How to Clean & Oil an Abu Reel
- 1). Rinse the reel in warm, running water for a few minutes, turning it over on all sides to wash down the exterior. This is especially important after ocean fishing to remove salt and harsh minerals that promote rust and corrosion.
- 2). Wipe down the exterior of the reel, then set on clean cloths and let dry completely. Setting the reel outdoors on a hot, sunny day will speed up the drying.
- 3). Press the lock cap on the top of the reel over the spool and rotate counter-clockwise half a turn to remove the spool assembly and fishing line from the Abu reel.
- 4). Place a drop of reel oil at the base of the stainless steel spool spindle where it enters the reel and a drop of oil on the star-shaped gear in the middle of the spindle.
- 5). Place a drop of oil on each side of the bail, which is the wire loop that retrieves the fishing line, on each side of the reel.
- 6). Turn the reel upside down and place a drop of oil on the cowling that rotates with the bail around the spool (when the spool is attached).
- 7). Unscrew the handle lock knob on the side of the Abu reel opposite the handle, then pull the handle straight out from the side of the reel housing.
- 8). Add a drop of oil to the handle and the inside of the reel housing where the handle inserts.
- 9). Replace the handle and attach the lock knob on the opposite side, then turn the handle clockwise and counterclockwise several times to distribute the oil and lubricate the parts.
- 10
Wipe down all reel surfaces with a clean cloth, then replace the spool and locknut assembly on the spindle. - 11
Use a silicon spray such as WD-40 for quick lubrication in the field when it may be unwise to disassemble the reel. Small bottles of spray lubricant are available and convenient for storing in a tackle box.
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