Pflueger President Out of the Box Maintenance

  • bret_clark
    Sparta, WI
    Posts: 9361
    March 2, 2011 at 11:20 pm #1302514

    After removing the spool and handle remove the rear cover.
    The is done by backing out the bottom screw on the cover and the top screw on the side plate of the reel as in the first picture.

    Remove the remaining 2 screws from the side cover keeping track of them, they are 2 different styles and will only go back in from where the came. You now can remove the side cover and drive gear, picture 2.

    Remove the cover bearing and gear bearing. These come out with ease. The third pic is the cover bearing, the gear bearing is on the opposite side, pictures 3 and 4.

    I now spray the inside of the reel with a grease cleaner, I prefer WD-40 because it is always around but I know there is better stuff on the market. Make sure to clean the bearings also. Wipe everything clean and let dry before greasing.

    Once dry repack your bearings with the hot sauce grease and apply the grease to your gears, pictures 5 and 6. Make sure when you put the bearings back in from where they came out of. They are 2 different bearings.

    After reassembling I use the oil on the main shaft, bail pivot points and the line roller bearing, pictures 7-10. The reel can be torn down much further but this is the basics for reel maintenance.

    You will never have a problem with your reels getting stiff in extreme cold weather again after getting rid of the out of the box grease and replacing with the hot sauce. Hope this helps!









    Mr. Pike 81
    NW Iowa
    Posts: 216
    March 2, 2011 at 11:52 pm #943195

    Good info. Thanks for the post.

    travp
    Blaine , Mn
    Posts: 401
    March 2, 2011 at 11:56 pm #943197

    Good writeup. I haven’t used hot sauce, but with such a low viscosity it would seem like you need to apply it more often then other lubes.

    fishbait
    Posts: 149
    March 3, 2011 at 12:10 am #943199

    Paul’s bait and tackle the Shimano repair shop in StLouise MO uses hot water and Dawn dish soup to clean grease and oil in reels. They claim cleaning fluids break down the plastic and rubber seals Oh ya Dawn is used to clean the oil from the birds and sea animals in the Gulf and Alaska. I tried it and it work great for both the reel and your hands.

    bret_clark
    Sparta, WI
    Posts: 9361
    March 3, 2011 at 12:10 am #943200

    I use the hot sauce year round without any troubles. My reels are taken care of just before the ice season and then again before the open water season being they pull double duty.

    greg_r
    Woodbury MN
    Posts: 240
    March 3, 2011 at 12:31 am #943206

    Oil on the bearings- Grease on the gears

    Joe Scegura
    Alexandria MN
    Posts: 2758
    March 3, 2011 at 1:05 am #943213

    Great tips Bret! I’m sure this would help with some of my issues. I’ve had horrible luck with any Pflueger reel when it’s cold out. Every Pflueger I’ve owned has gone into a permanent back reel stage at some point that has caused me to lose fish. If I would have done this maybe I’d be singing a different tune when it comes to these reels as an ice reel.

    I’ve switched to Tica’s and Shimanos and problem has been solved. I still have a few Pflugers laying around so maybe I’ll give this a try. Thanks again for the tips Bret.

    blufloyd
    Posts: 698
    March 3, 2011 at 1:15 am #943215

    Yep what I did. Hot Sauce has magic binding elements so once and done seems to be how it works. At least never thought of tearing back into them.
    3 plus years of year round abuse.

    travp
    Blaine , Mn
    Posts: 401
    March 3, 2011 at 1:38 am #942478

    I guess I’ll give this a shot next year before the ice season.

    fireline
    Rochester
    Posts: 813
    March 3, 2011 at 2:54 am #943257

    Bret do you use the hot sauce oil at all or just the grease?

    bret_clark
    Sparta, WI
    Posts: 9361
    March 3, 2011 at 5:23 am #943276

    Pictures 7-10 are my oil points.

    woody_036
    Spooner, Wi
    Posts: 198
    March 3, 2011 at 12:54 pm #943310

    Great write up Bret, Looks like their was a few people that were interested on this. Great pictures also!

    bret_clark
    Sparta, WI
    Posts: 9361
    March 3, 2011 at 1:17 pm #943336

    So I had stuff laid out on the counter and was working on the reel last night and the wife asked me if it wasn’t a little early in the season to be cleaning up my reels. I told her I had home work to do….she rolled her eyes and mumbled IDO under her breath while walking away

    Glad it helped, thanks for the project Woody

    Dave Koonce
    Moderator
    Prairie du Chien Wi.
    Posts: 6946
    March 3, 2011 at 1:27 pm #943356

    Great Info Master Brett !!!

    c’mon down and I will set you up with your favorite adult beverage and my Pflueger spinning reels !!

    slipperybob
    Lil'Can, MN
    Posts: 1450
    March 4, 2011 at 2:24 am #943802

    I like the ketchup tube there.

