To thoroughly clean and shine-up a Godfrey reel inside and out you need a flat screwdriver, silver polish or equivalent, rags and or Q-Tip's. Outside clean up can proceed simply by wiping off dirt and grime - furniture polish is a good cleaning product and is definitely the only product to use on Godfrey Wood Side Paradigm or the New Brook Trout Reels. Then use the silver polish to scrub around frame parts and around the handle, foot, and back plate parts. Time is required to really get into crevices and corners of the reel frame. Knurled fittings can be cleaned with repeated applications of silver polish worked with a tooth brush.

Scratches on the rims of either round or raised pillar reels can be sanded down if you happen to have a full set of grits: 220, 400, 600, and 1200. It is good also have 2000 grit, but a good substitute is to place some silver polish on the back side of sand paper and rub-polish to a fine finish Be sure to clean up any sanding grit and then take down the reel to clean up internals.

Internal cleaning is generally easier to do because dirt is generally not so pronounced or difficult to remove. Again, furniture polish with Q-tips works quite well. If you want to tighten the drag on Classic or Westminster type reels, call me for instructions. Tightening the drag on the Custom Paradigm and other reels is definitely a shop operation to be performed here.

To open the reel, unscrew the knurled cap from the back side of the reel. Remove the exposed brass screw with a screwdriver. Push the spool and back side plate free of the reel frame.

To reassemble, place spool onto the spindle shaft in the reel. Be sure it is fully seated into the reel. Set the sideplate on the spindle shaft and rotate the side plate and/or handle arm to be sure the spool engages the drag system and the side plate is properly set on the frame screw heads. Gently push side plate flush with frame. Replace brass screw and firmly tighten. Replace the cap.

To open the reel, unscrew the knurled screw on the back side of the reel. Push the spool and back side plate free of the reel frame.

To reassemble, place spool onto the spindle shaft of the back side plat. Rotate the spool to be sure the spool pins are fully seated into the drag system. Hold the side plate and spool vertically and slide the reel frame down over the spool and back side plate. Rotate the handle arm to mesh the gears and then rotate the back side plate to align the frame screws. Finally, tighten the center screw.

This includes the Godfrey Classic, Westminster, and Bimetal/Brook Tr Reels. To open the reel, unscrew the knurled cap from the back side of the reel. Remove the exposed brass screw with a screwdriver. Push the spool and side plate free of the reel frame.

To reassemble, place spool onto the spindle shaft in the reel. Be sure it is fully seated into the reel. Set the sideplate on the spindle shaft and rotate the side plate and/or handle arm to seat the back side and to align the frame screws. Gently push side plate flush with frame. Replace brass screw and firmly tighten. Replace the cap.

To open the reel, unscrew the knurled cap from the back side of the reel. Remove the exposed brass screw with a screwdriver. Push the spool and side plate free of the reel frame.

To reassemble, position the black dot marked end of the drag 'butterfly' as shown - The pictures show proper position for a Left and Right Hand reel. Set the spool into the reel frame and seat it in place. Set the side plate on the spindle shaft and rotate the side plate to seat the back side and to align the frame screws. Gently push side plate flush with frame. Replace brass screw and firmly tighten. Replace the cap.

Check that the drag adjustment knob works properly. Note: Occasionally you will find an old original vom Hofe Perfection for sale with a statement such as: The drag works great, BUT the drag adjustment only partially covers full range. No doubt someone assembled the reel without properly positioning the butterfly drag arm.




            Shows same positioning, but with the three wing 'butterfly' design.

Remove the back side plate and spool as described above for take down and spool replacement. Oil and grease the gears with automotive bearing grease. No other lubrication is needed or recommended because the other bearings in the reel are self lubricating. Don't apply anything to the cork - ignore it completely!

Left - Right hand switching is purely a shop-job since many parts need to be replaced. The fee is $75.00 plus shipping, but original reel owners get this service for free and only pay the shipping. Sent the reel to Ted -- 3509 Pleasant Plains Drive Reisterstown, Md. 21136.

The photos show the Westminster tail plate with the pawl and spring mechanism. The spring left and right hand configurations are noted in the photos.

The click pawl tension is controled by the pawl spring that is increased or decreased by adjusting the cam assembly. Operate the adjustment knob to see how the cam assembly rotates and moves the spring. The spring is removed and replaced in opposite side of the reel as follows:

 
First, set the adjustment knob for minimum click tension. Using fingers or pointed pliers disengage the spring from the pawl. The spring can now be lifted out of the reel and placed on the other side position. IMPORTANT: On reels made in 2004 and thereafter, remove and FLIP OVER the pawl. Then, replace the pawl. It should appear as shown in the pictures for left and right hand Westminster reels.

The photos shows the tail plate spring left and right configurations:

This pawl spring puts tension on the click pawl as shown in the photos. Operate the adjustment knob to see how the cam assembly rotates and moves the spring. Also, note the movement of the arm across the face of the reel. The spring is removed and replaced in opposite side of the reel as follows:
   
First, set the click adjustment to minimum tension. Using fingers or pointed pliers lift the spring off of the click pawl. Next lift the opposite end of the spring off of the little brass post - it maybe necessary to rotate the adjustment to facilitate this removal. The spring can now be lifted out of the reel.

Reinstallation: Reverse the procedure for removing the spring. Take your time and do not force the spring out of normal shape. IMPORTANT: On reels made in 2004 and thereafter, remove and FLIP OVER the pawl. Then, replace the pawl. It should appear as shown in the pictures for left and right hand reels.