tsi 321

[cadman]

I use it on all of my reels along with all of the reels I clean for my fishing club. No problems at all. I apply it once a year on my reels, and lasts the entire time. I do not mix oils. Personally I would pick a oil and stick to it. If you want to try a different oil, remove the first one thoroughly and then apply your new oil. JMO.

How can you tell if the lubricant is no longer performing?

Mark, It seems like TSI 321 easily lasts a year on all my reels. I fish at least 1-2 day a week starting March thru November, and never had my bearings squeal. After the season is over, I break all the reels down to their skeleton and clean everything all over for the next season. Has worked for me with no issues.

Thanks Ted.
What do you use for gear grease?

Mark, I have tried three lubes all with good success. Penn precision reel grease, Super Lube Multi-purpose Synthetic and ABU Garcia Silicote reel grease.

[mark poulson]

I use it on all of my reels along with all of the reels I clean for my fishing club. No problems at all. I apply it once a year on my reels, and lasts the entire time. I do not mix oils. Personally I would pick a oil and stick to it. If you want to try a different oil, remove the first one thoroughly and then apply your new oil. JMO.

How can you tell if the lubricant is no longer performing?

Mark, It seems like TSI 321 easily lasts a year on all my reels. I fish at least 1-2 day a week starting March thru November, and never had my bearings squeal. After the season is over, I break all the reels down to their skeleton and clean everything all over for the next season. Has worked for me with no issues.

Thanks Ted.
What do you use for gear grease?

Mark, I have tried three lubes all with good success. Penn precision reel grease, Super Lube Multi-purpose Synthetic and ABU Garcia Silicote reel grease.

Thanks Ted. When I finish up my tube of Ardent Reel Butter, I'll give one of those a try.

[uljersey]

Been using 321 for over a year now, strictly on steel spool bearings, not hybrid ceramics. Works well enough and lasts long enough that I am down to using ceramics in only one reel. Still using grease on my levelwinds/pawls. I run spool bearings with one shield removed, so I clean them and reapply 321 about halfway through the season.

I addition to using it on my spool bearings, I find it does very well on levelwinds and pawls. It adheres to the metal surfaces but is not tacky, so it's harder for dirt and debris to stick to exposed parts. The majority of waters I fish are stained so that is important to me.

[mark poulson]

Been using 321 for over a year now, strictly on steel spool bearings, not hybrid ceramics. Works well enough and lasts long enough that I am down to using ceramics in only one reel. Still using grease on my levelwinds/pawls. I run spool bearings with one shield removed, so I clean them and reapply 321 about halfway through the season.

I addition to using it on my spool bearings, I find it does very well on levelwinds and pawls. It adheres to the metal surfaces but is not tacky, so it's harder for dirt and debris to stick to exposed parts. The majority of waters I fish are stained so that is important to me.

How is it applied? Should I clean the bearings in my ultrasound cleaner, dry them, and then soak them in the TSI 321?

[uljersey]

No need to soak, a drop or two from a fine needle applicator is all that’s needed for spool bearings. No added benefit from soaking.

[mark poulson]

No need to soak, a drop or two from a fine needle applicator is all that’s needed for spool bearings. No added benefit from soaking.

Thanks.

[brownhl]

With regard to the comment above that TSI 301 "leaves a film", 301 is a very strong solvent with TSI 321 suspended in it. The solvent evaporates very fast leaving only 321. For that reason, many anglers will clean their bearings in which they have previously used 301, or just 321 with the 301, which I do. Do not use 301 to clean out grease or oil. Prior to evaporation 301 will damage plastics. 301 and 321 are absolutely not compatible with any grease or oil of any kind, so if you want to use either you must ensure there is not a trace of grease or oil left in your bearing, or surface to which you will apply it. American Gas and Chemical Company in New Jersey makes the stuff for NASA to use in space, because oil cannot be used in a space environment and TSI does not come off. You can purchase it through their web site.

[BARRAMANIAC]

Wish we could get the stuff here in Australia... Like easily from a retailer and not have to import it at an abhorrent price with even more an abhorrent postage fee!

Andrew we now have an Australian supplier of TSI-321, I contacted ED at Australasian Fishing Tackle a couple months ago to see if he could get it as he stocks a range of smoothdrag products. He now has it in stock and is on his web page under reel maintenance products. 1oz or 4oz bottles. and the pricing on the 4oz bottle is quite good and comparable to what I have paid importing it from smoothdrag myself previously.

[Slazmo]

Good pickup! I had seen that online store before but never looked further.

Just bought 2 big bottles.

Thanks for the heads up

[brownhl]

I believe the makers of TSI products have said they are not compatible with with other grease and oils. Be sure there is no trace of either if TSI is to be applied to the same surface on which they had been used.

[Slazmo]

Didn't realise they were big big bottles...

Oh well - lifetime supply

[cadman]

I have been using TSI 321 for 10 years with no issues. I only use it on all the bearings inside my baitcaster and friends reels. This includes, spool bearings, carrier bearings, worm gear bearings and main shaft bearings. I have used TSI 321 with Yamaha lube, Shimano drag grease, Super lube, Abu Garcia Silicote lube, Cals grease, Penn lube and a few others. I am sure some TSI has splashed on these coated gears after I have cleaned/lubed them, and I have never seen any kind of lube separation or failure using TSI 321. This has been my experience.

[adam lancia]

So, me being just smart enough to get into trouble without knowing all the ins and outs of grease and oil chemistry, I decided to mix TSI321 with some Super Lube synthetic grease to thin it out. It seems to work pretty well functionally, but I'll know how well it stuck to the gears once I tear my reels down in the off season.