Seized reel handles

[ducky]

Yo.

Yesterday I picked up 12 x siennas and a Stradic from a charter boat operator for a "bargain"

I knew they'd be cooked. He said they were cooked. But these are like someone put them in the oven then took a 6 hour nap. Haha.

I decided to rip one apart last night after giving every single one of them a good drenching in inox. Got it apart easily enough with the exception of the actual reel handle. Every single one of the reels the handle is completely seized in.

So I stripped the reel of everything except the reel handle and once that was all that was left I tried banging on it with a dead blow using the thread in bit as a drift.

I tried the shop press. But without a routed out piece of timber to support the shape of the reel all I was doing was bending things.

I've tried soaking the whole thing in double strength vinegar for a few hours to break the corrosion.

I've tried using an actual pin punch.

Nothing I can do will get this friggin thing apart. I've bricked the first one I've taken apart. But that's neither here nor there. I just don't want to brick the others.

In terms of the reels. It looks like with a replacement bearing in the handle they will be back to life. But I'll replace all the bearings. Alls I've got to do is work out how to get the handles out without completely destroying the bloody things.

Im all ears if anyone knows how to pull these things apart properly.

Im yet to try heat. Im thinking that's next but avoiding it for now considering the plastic body...

[ducky]

More pics.

[ducky]

I drilled out the rivet on one of those handles. Pressed it off the main gear and have been using it as a punch on the other ones. Got 6/12 apart. Giving the hands a rest for a bit cos it's brutal on them. Haha

[rb85]

Try Yield or Croil

[ducky]

Where do I get that? Southlands and blackwoods are both a bit of a pita for me to get to. Is it sold at any auto stores?

[rb85]

I’d expect to get it at industrial suppliers such as blackwoods maybe auto part stores. If you get some apply it and allow it to soak in the longer the better 12 to 24 hours.

[rb85]

https://www.kroil.com/

[cobby]

If you can't find Kroil then any other penetrative oil or spray should work if you leave it to soak. Nulon, special penetrative wd40 etc.

Or you could destroy the main gears which are likely to be partly chewed out and need replacement anyway

[Nude up]

Have you tried soaking them in a 50/50 mix of kerosene and transmission fluid works for me

[dmck]

I have jus restored 7 reels that were in shocking condition. A 3 hour soak in white vinegar fixed most problems- including siezed handles.

Dunk the whole reel before you attempt to strip it. If 3 hrs doesn work... do another 3!