Alright, so today I decided to get into “marine sports molinete” – basically, I wanted to service my fishing reel. I’ve had this thing for a while, and it was starting to feel a bit gritty when I reeled it in. Time for some TLC!
Getting Started
First, I gathered all my stuff. This included:
- My trusty reel (the one needing the work)
- A small screwdriver set (you never know what size you’ll need)
- Some cleaning cloths (old t-shirts work great)
- Reel oil and grease (gotta keep things lubricated)
- A small bowl (to keep all the tiny parts from rolling away)
- An old toothbrush (for scrubbing)
Taking it Apart
Okay, this is where it got a little tricky. I slowly started unscrewing things, making sure to lay out the parts in the order I took them off. This is super important, otherwise, you’ll end up with a puzzle you can’t solve. I put all the screws and tiny bits into the bowl, so I wouldn’t lose them. Trust me, it’s easy to do!
I carefully removed the spool, the handle, and then got into the main body of the reel. There were a few gears and other mechanisms in there. I made a mental note of how everything fit together (and even took a few pictures with my phone, just in case).
Cleaning Time
Once I had everything apart, it was time to clean! I used the old toothbrush and some cleaning solution (some people use special reel cleaner, but I just used some mild soapy water) to scrub away any old grease, dirt, and grime. I made sure to get into all the nooks and crannies. It was surprisingly satisfying to see all that gunk come off!
After scrubbing, I rinsed everything off with clean water and dried it thoroughly with the cloths. You don’t want any water left inside, as it can cause rust.
Putting it Back Together
Now for the reassembly! I carefully put everything back together in the reverse order I took it apart. Thank goodness for those pictures I took! I applied a small amount of reel grease to the gears and moving parts, and a few drops of reel oil to the bearings. You don’t want to overdo it with the grease, just a thin coating is enough.
I screwed everything back together, making sure it was snug but not too tight. Then I attached the handle and the spool, and gave it a few spins. Ah, so much smoother!
It spins like new! It’s ready for a new fishing season!
