Ambidex Servicing

[Barbelbonce]

Hello All,
I have Sealey Flocasts Mk 4 and Mk 6 and an Allcock Delmatic 2.
I have not used these for at least 12 years. They all seem to be gummed-up with old grease, I imagine, and do not rotate at all smoothly or well. They did a dozen or more years ago!
I would like to have them serviced by someone who is braver than me and knows his way round these reels.
Can you, please, point me in the direction of someone who may be able to help? It would be great to have them ready for the 16th!
PMs will be gratefully received!
Cheers,
Mike

[Wanderer]

Any response, Barbelbonce ?

If not, set an afternoon to one side and have a go yourself.
Servicing your own reels can be surprisingly satisfying and it's always good to know how they work, or often in my case, dont work....

[Barbelbonce]

Thanks for the idea, Wanderer - its one that I have discarded thus far after too many "exploding reel" episodes and parts getting lost.
I would prefer to let a real expert do it - it leads to less stress.
Yours is the only response to date.
Mike

[EssexMark]

Hello Barbelbonce. Tbh it isnt really to difficult to do a basic service without taking too much apart. If you are able to take the side plate off you can get at the main parts of the reel. A cotton bud can be used to remove the crud and old grease. Then use a degreaser( I use Jizer). Once washed out and dried then use a fine paint brush to apply the grease. I use Ardent reel butter...less being more when using grease. I'm no expert servicing reels but did my mk 6 recently and took a huge degree of satisfaction when I put it back together and the reel spun gloriously. Try and find a schematic on line. One piece of advice. Take apart on a white sheet so any bits stand out

[Wanderer]

Go on Barbelbonce, you can do it

[Ambidexman]

You could try Garry Mills at Mill Tackle.

[Barbelseeker]

I do my own maintenance on my Shimano Aero Bait runners and Stradics - prepared to have a look if you want but cannot promise anything. They will be cleaned, re-greased and re-assembled with the same parts. Send me a PM if interested and we will discuss in greater depth.

Peter

[Barbelbonce]

Thanks to all for the advice and encouragement.
All done with surprising lack of explosions and lost parts.
I did them slowly and carefully and look fwd to getting 2 of them out fishing.
I need to find a replacement bail arm assembly for the Flocast Mk 6; I'd forgotten that the soldering done at both ends of the arm by a previous owner has failed comprehensively. Beyond any further repair, I reckon.
Mike.

[Wanderer]

Well done Barbelbonce.