I recently read an article about casting reels that are very noisy during the cast, here is an interesting summary of what I found. This noise is one of the most common reasons for repairs. The cause, we ask? Bearings, of course, we say. But I was surprised to find the real culprit is likely the plastic centrifugal braking system. When a dry plastic tab rubs a dry brake ring, the friction is a lot more than when it's oiled, so much more in fact that the ends of the tabs will often melt and have fringe hanging off of them. Most new reels come with a thin to thick layer of grease on the brake ring. Grease will lube the brake ring and keep it from making noise, but it also cause inconsistent braking. Therefore, after a reel has been serviced, the brake ring and tabs will be oiled, but not greased. The braking is much more consistent with oiled brake parts, but oil doesn't last as long as grease. If you have a reel with centrifugal brakes, you need to wipe a drop or two of reel oil around the inside of the brake ring at least once a month. A few drops on a Q-tip makes it easy to do. It's also just a heck of a good practice to get into of opening the side cover to oil your brakes frequently as this will give you the chance to wipe a little grease on the side cover locking tabs or threads. You would be amazed at how many people spend $200 on a pro-quality reel, and then never service it. If you don't know how to open your side cover to access the brakes or to oil the parts, either review the owner’s manual that came with your reel, search for the instructions on google, or ask another club member. It's a good idea to keep a small bottle of reel oil and a tube of grease along with some Q-tips as an emergency service kit. So remember, a little oil on the brake ring so the plastic brakes can function properly, and a little grease on the locking tab to keep corrosion from occurring.
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