Lubricating a Spinning Reel

Wipe down the reel with a clean, dry cloth to remove grease and debris.

Place the reel on a clean, flat surface, such as a bare table, to help keep track of loose parts. Disassemble your reel, according to the instruction manual for your particular make and model. Keep parts aligned in the order in which you remove them, to allow for easy re-assembly.

Wipe the inside of the spool with a clean, dry rag and also wipe the main shaft and the exterior of the reel body. Finally, remove the reel handle and wipe this piece as well. Wiping down will help to remove gunk and buildup from previous coats of lubrication before you re-apply.

Use a cotton swab and solvent to remove grit, dirt or caked grease in crevices or cracks that does not wipe away with the cloth. Dip the swab into the solvent and apply it to crevices and cracks.

Apply a very thin coat of lubricant to the moving parts of the reel, including the shaft, handle bushings, bearings and teeth. Squeeze the lubricant directly onto these parts and use your fingers or a clean cloth to work the lubricant into the crevices and around the curves of the parts. Avoid lubricating the drag washers, which should be treated with grease only.

Restrict lubrication of newer bearings to once a year. Otherwise, lubricate reel parts three to four times a year in order to keep them oiled and working smoothly.

Re-assemble the reel according to manual instructions. In short, install the parts in the opposite order in which you removed them.