Thread: What causes reel binding?

When a reel is exposed to water, either baitcaster or spinning reel, what exactly causes the binding in some reels? I am thinking carbon drag washers but don’t really know. I have some reels that can just see water and bind up and others that have spent a month underwater and did not bind at all.

Drag washers will not cause a reel to "bind up". The problem is either bearings or gears.

I would think the bearings are more likely except the cast isn’t affected, only the retrieve. Hmm......

I assume you are talking about a baitcaster. A common problem is the pawl wearing out and binding on the levelwind worm gear. Sometimes it just causes line to pile up in one spot on the spool because the levelwind is not traveling back and forth. But I have seen them cause binding also if the pawls tries to get crossways in the worm gear, especially in Pflugers. If the cast is OK, but binds on retrieve, I would suspect a gear problem. What brand and model reel are you having problems with?

Not a line pawl. I’ve worked on several baitcasters. No this is instantaneous when exposed to water. Both spinning gear and baitcaster. The spinning reel is an Abu Garcia Orra S and the baitcaster is a Quantum Antix. Either one, if you get hung up deep enough that the reel goes into the water when you are trying to push your lure free with the rod, pretty much immediately starts hogging down as you try to reel in line.

Bent shaft is my first guess.

I guess I should clarify that the reel is only bogging down while water is inside. Once the reel dries out, it works like normal again.

Originally Posted by ShallowWaterAngler

I guess I should clarify that the reel is only bogging down while water is inside. Once the reel dries out, it works like normal again.

Call me stupid, but when racing RC cars we add fluid(oil) of varying weights to the center or rear diffs to adjust the amount of traction or slip needed. I would think the water inside the gears is causing the stiffness. even though its just water, there is a difference in space around the gears.

I may be completely wrong, as i am a googan, but just offering my 2 cents.

Some of these reels employ plastic bushings that may bind when wet.
Or it could could be water mixing with the lube causing 'sticking'.

Perhaps it is the lubricant?
Have you opened it up?

OK, shoulda read that more closely.

Other than the fact that dunking a reel underwater is not the best idea in the world, I think Pier#r is onto something.
Even if its freshwater, you will need to open the reels up and dry, clean & re-lube.