Washing reels
 

Was doing the car and truck last week with Blue Coral wash and wax(only a few bucks for a gallon at Walmart). Figured why not start using it for reels and rods after a trip. Puts a light coat of wax on to protect from salt water next trip. What do ya think.

Re: Washing reels
 

I always rinse my rods and reels with freshwater with the drags all the way tight after a SW trip. I never blast it with high water pressure. I remove the reel from the rod, take off the spool and dry it with a micro fiber cloth and set them aside to dry overnight. I them use of very slight ratio of soap to water and clean any debris off of the rod and guides and dry that off with a micro fiber cloth. If the reel was in the surf, I remove the sideplate and check for sand or water intrusion and remove any with a Q-tip. I reassemble the reel with no drag set for storage. If would not recommend putting any soap or wax where it could come in contact with the line, other that that I can't see it hurting the rod but I would keep the wax away from cork or foam on the handle. IMHO
________
Avandia Side Effect

Re: Washing reels
 

I take the rods into the shower with me, when done fishing. Got into this habit from winter fishing.

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Same.

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I thought I was the only one to do this.

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A top notch Tkle shop owner once mentioned to me he never rinses off his reels. He merely sprays w a silicone and wipes down after each use. The water depending on how hard you may spray your reels may in fact may wash the salt into the reels gearing and cause damage down the road.
I had done this most of my career but decided to go the other route especially in cold months.
Seems to work just fine, a shot after each use wipe down ready to go on next trip. I do at least once a yr re oil or grease where required maybe more depending on useage.. Two seasons now on this method no issues. I always back off those drags when not in use,this keeps them in good shape as well.

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Tried it today. The Blue Coral leaves my skin nice and shiny.

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You can't blast your reels with the water- you need to spray a fine mist. Done right, this will not wash any water into the componets of the reel and will keep it running smothly for many years. I do like the idea of a silicone wash though- it sounds neat. I do take my reels into the shower with me during the winter- it's a great way to wash my rods/reels, slickers (just shower wearing them) and boots (same deal there).

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To anyone who showers using hot water to rinse their reels I have an advisory. A friend with a science background told me never to do that as hot water expands salt and could get into the reel mechanisms.

I do not know a thing about chemistry etc so I can't personally vouch for accuracy. I never do it for that reason and the other being that I wish to stay married.

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I have STOPPED rinsing my reels after trips. For years I either showered with the rods or rinsed (a fine spray) with the hose after EVERY trip. I was taking reels in every two or three years with major corrosion. Finally, as previously mentioned, my reel repair guy (a very respected guy in Brielle), yelled at me to STOP rinsing the reels. He told me this several times, but I just could not get used to the idea of NOT rinsing them after a trip. The problem, he said, is you fish too much to rinse the reels at all (an average of twice a week). After spending a ton of money every few years to fix reels, I started to listen to him this year. Now when I get home I rinse the rods, and wipe down the reel with out the fine mist. He also recommended spraying silicone on a rag and wiping the reel down. It feels wrong not to rinse the reels, but I am sick of replacing corroded bearings and what not. When last he serviced my reel he wrote in caps on the receipt "STOP RINSING REELS".

Re: Washing reels
 

June,

I am a chemist, so I will try to answer your question to the best of my ability.

I think that hot water won't actually expand the salt itself. Hot water does expand things, but salt is not really one of them. If I take the volume of salt at 0 degrees C and 100 degrees C, there isn't much change. It's not like a metal in that respect. If the parts of the reel themselves expand (very possible- most of them are a metal), than they will actually make it harder for salt to get in, because the gaps will close down. I think that there might be merit to this argument at a temperature of like 500 C, but the water has boiled at that point anyways. As far as an actual shower with the reels, don't worry about it. 35 C water vs 10 C water isn't gonna make a difference.

Ryan

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Im not a chemist, but I play one on TV:D. What he said!

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This probably isn't my area of expertise. If you wanted to know what ocean he was fishing in based on the salt in the reel, that I could tell you no problem. What washing with hot water will do? I have only limited knowledge there, but can hazard a pretty good guess. Regardless, I still stand by my view that you shouldn't worry about it. Go fishing, and get things like clam guts off the reels or whatever, and maybe wash them if you feel like it or your tackle store guy tells you to. Other than that, go enjoy yourself.

