What do you guys use for cleaning/flushing out bearings and what not on reels? I have heard of people using acetone, but I kind of want some others' opinions about what they use before I try it myself.

Acetone.

with these tools:

and CRC brake cleaner or Carbutator cleaner w/ bearing blaster to blast out those gunk.

Acetone is hands down the best choice. The spray and blaster help but are not a substitute for soaking. Ultrasonics will probably come up, and do speed up the process but are overkill for doing a few reels of your own.

Bearing blaster and brakleen I just used as well.

Read that the Brakleen was Acetone. JFrancho mentioned in another post about soaking. I blasted the bearings then sprayed some brakleen in a jar then soaked the bearings swished a few times (repeat) then gave another blaster treatment. Let dry. Then drop of REM oil. My reel is SLICK-IT-TEE-SLICK now. Flip the handle & will spin 20 or so revolutions.

Thanks JFrancho

Yep , I have found that the bearing blaster doesn't always get them 100%, though it reduces soak time to just an hour or so.

How long do bearings require to soak in acetone? Also, do I need the tools shown in baluga's post? Thank you guys so much. This place is always so very helpful.

How long do bearings require to soak in acetone? Also, do I need the tools shown in baluga's post? Thank you guys so much. This place is always so very helpful.

Nope acetone soak @ 5min intervals, in a glass baby food sized jar.

Blue tool removes engagement pin in spool shaft.

Red tool Bearing Blaster

If your reel has a bearing behind a pin on the spool shaft I recommend leaving it and just spraying it out a sbest you can. You stand a good chance of damaging the spool or pin if you don't have a suitable tool and some practice using it.

If your reel has a bearing behind a pin on the spool shaft I recommend leaving it and just spraying it out a sbest you can. You stand a good chance of damaging the spool or pin if you don't have a suitable tool and some practice using it.

I never understood why the manufacturers don't sell a pin remover.

If you are creative, you can convert common hand tools to hake your own tool. I was lucky, someone did the work for me. Think pliers.

with these tools:

and CRC brake cleaner or Carbutator cleaner w/ bearing blaster to blast out those gunk.

OK, just noticed this. It's noty too often I see something that catches my eye in reel cleaning, but the white pudding dishes are a great idea. Looks like you can really see the parts better. Stealing this! I wonder if the guy that enameled my vintage bathtub can enamel my muffin pans.....Thanks.

If you are creative, you can convert common hand tools to hake your own tool. I was lucky, someone did the work for me. Think pliers.

10-4. I just wish the companies would supply us with something.

OK, just noticed this. It's noty too often I see something that catches my eye in reel cleaning, but the white pudding dishes are a great idea. Looks like you can really see the parts better. Stealing this! I wonder if the guy that enameled my vintage bathtub can enamel my muffin pans.....Thanks.

Here' what I've been using lately. You can get it from those kitchen stores.

I never understood why the manufacturers don't sell a pin remover.

They never intended on the end user to remove the pin for servicing that spool support bushing/bearing.

Shimano uses a punch press with a spool jig..............

Tight Lines All!

Be sure that what ever you spray is compatible with plastic. For example some (not me) used the original gun scrub. Not good as it got right after the plastic parts. I now use reel scrub which has worked fine. I don't do a full breakdown of my baitcasters. I pull the bearing, clean and relube, clean and lube the drag, clean and lightly grease the gears. Beyond that I send the reels to a pro. I do give the level wind screw a shot of lube every day. This is a throw back to a failure I had longer ago than I will admit. I do give the rotating bearings a drop of oil from time to time during the summer. I don't add oil to the antireverse roller bearing.

They never intended on the end user to remove the pin for servicing that spool support bushing/bearing.

Shimano uses a punch press with a spool jig..............

Tight Lines All!

I'm assuming they want everyone to send their reel(s) in for servicing, correct?

OK, just noticed this. It's noty too often I see something that catches my eye in reel cleaning, but the white pudding dishes are a great idea. Looks like you can really see the parts better. Stealing this! I wonder if the guy that enameled my vintage bathtub can enamel my muffin pans.....Thanks.

If you're cheap, like me, you can just use a styrofoam egg carton. Just used mine last night.

Yeah, no. The part will get pushed into the styrofoam, and probably won't hold up to the quantities I see.

Someone mentioned Reel Scrub. (Reel Scrubber) Unfortunately I went to order some from Birchwood/Casey and they are no longer making it. Booooooo. It has the ingredients listed on their MSDS sheets but it sure was nice to have in the spray can.

Someone mentioned Reel Scrub. (Reel Scrubber) Unfortunately I went to order some from Birchwood/Casey and they are no longer making it. Booooooo. It has the ingredients listed on their MSDS sheets but it sure was nice to have in the spray can.

E-mail me I know were there is 3 cans....