Reel issue...slow free spool..how to fix? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

-scallywag- · 03-02-2011, 09:53 AM

It sounds like one or both of the spool bearings is dragging. Even on new reels if they get accidentally dunked, the exposed spool bearings can quickly corrode.

Alan's site is a great resource! Take the time to learn how to service your reels, it's really very simple and the star drag reels are all very similar.

I've been servicing my reels along with a few of my friends using Alan's site for a long time now. One thing I would recommend is to open up all the bearings (like Alan's site says) and pack them all with grease and leave them open. Alan suggests using oil in the spool bearing, but on the yak the reels just get too wet. Also on a yak you don;t need 30sec of free spool on any of your bait/yoyo/sabiki rods....and with the jig sticks if the free spool is suffering just replace the spool bearings.

I even take apart brand new reels and pull all the bearing shields and pack them with grease to make the bearing last as long as possible. If you have higher end reels with the anti-reverse roller bearings also make sure that is packed with grease also.

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03-02-2011, 09:53 AM	#8
-scallywag- Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: on the road... Posts: 598	It sounds like one or both of the spool bearings is dragging. Even on new reels if they get accidentally dunked, the exposed spool bearings can quickly corrode. Alan's site is a great resource! Take the time to learn how to service your reels, it's really very simple and the star drag reels are all very similar. I've been servicing my reels along with a few of my friends using Alan's site for a long time now. One thing I would recommend is to open up all the bearings (like Alan's site says) and pack them all with grease and leave them open. Alan suggests using oil in the spool bearing, but on the yak the reels just get too wet. Also on a yak you don;t need 30sec of free spool on any of your bait/yoyo/sabiki rods....and with the jig sticks if the free spool is suffering just replace the spool bearings. I even take apart brand new reels and pull all the bearing shields and pack them with grease to make the bearing last as long as possible. If you have higher end reels with the anti-reverse roller bearings also make sure that is packed with grease also.