Cleaning your reel is important I'm afraid, if you want it to last, and to continue to perform. And nothing is worse than hooking that big one, only to have problems with your rod or reel. Not to mention it'll last a lot longer if you clean it once in a while!
You're reel really only needs cleaning once or twice a year--twice if you're in salt water often. Reel cleaning is not difficult but you do need to do it right. Let us begin with the tools required:
* a towel
* one small screw driver (generally a Phillips head)
* one small bottle of grease. Do not use WD-40; WD-40 often leaves residue which can attract dirt. Instead, use a high quality grease meant for reels)
* some Q-tips
* a couple of paper towels
First, remove the reel from the rod. Use a couple of paper towels to wipe it off completely.
Next you'll need to remove the handle of your reel. It is generally removed one of two possible ways. There will either be some sort of screw in the handle, or you simply hold the reel in one hand and turn the handle backwards with your other hand. Set the handle down on a clean towel.
Now make sure that the reel is lying in such a way that the screws that hold it together are exposed. Then remove these screws (usually there are between three and five) and place them next to the handle. This should expose a small plate which can now be removed. Remove that plate and put it next to your screws.
You should now see inside the reel. Clean any dirt you see in the reel with one of the Q-tips. Next, put a few drops of your reel grease on each of the gears.
Note: More is not necessarily better here! Too much grease will clog everything up. You really only need a tiny bit of reel grease to do the job properly.
To reassemble, simply reverse the above process. Put the plate back into place and screw in the screws. Before reattaching the handle though, add some grease to it as well. Finally, re-install the handle.
You're reel really only needs cleaning once or twice a year--twice if you're in salt water often. Reel cleaning is not difficult but you do need to do it right. Let us begin with the tools required:
* a towel
* one small screw driver (generally a Phillips head)
* one small bottle of grease. Do not use WD-40; WD-40 often leaves residue which can attract dirt. Instead, use a high quality grease meant for reels)
* some Q-tips
* a couple of paper towels
First, remove the reel from the rod. Use a couple of paper towels to wipe it off completely.
Next you'll need to remove the handle of your reel. It is generally removed one of two possible ways. There will either be some sort of screw in the handle, or you simply hold the reel in one hand and turn the handle backwards with your other hand. Set the handle down on a clean towel.
Now make sure that the reel is lying in such a way that the screws that hold it together are exposed. Then remove these screws (usually there are between three and five) and place them next to the handle. This should expose a small plate which can now be removed. Remove that plate and put it next to your screws.
You should now see inside the reel. Clean any dirt you see in the reel with one of the Q-tips. Next, put a few drops of your reel grease on each of the gears.
Note: More is not necessarily better here! Too much grease will clog everything up. You really only need a tiny bit of reel grease to do the job properly.
To reassemble, simply reverse the above process. Put the plate back into place and screw in the screws. Before reattaching the handle though, add some grease to it as well. Finally, re-install the handle.
About the Author:
Derek is serious about Shimano fishing. For more information on the best prices available on the Internet, check out Shimano reels.
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