For the first time in my life, I disassembled and reassembled a spinning reel, and it actually worked.
I have a veritable boneyard of similar projects that did not go together so well, so this is a big deal for me. It also gives me the confidence to take better care of my gear in the future.
The reel in question is a WaveSpin DH5000z. I have several WaveSpin DH models, and they are my favorite spinning reels. The models are out of production, so it's important to keep them functioning properly.
That looked doubtful last week when I took the two rigs fishing at Lake Nimrod. Their last outing was on the Gulf of Mexico. I did not get them wet, so it didn't occur to me to desalinate them.
That was a big mistake. Even though the reels never actually contacted water, salt spray, sea air and sand had permeated the works and locked them up tight. A reel repairman said he would charge $20 to go inside the reel, plus extra charges for new parts.
"If it can be repaired," he said. "From what you're telling me, you're probably better off just pitching them in the trash can."
I could save $20 and come to the same conclusion. If they were unsalvageable, I could at least use the surgical experience.
With a jeweler's screwdriver set, I went to work.
First, I labeled all of the reel's major parts on a sheet of plain white paper. I noted parts such as "exterior side plate screws," "interior side plate screws," "trim plate," etc. I placed all of the little crosspoint screws under their respective labels so that I knew exactly what was supposed to go where when it was time to reassemble.
Once inside the reel, I was astonished at the amount of fine grit that coated the interior. Removing it required degreasing the interior body, gears and bearings. The bearings were so fouled that they made grinding noises when worked.
One bearing in the handle assembly was frozen. I couldn't budge it.
Cleaning the interior and the gears was easy. The grit was mostly entombed in the old grease, so most of it came out by dabbing out the grease with paper towels and Q-Tips.
The bearings were a bit more involved because they showed signs of corrosion. If they were corroded on the outsides, they were most certainly corroded on the insides.
I dripped Liquid Wrench on each bearing and scrubbed it with a nylon bristle brush. Gritty brown liquid drained from each bearing, and I continued the treatment until they drained fairly clear. I was satisfied when they no longer produced grit.
The frozen bearing required TLC. I submerged the bearing in a cap full of Liquid Wrench for five-minute periods, followed by a thorough scrubbing. An hour later, the bearing showed some play both directions. The play increased with additional treatment. Finally I slipped the bearing over a pair of forceps and immobilized it by opening the forceps.
I gripped the outside of the bearing with the pliers on my Gerber tool and slowly turned it. I felt a grinding sensation until the bearing finally broke loose.
Then I continued the Liquid Wrench drip and scrub until that bearing drained clean, as well.
With the gears clean and the bearings turning smoothly, I operated the works and felt for signs of grit resistance. Bits of grit worked to the surface with each revolution, so I scrubbed it with a paper towel until the grittiness abated.
I dripped a drop of Abu Garcia reel oil on each bearing and then coated the gears with blue Penn reel grease.
The labeling allowed me to quickly replace each screw in its proper place. The only part I couldn't identify was a tiny, clear nylon washer that came from who knows where.
Finally, the moment of truth. There was a little resistance at the beginning at the first crank, but the oil and grease settled into the works after a few turns.
The reel operated as smooth as butter, the way a WaveSpin should.
If you use your equipment in or around saltwater, wash it immediately with mild dishwashing detergent and a freshwater mist. Don't spray your reel with pressurized water because it will drive salt and sand into the works.
When finished, use a paper towel or a rag to apply a coat of Lemon Pledge on your reel. That will protect the exterior with a water-repellent finish.
Sports on 09/27/2015