REEL MAINTENANCE – BAITCASTING REEL

This article was published in the January 2003 issue of the Rod and Line fishing magazine.

Contrary to popular beliefs, the bait casting reel in my opinion is more fragile than the spinning reel. No doubt the one piece aluminum body does give one a sense of false confidence.

According to my experience, the main trouble point of the casting reel is the level wind mechanism. The level wind pawl to be more exact.

Unscrew these tow thumbscrews to remove the right side plate.

 The level wind pawl is so thin and delicate that should sand and grit be allowed to accumulate it will cause hell in the slot. The main shaft of the reel can be damaged by a sharp fall too. The gap between the spool edge and the reel body is so slight that any bending of the shaft is enough to render the reel useless. Sometimes, the spool and body can be corroded by saltwater if one is not too meticulous in cleaning them after every trip out to sea or brackish water.

Slowly remove the spool, and make sure you do not lose the brake blocks.

 Salt water can easily get inside the reel and damage the bearings. The pinion gear, due to neglect and misuse can get worn and will not drive the spool properly. Sometimes, the reel does not engage, as the parts are not lubricated. As the reel can give a lot of casting problem if the centrifugal brakes are damaged, they need to be in pristine condition all the time.

The level wind mechanism and all the parts. Use light oil on these.

 The distance achieved in casting depends a lot on the spool shaft bearings. They must be kept well-oiled and in very good condition. Therefore I would like to discuss here some maintenance tips with our readers. Of course there are many great sifus out there who know a lot more, who I beg to share their knowledge with us here in the future.

Do oil this spring and the thumb-bar mechanism.

 

       THINGS TO HAVE 

        A.   The small spanner cum screwdriver supplied together with the reel.

  B.   A good Phillips and flat screwdriver that fit the screws of the reel to be dismantle.   

       C.  A tray to keep all your parts. A discarded egg tray or those plastic trays for mixing watercolor can be used too.

         D. Tissue paper to clean and dry the reel parts. They are very absorbent and cheap.

        E.    A small stiff painting brush to clean the parts.

       F.  Thin machine oil. (Mixed 1 part molybdenum disulfide oil with 2 parts sewing machine oil.) Alternatively use Rocket Fuel oil.

  G.     Some molybdenum disulfide grease.

        H.     A pair of sharp tweezers to pick up fine parts and to remove springs and cir-clips (e-clips).

I.        The schematic diagram of the reel.

The handle taken out. Oil the handle knobs and the star drag knob screw threads.

DISASSEMBLING THE REEL

1.        Unscrew the two thumbscrews to remove the right side plate.

2.       Gingerly pull out the spool. Do be careful so as not to bend the centrifugal brake pins. In some reels, the brakes can slip out. Do keep them in proper storage.

3.       Unscrew the level wind pawl cap and remove the pawl.

4.       Remove the spring clip holding the level wind worm gear bar and slowly pull it out. Be careful with the bearings so as not to lose them. Wipe them clean with tissue and put one drop of thin oil in each.

5.       Clean the worm gear bar and worm gear with solvent (petrol), dry and oil.

6.       Clean the reel frame, oil and grease all moving parts. Pay special attention to the thumb-bar.

7.       Reassemble the level wind mechanism into the reel frame.

8.       The mechanical brake cap must be removed so as to take out the retaining clip holding the spool shaft. The spool shaft can then be pulled out. Clean and oil. Use only thin oil as the free turning of the shaft contributes to the casting distance.

9.       If the brass plate in the mechanical brake cap is worn, flip it over and add a drop of oil to it.

10.   Clean the spool and oil (thin oil only) the bearings on both sides of the spool.

11.   Turning back to the right plate, removes the handle. Clean and oil.

12.   Unscrew the star drag knob. Do keep all the spring washers, spacers and cir-clips in their proper sequence. (Refer to the schematic diagram if you are lost). Remove the two retaining screws and slowly lift up the side cover to expose the inside of the mechanism.

13.   Gently lift the drive gear. Clean the drag washers (careful with the sequence) dry and reassemble them. (Some makes do need oil or grease on their washers).

14.   Now gingerly clean the center pinion gear, spool freeing mechanism and automatic re-engagement levers. Dry before applying oil and grease.

15.   Slowly reassembly all parts, applying oil or grease where necessary. Please do not overdo the lubricating parts the excess oil or grease might smear onto places where they are not supposed to be. Try your best to keep the centrifugal brake blocks and brake plates free from grease or oil.

16.   Please do remember that other than the gears, the spool disengaging mechanism and the drag washers and all other moving parts and bearings must be lubricated with thin oil only. Too much viscosity will defeat the free turning of the spool and thus the casting distance.

Clean all the drag washers and gears. This particular reel does not need oil or grease on its drag washers. Some makes require the drag washers to be oiled and greased.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

a.       Most of the things to remember are the same as in spinning reel maintenance which I have covered in the November 2002 issue of Rod & Line.

b.      For bait-casting reel, I would add that the reel must be oil before every trip so as to keep it in tip top casting condition.

c.       Do oil the spool bearings, mechanical brake cap, handle knobs and most important, the level wind. Make sure it is free from sand and grit all the time.

d.      Remember to use thin oil (Rocket Fuel oil or molybdenum disulphide and machine oil mixture). On the spool bearings and shaft, as the free turning of the spool is the main reason for achieving the distance casting.

Unscrew these two screws to access the inside mechanism of the reel. Lift up the entire spool freeing mechanism, clean, dry, oil and reassemble.

e.      Cover any springs or cir-clips with a finger before trying to pry it out or else you whole family will suddenly get the urge to go shopping every time you decide to clean your reel. (They will get a phobia crawling on all fours helping you to look for missing parts).

f.        Do use a bent paper clip to help you remove bearings from the reel body. When putting them back all you got to do is to the bearing over the hole and press firmly with your thumb.

g.       Check every bearing by putting a pencil through it before spinning. It should spin effortlessly. Should there be any problem, it should be cleaned and oiled. If the problem persists, the bearing should be replaced.

h.      Please bear in mind that this is a total cleaning and oiling job, which I do at least once a year. Other time, do remember to oil the handle knobs, the spool bearings and to clean and oil the level wind pawl before every fishing trip.

These parts free the spool for casting and reengage it to recover lines. Oil all moving parts where there is metal to metal contact. Grease the pinion gear.