Islander Reels Maintenance

[SerengetiGuide]

Hey guys,

Just wondering what you do after each season to maintain your Islander reels in mint condition. We use ours everyday during the summer, and wash them down after everyday too...just want to figure out if we did the end of year maintenance correctly and efficiently.

Thanks, and Cheers,
David

www.serengetifishingcharters.com

 

[CIVANO]

http://www.islander.com/maintenance.php This is what Islander recommends. Note the backing for MR-2's

 

[searun]

Great post with link. The most important thing is applying a little oil to the cork. If the cork gets dry from catching lots of fish/use it will definitely affect the drag performance. I forgot to service mine at one point this past summer and when we had some large fish on the drag was allowing the reel to over speed. This was fixed as soon as I serviced the reel. So my lesson was to look after the cork drag weekly. Most of the times I checked the reel I didn't need much oil, and it only takes a minute to open up the reel.

 

[CIVANO]

When putting oil on the cork - put it on and then wipe it off leaving a thin film. Doing that and oiling all 3 bearings seem to postpone problems. In the past I would only oil the bearings when I put the reels away for the winter. I had to replace 3 total bearings on 2 reels. Now that I keep them oiled, I am good to go. When the bearings get rough, the drag adjustment knob is rough feeling when tightning or loosening the drag. With a fish on, the reel is not smooth and feels like it is too loose and then too tight. If you have bearing problems and are out of warranty, they are easy to replace and Islander will sell them to you.

 

[tomictime]

it's a bit more complicated than just oil, but not much. The drag on the 3 anyway gets both oil and powdered graphite, then wiped almost free. Superlube is a synoco product and can be ordered off the web in both the greese as well as oils. You need both. Bearings do fail. another weak spot are the pawls, they are brass and the screws holding them in can corrode a bit.
i got EXCELLENT parts support - without charge from islander recently Always great to be alble to parise both the product and the customer service.

 

[cheech]

You gotta wonder... You pay $600 for a reel, then you have to maintain it. Scotty maintains everything for free and nothing costs $600.
Shakin' my head...

 

[walleyes]

quote:Originally posted by cheech

You gotta wonder... You pay $600 for a reel, then you have to maintain it. Scotty maintains everything for free and nothing costs $600.
Shakin' my head...

Some people enjoy owning the best and some people are content with second rate equipment,, just personell preferance really..

 

[scott craven]

Just because it's less expensive, doesn't make it "second rate"
I guess you would call a ToYota Camry second rate when compared to a
BMW 530I ??
Less expensive but hardly second rate !

 

[walleyes]

quote:Originally posted by r.s craven

Just because it's less expensive, doesn't make it "second rate"
I guess you would call a ToYota Camry second rate when compared to a
BMW 530I ??
Less expensive but hardly second rate !

Oh I know r.s don't get em in a knot.. I run Shimano's and Penn's along side my Islander as well. But I will guaranty you this my freind,, there is a differance a "BIG" differance in the feel and the smoothness of these reels. The Islander is the best hands down. Now we can sit here and argue this all day but we all know down deep what the anwser is..

 

[scott craven]

No knot's here !

 

[CIVANO]

I agree and I own 4 MR-2's but I also think it would be appropriate to include the grease and lube in a tune-up kit for the price. It is included in much cheaper reel boxes.

 

[CIVANO]

I agree and I own 4 MR-2's but I also think it would be appropriate to include the grease and lube in a tune-up kit for the price. It is included in much cheaper reel boxes.

 

[alley cat]

Wow all my years of fishing and I didn't know I had second class gear.
Will check with the wife and see if I can whack some cash out of my RRSP's seeing as how I'm retired now and then I can afford to go first class ! ................. will that get me more fish ?

AL

 

[alley cat]

Wow all my years of fishing and I didn't know I had second class gear.
Will check with the wife and see if I can whack some cash out of my RRSP's seeing as how I'm retired now and then I can afford to go first class ! ................. will that get me more fish ?

AL

 

[scott craven]

 

[scott craven]

 

[alley cat]

Hey r.s. methinks that wink in the last face is a "gotcha" eh ?


AL

 

[alley cat]

Hey r.s. methinks that wink in the last face is a "gotcha" eh ?


AL

 

[scott craven]

better run and get an islander Al....
they catch more fish !

 

[scott craven]

better run and get an islander Al....
they catch more fish !