no action needed.

 

All my reels are 25+ years old. 

Wow that's a long life, I will have to learn how to fully take a baitcaster apart

Local shops should have a repair/maintenance area - they can do the cleaning/relubing. Also, one of the site sponsors has a very good reputation among members - DVT (right sidebar at the bottom) does reel repair/maintenance.

5 minutes ago, Socalfishier said:

Wow that's a long life, I will have to learn how to fully take a baitcaster apart

 

Dad taught me how to take things apart...clean...and re-assemble...from fishing reels, electronics, Chevy 350 V8, etc. Taught myself how to build computers (this was all before YouTube and the internet). 

 

Search YouTube, I'm sure you will find videos to help. 

 

Other thing Dad taught me...get the best equipment you can afford...buy once / cry once...

 

 

3 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

 

Dad taught me how to take things apart...clean...and re-assemble...from fishing reels, electronics, Chevy 350 V8, etc. Taught myself how to build computers (this was all before YouTube and the internet). 

 

Search YouTube, I'm sure you will find videos to help. 

 

Other thing Dad taught me...get the best equipment you can afford...buy once / cry once...

Sounds like my dad - and I was building computers way before online services like Compuserve, Source, Genie, or Quantum Link  ever got started.

 

Long as you're careful and pay attention to details, disassembling/reassembling a reel isn't nuclear physics. I've been maintaining my own reels for 50 years now.

22 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Local shops should have a repair/maintenance area - they can do the cleaning/relubing. Also, one of the site sponsors has a very good reputation among members - DVT (right sidebar at the bottom) does reel repair/maintenance.

Oh okay, I'll check my local tackle shop for sure!

18 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

 

Dad taught me how to take things apart...clean...and re-assemble...from fishing reels, electronics, Chevy 350 V8, etc. Taught myself how to build computers (this was all before YouTube and the internet). 

 

Search YouTube, I'm sure you will find videos to help. 

 

Other thing Dad taught me...get the best equipment you can afford...buy once / cry once...

 

 

I will search YouTube to check for tutorials on how to clean, this is a good recommendation!

12 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Sounds like my dad - and I was building computers way before online services like Compuserve, Source, Genie, or Quantum Link  ever got started.

 

Long as you're careful and pay attention to details, disassembling/reassembling a reel isn't nuclear physics. I've been maintaining my own reels for 50 years now.

Okay maybe I will give it a try, I have done my spinning reels on ocasion

I tear my reels down once or twice a year.  A good reel, taken care of, can last a life time. 

13 minutes ago, FishTank said:

I tear my reels down once or twice a year.  A good reel, taken care of, can last a life time. 

Wow I will have to take my reel apart then, because I spent to much for it to break down lol 

There are many YouTube videos to help with the deconstruction and lubing process.  Some advice: Always lay your parts in an order on your table as you take it off the reel.  This helps with the reassembly process, since you just put the parts back in the opposite order.  Be sure to pay attention to the orientation of certain parts and don't lose any.

During the year I will wipe down and clean as needed, or after fishing in snot slop.  Once a year, usually in January, the reels get broken down and get a thorough cleaning.

12 minutes ago, Kenny Yi said:

There are many YouTube videos to help with the deconstruction and lubing process.  Some advice: Always lay your parts in an order on your table as you take it off the reel.  This helps with the reassembly process, since you just put the parts back in the opposite order.  Be sure to pay attention to the orientation of certain parts and don't lose any.

Okay I will surely try this, that makes sense and will be a very helpful tip, thankyou!

2 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

During the year I will wipe down and clean as needed, or after fishing in snot slop.  Once a year, usually in January, the reels get broken down and get a thorough cleaning.

Yeah I'm definitely fishing snot grass right now, and it's real nasty with sediment and dirt, you get dirtier by trying to wash your hands in the water lol. 

Vegetation and dirt shouldn’t be getting inside your bait casting reels. The line will bring in some small particles onto the spool and transfer into the level wind worm gear.

If you are a shore angler don’t lay down the reel on the ground!

Never grease the level wind worm gear it will collect dirt and debris, use light reel oil sparingly.

Tom

23 minutes ago, WRB said:

Vegetation and dirt shouldn’t be getting inside your bait casting reels. The line will bring in some small particles onto the spool and transfer into the level wind worm gear.

If you are a shore angler don’t lay down the reel on the ground!

Never grease the level wind worm gear it will collect dirt and debris, use light reel oil sparingly.

Tom

Okay,  do you clean the internal parts of your baitcaster? Just asking to get an idea of who does and doesn't, thanks for all the help you have given me Tom, you rock

Winter is down time here so that's when I do maintenance.

 

Baitcasters: I strip the reels down, clean gears and bearings - flushing out everything including 'last year's' grease and oil, inspect to make sure there isn't any damage to the gears and bearings, then reassemble with grease on gears (except the worm-gear as Tom says) and oil the bearings and worm-gear.

 

Spinners: Again, strip them down, clean everything, check the parts and reassemble. With spinners, the part that's different that I also clean, inspect and re-oil is the line roller.

20 minutes ago, Socalfishier said:

Okay,  do you clean the internal parts of your baitcaster? Just asking to get an idea of who does and doesn't, thanks for all the help you have given me Tom, you rock

I use BreakFree CLP. Cleaner/lubricant for general use on level wind worm gear and spool shaft ends periodically.

Tear down service I usually send out out to a local shop when needed.

