White Lithium Grease

[jc04008]

should i use it? don't use it? comments?

[hurdpete]

Justin:

My experience with white lithium grease in both the fishing and automotive maintenance fields is that it's OK as a short term lube- much better than nothing, but it's messy, turns brown and dries out after a couple of years, and doesn't lube as well (poor film strength) as some others. If you're thinking of using it as a lube for display reels, I would suggest something else (I use a silicone based grease called "Superlube"; I got a pound of it some years back, but I don't know if it's still in production or not). Be careful of the grease base, also - some of them are corrosive over longer periods of time and will do quite a number on reel innards if left on too long. Try to find something with a silicone or similar base (non-corrosive is the key concept here). I'm sure some of the other members have their own favorites, too. For a reel that's in relatively constant use, lithium will work fine; you'll just have to relube the reel a little more often.

[SWIM JIG]

cool-thumb USA I will make this BLUNT! for many years going back to 1948, all types of lubrication has been used by the faimly and myself-- Lubriplate,(No GOOD) will harden and draw moister, White Lithium and Gold Lithium, (no good ) will harden , turn brown, absorb water and fail to lubricate parts! it will sling off! diawa Blue Greese , somwhat beter however it slings off- Penn Blue greese, works however it slings off! Shakespere and Pfluger greese , borderline as it hardens and will sling off ! some syntetics, yes we have tried them, they absorb moister and in Salt Water areas that eats up the parts, faster than a slot machine will eat quaters! ( we have now found one- its somewhat expensive and only comes in small plastic tubes, its ZEBCO HOT SAUCE! red in color and it sticks and will not sling off (yet) and salt water doesent bother it! I have along with other warrenty centers have asked them to put it up in much larger pkgs. so far its not done! I may add the lube is made in China! however it WORKS! and you only need a very small amount, dont waste it! ( On charter reels we have cut main and pionion gear loss by 95 % and drag washers to 95% and Click devise wear to no loss at all! Zebco phone toll free is (1-800- 444-5581) Now to oils, Lubraplate (JUNK) it will draw water! WD-40, junk, will and does draw water thus RUST! , Zeco HOT SAUCE excelent however expensive! Shiamano oil excelent however expensive! Any oil that contains TEFLON OR SILICON is decent oil! We now have gone to MARVEL OIL been around as of 1923! We soak all main drive and pioin gears for a few hrs to overnight, after we clean and dry them, we also avter a clean and dry the bearings we soak them for several hrs to overnight, and have saved a lot of wear on the reels for the commercial fisher people! We do a average of 3000 reels a year , and if they didnt work we would be out of business and lose our warrenty centers! You can use what you like , you can use our methods or you can get other sugestions! If it works, and you like the resualts then you will be happy! Your Ohio Conection On Lake ERIE Col. M Lorens aka SWIM JIG

[hurdpete]

Col. Lorens:

Wow, that was what I was hoping for when I responded to Justin's post- chapter and verse from someone who KNOWS! As always, your advice is accurate and to the point. Pete

[Len Sawisch]

. . . I have a similar experience with lubes. I use a Teflon based lube for my collectables as it sticks forever to the parts and doesn't "go bad" like petroleum based lubes. I did learn at Nationals that the Teflon lubes are not recommended for competition reels because it doesn't wear off easily so if you lube often you can get a build-up that can actually slow the reel down. For years I used the Teflon lube on my active tackle and never noticed a problem.

Now for my active fishing gear (I only use the "old stuff" once a year at the Convention), I like the Hot Sauce line. I find the red color makes it very easy to tell if you have "over" lubricated, and it feels "faster" than anything else I have used.

[ak-fish]

I've been using Reel Saver grease and oil for a couple years in my reel repair business and have been extremely pleased. It is light weight and seems to fend of corrosion better than anything else. I also like ReelX but use ReelSaver because they have both grease (to coat internal parts) and oil (to lubricate bearings). The majority of the reels I work on are used in saltwater.

[jc04008]

thanks guys, good info. i'd completely forgotten about marvel mystery oil colonel thanks!

[Fred O]

After trying various lubricants over the years--heres what works well for my salt water & fresh water customers:

Grease---Super Lube---use with a brush, and for smaller pinpoint applications--a needle syringe plunger works well. Buy it from Southwestern in Dallas. About $5.00 a pint.

Oil---WRL 191S synthetic Non-Petroleum Industrial Lubricant.
According to the claims--it resists corrosion from H2S & saltwater, cleans, restores preserves, penetrates rust, penetrates existing lubricants, non water soluble, repels salt water, high adherence, will not become tacky or harden, withstands extreme temperatures (-110 to +380), revitalizes rubber, use on all metals, rubber, vinyl, plastic. I Get it from a railroad wholesale jobber--costs about $84.00 a gallon. Apply with a needle syringe.

Like the others say--whatever works best for you---use it. I'm always looking out for improvements--so, I am going to try the hot sauce.

Remember, a little bit of oil in the exact spot--is better than a lot of oil everywhere. Good Luck!

[Tony Malatesta]

Hi guys! As a competitive Trap shooter i use and abuse my shotguns on a reg. basis and of course they have to be lubed and cleaned constantly to be kept in working order. For my reels i've found that Browning and Remington gun oil works great. They are anti-corrosive and don't break down under extreme heat conditions. Has to be applied often if the reels are used, but for storage purposes , it lasts for ever. Canadian