Just wanted to share my first experience with the Hedgehog pin remover. This little handy tool, is a piece of first grade Japanese engineering, made to safely remove spool bearing pins with a minimum risk, of damaging the spool shaft.
This is how the tool look like, it comes with a list of supported reel models, as well as a step by step written instruction in japanese.
In this little example I will remove the pin from the Okuma Akena baitcaster, a pretty straight forward procedure, as the pin can be pulled out both ways
on this model.
The pin remover has two bars to push with, both driven by a tread. One for pushing the pin halfway trough the shaft, and a thinner part for pushing the pin out of the shaft.
First i pushed the pin half way using the thick part of the bar, a little grease on the tip of the bar will ease up the stress absorbed by the pin.
The next step is using the thin side of the bar to push the pin trough the shaft. No force at all is required, it pops right out when turning the handle.
To reinsert the pin again, use the thick bar, and push the pin right back.
Please beware that different reel models, uses different types of pins. Some brands use conical shaped pins, but I guess most in here are aware of that. The Hedgehog pin remover, is a neat little tool that makes pin removing a joy, and can be found in Japan for about 38 $.
I have not tested this tool yet on other baitcasters than the Akena, but I will keep you posted is i find any issues with the tool.
Regards, and tight lines, or "Knæk og Bræk" as we say over here.