Re: Washing reels
 

End of each season I go over the rods and exterior
of the reels with wax (corrosion X makes a good one)
and after each trip they go in the shower with me
which my wife still shakes her head at but hey...it works.

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I only take the actual RODS in the shower with me. The reels I remove after each trip. Wet a papertowel down and wipe as clean as I can. I then loosen the drag if appropriate and store back in their box/bag.

I never spray direct water on my reels. That seems silly. But wiping down with a wet rag, that's how my grandfather taught me 23 years ago. So it seems to work okay. Also, most reels are aluminum now anyway, can't really corrode that. It's brass and steel that tarnish/rust respectively.

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I wash my reels and generally get at least 8 years out of most of them. Imagine not washing yourself after getting misted with salt water all day....nasty feeling! I always wash my reels and rods with fresh water and grease them a couple of times a year

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Here's something by Alan Tani on lubes to use. The Yamaha Multi Purpose Grease is made for salt water, will not wash out, and best of all is cheap. I feel that applying it you will prevent water from entering the reel from ocean spray or washing.

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forgot the link http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=50.0

Re: Washing reels
 

Here's something by Alan Tani on lubes to use. The Yamaha Multi Purpose Grease is made for salt water, will not wash out, and best of all is cheap. I feel that applying it you will prevent water from entering the reel from ocean spray or washing.

Re: Washing reels
 

Penn recommends that you do not ever spray the reel but rather give it a soak in fresh water to get out the salt from both the reel and line. You can do this with the reel on the rod(s) using a cooler filled with fresh water.


Works for me

Re: Washing reels
 

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

All reels are bound to corrode if proper maintenance isn't performed. ESPECIALLY SALTWATER REELS! But, first and foremost preventive maintenance is the key to a long reel life. The single most important method of prevention is lubrication. Oh yeah, most guys do grease and oil where directed according to the manufacturer, at least once a year. But, only on the moving parts. All inner metal parts should get a protective light coat of a good salt inhibiting grease, yamaha marine is an excellent example, as well as grease the drag washers. Although, those should get a drag specific grease. The drag washers if other than carbon fiber should be switched out, to carbon fiber and greased. All screwholes should get a drop of grease as well to prevent siezing. There are many sites with tutorials on how to do this. It ain't rocket science guys. Sure, all those little parts can be intimidating, but if done in sections, it becomes simple. And furthermore, rewarding, and rather economic as well.

As previously posted, Alan Tani is a real, reel guru. His website can make even the most mechanically challenged, a reel repair pro in no time. Any questions you may have can and will be answered, by experts, shortly after the question is posted. His website is in a previous reply in this thread.

If you have simply just regreased and or oiled your bearings for the past five years or so, without salt inhibiting grease or oils. Or just kept piling it on chances are that your bearings are rust corroded and now siezed. (Gobs of grease give a place for the salt to attach. In this case more is not better.) And, reduced to nothing more than bushings. The simplest way to know this is if when the reel has just been lubed, you put her in freespool and let the line drop to the ground using a sinker. If the spool moves ever so slowly, it is likely you have a bearing problem. No need for panic. They can be degreased, and then re-greased. However, if they are badly corroded. They will need replacement. Bearings are not a bank breaker, but depending on what type you use for replacement, and how many are needed it can mount up and some reels have as many as eight roller bearings.

Anyway, I'm getting long winded. I could go on and on, how to best care for reels. But, my point is a properly lubed reel will last forever, with proper preventive maintenance.

I always rinse my reels with a light spray. Or, in the winter toss them in the shower. Light spray is the key here. Blasting her with a hose will only remove the applied greases and oils that you took the time to apply. Store the reel with the drags loosened and in an upright position, as if you were fishing with it. Some reels have drain weep holes in their bottoms which will enable the now diluted salt water to exit the reel.

As to the previous poster, regarding the soaking of Penn reels. If the reels are greased in the aforementioned manner. That would be an excellent way to rid the salt. That is if all the inner metal has been greased. If not you still open yourself up to corrosion issues. Most Penn reels only come with a one year warranty. What happens in the subsequent years when you followed their instructions and your anti reverse bearing fails. I believe it will be your turn to pony up. Prevention is the key to success! Now getting the fish to cooperate with your now properly lubricated reel. That's another story!

