Clean, Oil, and Grease a Mitchell 300X Spinning Reel

spinning wheel image by Zbigniew Nowak from Fotolia.com

Mitchell introduced the world's first spinning reel in the late 1940s. Since then, thousands of freshwater and saltwater anglers have relied upon Mitchell reels for recreation and professional use. The Mitchell 300 was one popular and reliable model that was recently upgraded and renamed the 300X. Relying upon the same dependable design, the 300X is durable and easy to use. Routine maintenance is easy and will help ensure the reel's continued performance.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Mitchell 300X spinning reel
All-purpose spray lubricant
Quality reel oil
Reel grease
Cotton swab
Old rag

Step 1

Wipe the Mitchell 300X reel body's surface with an all-purpose spray lubricant. Remove old oil, grease, dirt and debris from the reel's body.

Step 2

Open the bail wire at the front of the reel so that it locks in place. Twist the spool to the left, and remove it from the reel. Mitchell 300X reels feature a spool design that allows the spool to be removed without changing the drag setting.

Step 3

Clean the body of the reel compartment with the all-purpose spray lubricant. Apply a small amount of oil to the spool mounting post and the gap below the drag adjustment knob. Oil the bail wire mounting points to the side of the reel and on the reel's body. Replace the spool back on the reel.

Step 4

Remove the reel's handle. Turn the handle with a reverse motion to unscrew it from the reel body. Clean the assembly point with all-purpose lubricant and a cotton swab if necessary. Apply a thin coating of reel grease to the handle threads. Screw the handle assembly back onto the reel body. Apply a few drops of reel oil to the handle pivot point.

Step 5

Wipe down the entire body of the reel with the all-purpose lubricating oil to displace moisture and act as a water barrier.

Tips & Warnings

Clean and lubricate your 300X reel as part of a regular maintenance program. It is especially necessary to clean and lubricate your reel after any exposure to salt or brackish water.

Article Written By Keith Dooley

Keith Dooley has a degree in outdoor education and sports management. He has worked as an assistant athletic director, head coach and assistant coach in various sports including football, softball and golf. Dooley has worked for various websites in the past, contributing instructional articles on a wide variety of topics.

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