Tom

 

3 minutes ago, WRB said:

I use BreakFree CLP. Cleaner/lubricant for general use on level wind worm gear and spool shaft ends periodically.

Tear down service I usually send out out to a local shop when needed.

Tom

 

Ah okay thankyou so much for the information! Will try this out and will try this! Thanks 

Just like everyone said, you periodically clean outside your reel, clean worm gear, oil bearing, clean spool shaft free of dirt and oil.

I use rem oil to clean worm gear, I use either 80w oil or grease on worm gear. I only oil bearing as needed but flush the bearing with every major cleaning. I use regular bantam or Daiwa oil (come with reel)
Depends on how much used on reel, I typically do major service (internal) once every year or two. I don’t strip down everything, only clean out old grease and re-grease all the gears and flush the bearing. Mainshaft bearing, frame bearing(the one support pinion gear) and AR bearing only get cleaned or oil when needed. 
I used to drop off my reels to Shimano/Daiwa down in OC but now I just service my own for conveniences since I fish almost every day.

11 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Just like everyone said, you periodically clean outside your reel, clean worm gear, oil bearing, clean spool shaft free of dirt and oil.

I use rem oil to clean worm gear, I use either 80w oil or grease on worm gear. I only oil bearing as needed but flush the bearing with every major cleaning. I use regular bantam or Daiwa oil (come with reel)
Depends on how much used on reel, I typically do major service (internal) once every year or two. I don’t strip down everything, only clean out old grease and re-grease all the gears and flush the bearing. Mainshaft bearing, frame bearing(the one support pinion gear) and AR bearing only get cleaned or oil when needed. 
I used to drop off my reels to Shimano/Daiwa down in OC but now I just service my own for conveniences since I fish almost every day.

ah okay well thanks for this, I havent cleaned my baitcaster out in about 4 years so it is probably due, will have to try doing this soon.

You can contact me anytime if you need help. Take picture along while removing things. Baitcaster is very easy to maintenance if you don’t plan to take everything apart. Which reel is this? I’m not claim to be expert but open up many reels in the past. Spinning on the other hand, I’d recommend professional, it is pretty easy to mess up.

14 hours ago, Kenny Yi said:

There are many YouTube videos to help with the deconstruction and lubing process.  Some advice: Always lay your parts in an order on your table as you take it off the reel.  This helps with the reassembly process, since you just put the parts back in the opposite order.  Be sure to pay attention to the orientation of certain parts and don't lose any.

 

^^ Great advice here! ^^

 

I tore apart a bait-caster a few years back...installed drag washers incorrectly....

 

Should have been like this, they have a slight curve to them  ) ( 

 

I had them like this  ) ) 

 

Couldn't figure out why my drag was not working properly....(may have had something to do with my old eyes...)

 

Anyway, took apart, re-assembled the correct way...all was good. 

 

 

As someone who is not the most mechanically proficient,I can build a deck but definitely not tear down a reel?. I would suggest you #1 make sure you have plenty of time to complete your tear down cleaning/service, #2 start with a cheaper reel if possible (yard sale find?) in case things don’t go as planned and #3 be mindful of small parts (springs especially) as they like to go flying and are easy to lose. Not trying to scare you out of doing the work but I learned it’s not for me at least years ago on thankfully a cheaper Daiwa, although at the time I was pretty upset at myself and didn’t really have much of an opportunity (money) to replace said reel. 

8 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

You can contact me anytime if you need help. Take picture along while removing things. Baitcaster is very easy to maintenance if you don’t plan to take everything apart. Which reel is this? I’m not claim to be expert but open up many reels in the past. Spinning on the other hand, I’d recommend professional, it is pretty easy to mess up.

Lastly take advantage of the offers to help these generous members are giving.

4 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

As someone who is not the most mechanically proficient,I can build a deck but definitely not tear down a reel?. I would suggest you #1 make sure you have plenty of time to complete your tear down cleaning/service, #2 start with a cheaper reel if possible (yard sale find?) in case things don’t go as planned and #3 be mindful of small parts (springs especially) as they like to go flying and are easy to lose. Not trying to scare you out of doing the work but I learned it’s not for me at least years ago on thankfully a cheaper Daiwa, although at the time I was pretty upset at myself and didn’t really have much of an opportunity (money) to replace said reel. 

Lastly take advantage of the offers to help these generous members are giving.

Okay thankyou for this advice, I will have to try to take apart an older reel first, that's a good ideaq

4 hours ago, DaubsNU1 said:

 

^^ Great advice here! ^^

 

I tore apart a bait-caster a few years back...installed drag washers incorrectly....

 

Should have been like this, they have a slight curve to them  ) ( 

 

I had them like this  ) ) 

 

Couldn't figure out why my drag was not working properly....(may have had something to do with my old eyes...)

 

Anyway, took apart, re-assembled the correct way...all was good. 

 

 

Ah I have heard of that before, I will have to try to remember that, I remember there is a convex and concave washer, like what you are talking about!

13 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

You can contact me anytime if you need help. Take picture along while removing things. Baitcaster is very easy to maintenance if you don’t plan to take everything apart. Which reel is this? I’m not claim to be expert but open up many reels in the past. Spinning on the other hand, I’d recommend professional, it is pretty easy to mess up.

It's a old abu garcia revo stx, It hasn't been cleaned in four years,  maybe longer, yeah I have an old spinning reel and i took it apart and was he'll to put back together, screws ended up being too tight belive it or not