After exhuasting my South Bend PTFE grease and Zebco Reel Oil and not finding those products on store shelves, I decided to venture into using some other lubrication that I've heard other recommended. So I decided to give Xtreme Reel+ lubricant a try along with the Xtreme Reel Gear+ product.
Well the Xtreme Reel+ lubricant does a great job of getting old ball bearings rolling. In fact when removed from the reel, ball bearing that do not roll freely will suddenly achieve free spin time of a few seconds. Well not suddenly but you have to spin the bearings a few times until the Xtreme Reel+ lubricant displaces or mixes with the old oil in them. The other use I had intended for the Xtreme Reel+ was to apply it to handles that are riveted into place where I cannot reapply new grease or oil. I've found that the Xreme Reel+ lubricant can get into and under everything by just applying it from the spacing in betwen the knob and handle. For the first time, I had handle free spin that I've never even once thought I could. Made these handles felt like they've got ball bearings in them.
The Xtreme Reel Gear+ grease was put into a few old type reels. A Shakespeare Intrepid and a Browning Predator were the test reels, since they were soo stiff and sluggish. First thing I notice opening the bottle were some thick grease that almost appeared dried up as they were very coffee brown in color along with a very strong greasey oil smell. I thought I was cheated, but as soon as the grease made contact with metal it melted like butter on a hot iron. Not exactly but the grease seemed to dissolve and bond onto the metal. Amazing, I've never seen any grease done this, but the smell still got to me.
After reassembly of both reels, I didn't get much improved results in terms of smoothness. They still felt kind of sluggish, but more like a thick grease sluggishness. I guess that is to be expected considering how the grease bonded to the metal surfaces. I may have put too much on, but I'm not going to dissamble and clean the reels out, just for that. The reels perform, but not like brand new reels. They get the job done and as long as they weren't binding and grinding like before, I'm satisfied enough.
One thing I've notice about the Xtreme Reel+ lubricant is that it tends to dry out. If anyone has used Quantum Hot Sauce lubricant, it's about the same effect, only without red gum. The Xtreme Reel+ will leave a coating of a teflon feel. It may be a good thing for long term corrosion prevention, but a fresh application will give you the best results. The other thing is that it gives one the feel of more metal on metal contact, almost like the effect of ball bearings rolling down on sheet metal. The treated reels may also feel a bit more hollow in feel and metal noisy. I think a lot of skateboard wheels or rollerblade wheels when I hear it. Xtreme Reel Gear+ is just a very strong smell and coffe brown color looks like left over grease. You really can't tell if the grease is old in a reel anymore, but I haven't gotten to that point yet.
These products comes with mixed results. I would recommend it to a friend with big strong caution on the other effects. You get great bearing free spin and wonderful metal on metal bushing free spinning, but you're gonna have to deal with a near metal and metal feel and frequent treatment before fishing.
These are products that I will buy again, but I still haven't exhausted my current supply of it. Maybe in a few years there will be something better or an improved version that doesn't require as frequent of treatment before fishing.
The good and bad... |