Reels are machines. Not unlike cars. Hell, I've even seen a Rolls Royce or two on a towtruck. Bring along a spare rod and reel, as a backup for the unknown. AAA doesn't do reels!

Oh yeah, sorry, one more thing. Don't lube the plastic parts, especially the gears. It will only gum up and give the salt, dirt and grime a place to attach. Again, a light rinse will remove the salt from those parts.

Catch 'em up!

Pete

Re: Washing reels
 

The grease doesn't prevent the water from coming in. Nothing can. Reels are full of gaps, nooks and crannies. Think about how much spray you reel takes on over the course of a season. The grease doesn't allow the salts a place to attach. And, yes the yamaha grease applied to all your bare, dry metal, will adhere nicely and in all likelihood remain there throughout countless light freshwater rinses.

Hope this helps.

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I spray my reels liberally with WD40 and wipe clean.

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I have always rinsed off my rods and reels with an outside hose or in the shower if it was freezing out.

After rinsing I just hang them up. I have been using the same Penn spinfishers, jigmasters and senators for 20-30 years or more with no corrosion. At the end of the season or winter I will "service" them, lube, change drags, line rollers, ect...That's it.

Leif

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Dont wash them! lol just kidding, hit them with fresh water at the dock, use a rag with soapy water if it makes you feel better, the reel breaks, bring it to your local reel repair man and boost the economy let them repair whats broken!!

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What Leif said....




Joe T.

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It's MY rod, and MY shower...I'll wash it as often and as fast as I please !!!:D
I can only say that, since I started cleaning my rods/reels in the shower, I've had no corrsion problems. Problem spots used to be the guides and reel foot (feet? foot?). I remove the reels from the reel seat and flood the seat area....it's all about eliminating salt hiding in the nooks and cranies.
Me, 2 rods and a cold beer in the shower....the wife just doesn't get it!

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I spray them down with a light mist for a few minutes. Never had a problem with them at all. Every week I oil them up also..

Not sure if I'm ready for showering with them. I'm sure it works good for those who are into that. :)

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If my wife caught me in the shower with my rods, she just may call the lawyer...my wife is jealous enough with me spending countless hours with a passion that doesnt have female body parts.

lol.. spray the rod down and wipe dry.

Soak reel in freshwater and dry - lube every so often as soon as i hear a squeek.

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i keep a freshwater spray bottle in the beach truck. spray the reels off soon as i am off jetty or out of surf, dry them off and call it a day. will also spray them with "reel magic". no prob so far:cool:

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I like that Reel Magic, spray bottle and winter fishing Na shower can't be beat.

Welcome to the site...

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Fine mist and wipe down reel and rod with Reel Magic. Been doing this for years and all my stuff looks new

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Lets look at this in a diffrent way. We've all been out when its blowing & it's snotty we're all in the cabin and the poles & reels are out there getting drowned by spray & waves coming over the bow and you think that your living a sceen from deadlist catch. I think there is a lot more salt water getting into the reels this way than than by washing them. Fresh water would help at the very least dilute the salty water in the reels making it less corrosive. That is why I wash my poles & reels after every trip with liquid laundry detergent/water mix & risne with fresh water.

I do my own maintaince & repairs and have only had to replace 1 bearing in a spinning reel in 10 years. For you guys that take your poles & reels in the shower with you, I would perfer a young blond & my wife to be out of town at the time. LOL

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Just redid all my reels with greased carbontex drag washers, new spool bearings with TSI 301, etc. I followed directions of Alan Tani and put a light coating of Cal's grease on the interior surfaces to help resist corrosion. I'll see what happens and report back. Over and out.

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I've been taking my wife in the shower. Maybe i'll try my rods instead..not.

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Same here....

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I recently redid my tekota 600's with them and where they struggled with Stripers and Blues, they now tackle them like a champ. Thought I was going to have to find new reels now I am going to stick it out with them.

There was a lot of build-up inside my Avets, they may need to be broken down twice a season. Greased the hell out of them, we'll see what they look like next time I have yo open them.

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I do not think a light spray of fresh water is going to hurt a reel only help. As far as leaving them out on a snotty day with a steady spray hitting them for the ride in will. I taken to many reels apart that have been loaded with salt from the constant beating of a salt spray. If it's nasty out try to get them out of the spray

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Take them in the shower but unless you are using circle hooks you have to be careful!:D