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Originally Posted by H Man  I presume that your advice is on how to bend the spring. Thank you. Now, how do you open the can and close it? It appears to be sealed.
Sort of like ball bearings in a race with sealed cups vs bb free in two cups, you can replace the cups and or ball bearing(s) in the later but must replace the entire thing in the former. |
Opening the can is quite often not the main problem, that can be when the cans are already open and the spring flies all over the room.
If you have any concern whatsoever that the spring cans may be open, open the reel housing backwards. Take the hex nut off the back and keep the springs captured on the shaft. Then you can avoid the big mess.
Opening the spring can is pretty straight forward, whether it is the older type with both parts metal or the newer with plastic housing and metal cover. I pry with a small screw driver.
The trick that evaded me for a long time is how to get the cover back on. Finally learned from Ted Li to hold both parts close and tap the rim of the cover. You can then get the cover all the way on by tapping your way around the rim.
When I expect the spring will come out of the housing I put on old clothes that I don't mind getting grease on. I sweep the floor in my shop to keep from getting more dirt on the spring. I put the spring and housing in a plastic grocery bag to keep it under control as it unwinds. Then I can wipe the spring clean as I take it out of the bag. I clean it with paint thinner or WD40.
The springs used to come packed with grease. When they inevitably pick up dirt and lint the grease turns into glue as time goes by.
I have some reels that I clean periodically so I can follow what happens as they are used. The WD40 works pretty well with annual reapplication. Ted Li uses teflon spray lubricant which is even a more dry type lubricant than the WD40 so I am trying that.
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