Reel and Drag Clean-out of vintage Abu Garcia Cardinal 4

[MichaelVerdirame]

Now here's the thing folks, I seem to not have the proper lube for my reel. I just re-lubed it last night and it was working fine... but after 1 dunk in the river all was not fine. It started getting really, really stiff. Second time this has happened.

I am using pellet gun oil, with the consistency of sewing machine oil. It must be too thin of a lubricant.

Any recommendations? I generally want to avoid fishing-branded items.

Further: the drag stack is in dire need of a cleaning, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to access it... even after looking at the schematics. Is anybody familiar with the Abu Garcia Cardinal 4 spinning reels?

This kind:

Thanks!!

 

[salmotrutta]

My reel requires re-lubing after a dunk. Hence why I usually refrain from dunking it, otherwise I give it a good spray with WD-40 and it works like new.

 

[ChaseChrome]

As a cyclist I would recommend Phil Woods (waterproof grease)...

 

[Blair]

The REAL THICK white lithium Grease seems to work well in the "older" models.

Because you can easily open the "Gear box" (just remove the front plate) and see the mechnanisms...



Just PACK THAT BABY right to the RIM! lol
I mean absolutely PACK that GREASE IN.... even if its squeezing out the cover when you close it.


This helps also keep most water out and also provides 100% coverage of the gears at all times.



Can Tire sells the TUBES for about 6-7 bucks.



Good luck



ps: I actually like the "Access" the older reels have. Some of the new ones seem to have self contained "sealed" compartments that are very difficult to get in to.

 

[MichaelVerdirame]

Just PACK IT IN

bwhahahah!!!!

That's opposite to what everyone's told me... but you know... I'm sure it makes one heck of a waterproofing doesn't it? LOL :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

When I river fish I'm dunking my reel like I dunked Dunkaroos in the 90's


90's kids rejoice:

The vanilla ones were bomb.

 

[MichaelVerdirame]

My reel requires re-lubing after a dunk. Hence why I usually refrain from dunking it, otherwise I give it a good spray with WD-40 and it works like new.

You only use WD-40? Man your reels must be fast spinning and I guess it's really really thin so it would definitely wash away after a dunk.

 

[fishfight]

Too many variables to consider to fix an old graphite body reel that has been abuse, can't compare old technology stuff versus stuff invented today and made way cheaper. Know when to move on after spending some time on it. Imagine using a FREE dial up modem for browsing on the internet at your home. It does the job and CHEAP,but how much time were wasted? You have an android or blackberry phone, would you want to go back to just a flip phone?

Bearings or washer were not stainless on many old reel, body gets warped at times. Dunking on water is a big No! No! If an aging body is not taken cared off, abuse by eating many junk food, and develop cancer, how can one expect to be back to normal even after some kind of operation by the best doctor?

Better to start afresh, buy a new reel, learn from your misake,don't ever dunk a reel on water again, and maintain it right from the start. Hardly heard anyone dunking a reel on purpose.

Someone selling Sienna for $25 on Kijiji, Even if someone gave you a new un-dunk reel similar to your Abu Garcia reel, your reel cannot even come close to the smoothness of today's Shimano Sienna reel. How much cheaper can one get!

Someone selling $15-25 unknown brand china 10 bearing reel with second aluminum spool on kijiji, the reel should be smoother than what you got right now.

To know when to cut our loses is also part of success in life!