    Great write up.

    dandorn
    M.I.N.N.E.S.O.T.A.
    Posts: 3249
    December 8, 2011 at 10:59 pm #1016021

    Hey Bret,

    Diggin up some bones to find your tutorial to do my President 6720 again this year.
    Thanks for taking the time to take the pics. and do the
    write up.

    Any idea why my Cardinal 100U reels spin much nicer than
    the Pflueger does with the hot sauce grease and oil?

    Thanks!

    stevedobie
    Central, MN
    Posts: 478
    December 9, 2011 at 12:20 am #1016047

    Thanks, Nicely done

    bret_clark
    Sparta, WI
    Posts: 9361
    December 9, 2011 at 11:09 am #1016133

    Are they smoother or looser? With the Pflueger you should have 0 back turn in the reel when the anti reverse is on. There will be 0 play in the handle also. Is that true with the Cardinal? If so that is a good thing

    dandorn
    M.I.N.N.E.S.O.T.A.
    Posts: 3249
    December 9, 2011 at 6:28 pm #1016319

    Quote:

    Are they smoother or looser? With the Pflueger you should have 0 back turn in the reel when the anti reverse is on. There will be 0 play in the handle also. Is that true with the Cardinal? If so that is a good thing

    The Cardinals are as tight and smoother than the Pflueger.

    Handles are tight and zero back turn on the AR??

    I bought a few combos at fleetfarm (09) with the Cardinals on them. The combo was on sale for 19.99 and the reel itself sold for 29.99. Should have bought them all.

    I did have one fail and decided to try the President which
    I like but it doesn’t spin as well as the Cardinals.

    bret_clark
    Sparta, WI
    Posts: 9361
    December 9, 2011 at 6:36 pm #1016321

    How is the drag system in the cold? Sounds like you got yourself a deal!

    Mudshark
    LaCrosse WI
    Posts: 2972
    December 9, 2011 at 8:12 pm #1016342

    I’ll agree to disagree Dandorn
    For the money and quality,I have never found a smoother reel than the President…. Especially after sauce’in…
    And,as Bret mentioned,the drag is excellent even in the cold.
    I’ve been accused being “frugal” over the years but these reels are worth the money!

    Must be why I have 4 (soon to be 5)

    Richard V.
    Somewhere over the rainbow
    Posts: 2595
    December 11, 2011 at 12:03 am #1016558

    The Pfluger President reels are very smooth reels when properly taken care of. I too have four of them two are 6720 and two are 6725. Good little reels…

    dandorn
    M.I.N.N.E.S.O.T.A.
    Posts: 3249
    December 11, 2011 at 1:43 pm #1016644

    I’m in no way bashing the President and I did say I liked
    it in a reply above.

    Just making an observation when hot saucing the two reels is all.

    bret_clark
    Sparta, WI
    Posts: 9361
    December 11, 2011 at 4:11 pm #1016684

    Quote:

    I’m in no way bashing the President and I did say I liked
    it in a reply above.

    Just making an observation when hot saucing the two reels is all.

    I think you got yourself one heck of a deal on those Cardinal’s

    It is cool to hear, and I know from using it, Hot Sauce brings new life to any reel
    I also use it on a couple Shimano reels, again year round, to keep them smooooth

    Good feed back Dan

    bret_clark
    Sparta, WI
    Posts: 9361
    December 11, 2011 at 4:20 pm #1016688

    While I’m thinking about it,

    You should have added your pics or even done a post/pictorial with your make and model reel. Every brand has there little screw somewhere that can cause fits or even damage

    Been there myself too

    Pictures are a confidence booster for those that have not pull apart there reels

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