wrote in message
...
On Thu, 29 May 2008 11:03:41 -0500, "Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers"
wrote:


"Joe McIntosh" wrote in message
t...
I use three Shimano stradic spinning reels [ 2 years old ]
for bass in golf course ponds and salt water fishing in local tidal
creeks. Two 2500's and one 4000.
I'm having problems with cranking systems--they often almost lock up as
I
try to reel in. I have tried opening crank handle system and adding oil
or
wd 40 but this only seems to work for short periods.
Any suggestion for maintaince would be appreciated.It is no fun to be
sitting in Kayak on a nice 21 acre pond and cussing.
Joe the elder

First of all, throw away the WD-40! It's actually more of a solvent than
it
is a lubricant!!!

I know one very skilled gunsmith who uses WD-40 as a quick cleaner only.
(He has a couple minus one minute match guns to his credit, and has built a
lot rifles for outfitters) When he is done he dries, and then lubricates
with gun oil or gun grease in the appropriate places. I've got one of his
custom rebarrels, and its one of the sweetest shooters (for a 30-06) I have
ever fired. I had him set mine up for a particular brand of factory ammo
because I don't reload.

Anyway, he told me that WD-40 is really a water diplacer and was designed as
such. Its not a very good lubricant at all. I tend to agree from my own
experience. I know my dad taught me to use WD-40 in a pinch for cleaning
and shooting out small passages when rebuildiung a transmission, but blow
all residue out immediately because it has lousy long term lubrication
properties.

Personally, I like Quantum Hot Sauce for a reel oil. It makes the old 200B
perform almost like a BSF, but I do need to oil about 2-3 times a year to
keep them going that smooth with that light oil. Shimano doesn't like the
Quantum Hot Sauce, but I thinks that's just because they sell their own
brand of light reel oil. I've never used it so I can't say if its any good
or not.


What needs to be done is the reels taken totally apart, cleaned and
PROPERLY
lubricated with the correct grease and oils. For most anglers, this
should
be done annually, more if you fish more often.

I probably should take mine apart once a month here in the desert, but I
have a day job. Yeah annually is minimum. Even just sitting indoors they
will get full of a gunk after a while.

If you don't feel you're up to the task, ask at some local bait/tackle
shops. There should be someone in your area that does this. You might
pay
$15 - $25 per reel, but it's certainly cheaper than buying three new
Stradic
reels.

I sure wish tere was a good local reel guy to take mine to. I'ld be willing
to pay. Seems like whenever I sit down and do reels I loose a critical part
to one of them. Fortunately most of the reel manufacturers are decent about
selling me a replacement part. Preperation is the key. Then absence of
distractions. I clear the work bench off in the shop, and turn off my phone
when I service my reels.

I agree - TOSS the WD-40....It will dissolve dirt from one place and
leave it in another place - maybe someplace that didn't have a
problem. For most of my lube jobs around the house or vehicles and
including my reels, I prefer white lithium. The stuff is available in
spray or "paste" and stays where you put it. BUT, as Steve said
above, if you don't clean the parts properly FIRST, you are not going
to accomplish much.

--
Never met a fisherman that couldn't lie his ass off with a straight
face