Fish-Hawk.Net

Dnbmike wrote:Thx again guys do appreciate the insight. I like that these questions get bounced around and thought about ..I keep my reels clean knowing they can last you a lifetime.. the last thing I want is to dye the insides red ..
Even if it was just a chance .. its a headache I don't want

From what I've read, hot sauce on Shimano gears have been known to remove .001" off the gears surface due to the polishing compound, this coming from a reputable Shimano product support specialist.

To many, that might sound minimal, but it doesn't take much for gears to feel "grindy".
You need those tolerances to be tight and accurate if you want a smooth feeling reel.

As far as the drag washers, a cheap investment, but worth every penny, are Carbontex drag washers.
The entire stack runs for roughly 10$ US, quick and easy install.

Rule of thumb, grease the frame bearings, oil the outside ones (spool & side plate).
Wtv you do, don't grease the AR bearing lolol, cause that anti-reverse is going bye bye.
Grease the worm shaft if you don't plan on doing maintenance at least 2-3 times a season if using oil.

Reasoning behind grease, and again, personal preference, oil will let debris sink in easier then grease.
If debris is to make it's way on the worm shaft, it will suspend in the grease.
If using oil, this said debris is more likely to get lodged in-between your worm gear/pawl causing significant damage to the worm gear.

Hopefully we'll post some pics up in the upcoming weeks.
it's really fun once you get into it.