this may be more straightforward than i think.

just broke down my new 8000 for the first time this season for cleaning. not familiar with the drag system or shimano reels. is that the gray cylinder sitting on top of the reel body. i was nervous to take it apart. and it really didn't look dirty. couldn't really tell if the components were complicated inside. i'm not too smaht and had trouble interpreting the diagrams it came with.

is that something that is easy to take apart, easy to clean? i'm also assuming the spheros is a dry drag system? true?

any advice on spheros maitenence would be appreciated. trying to learn as i go.

There should be 6 screws in it, 3 of them are short and 3 are long... remove them one at a time to determine length, when you find a short one, screw it back in, and remove the long ones. The whole piece will come off after that. There is a small spring mechanism that you'll have to be careful of when you remove it. if you remove all six screws you'll have an explosion of springs ricocheting all over your house :doh:. Also whe you take the reel body apart, be careful of the small nuts that are held in place by the body itself, when you take the reel apart they fall out and are tough to fond if you don't know they're there.

Hope that helps.
-Dave

Just do it how I showed Canalman, take all the screws out, throw em in a pile and try to figure out how to put em all back, makes it interesting.
Do u have the pic of the reel breakdown that came with it?

Yea scatter them aroud your house and use the pantyhose over the shop vac trick to find them all....:scream:

thanks guys. sounds like you've learned from some sperience. :bl:
glad i didn't break it down. i was working on the kitchen table with the future wife's wedding inviations all around. i can hear her now. :chatter

no lube inside this puzzle right?

No lube in there.I break my Spheros down twice a year.My 8000's a first year model and still works great.

No lube to speak of, just grease the gears... and remember don't lube your drag :tooth:

Panty hose trick !!! Damn I gotta remember that one!! I'm always dropping parts and with my old eyes and trifocals have a devil of a time finding them.:as:

remember don't lube your drag :tooth:
Yeah, u learned that the hard way, didn't u loose antireverse?