how to re-sync non-disengaging levelwinds

[Mel B]

saw this on youtube, think it's a great tip for guys who use non-disengaging levelwinds, tight lines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSYpVf46qM8

[Jimmer]

And I thought I was the only guy on here that had to use levelwinds.

[Nessie Hunter]

Horse Pucky!!!    
The second any drag is pulled, its out of sinc!!!!

Cast & retrieve ~ its back in Sinc...

How about disengaging level winds??  Every cast??

[redsetta]

x2 Frank - was thinking the same thing.
I used to pull the spool on my Calcutta and re-sync before every trip till I realised it was basically a redundant exercise.

[Ken_D]

?  Nessie, are you saying that a reel such as an Abu 6500, in sync, goes out of sync every time you make drag and work a fish? Then re-enters sync when you cast and retrieve after that? Just now,
On the bench, I set the drag light, and pulled out maybe 10 yards of line, and watched the line carriage remain in sync all the way. So I'm confused. Hope you can clarify. Thanks. KD.

ps: The video is a harder way (imho) to re-get sync. Then: some reels do not have side plate screws visible till you get way deep inside.

An easier way is to loosen the line pawl keeper, thread the line back through the line carriage, and pull about 5 yards of line out, stopping when the line is right against a sidewall of the spool, put a very small piece of 1/4" masking tape on the line, then place the line carriage on one side or the other where the line is, and re-set the pawl.

Crank the line back, then pay out or lawn cast past the tape to check. In the multitude of times I've done this, I'm within half the width of the line carriage gap off true, which works for me, so I no longer need to put tape, or check, as I'm good.

[redsetta]

G'day Ken,
Levelwinds that 'drive' off the right side (ie off the gear sleeve) such as Calcuttas and Curados get out of sync when the drag engages.
Abus, GTis etc drive off the spool via the idler gear and remain in sync - as you've found.
Hope that helps.
Cheers, Justin

[Ken_D]

Roger that, J.....I only own Penn and Abu with idler gears, spool-driven, so I appreciate the mechanical clarification on the rest of the pack. Best, KD.

[Tile]

The gear train driven levelwind mechanism is found almost exclusively on baitcasters and the reason that the line ges out of sync on them is to improve casting distance with light lures and the spool onthe baitcasters is much smaller and narrow (about a thumb wide). The spool shaft driven levelwind is found on light and medium sized conventional reels because they have a wider spool and the line has to be layed evenly.
This video tutorial is an excelent resource fir those wanting to get a levelwind conventional reel (be it light to medium).

[Ken_D]

Rodger that, Tile,  However: What do you do (quickly) for a Shimano Corsair and all reels as such, with no side plate screws?   In cases like this, the video is not the greatest.(My point above) Much faster to loosen the line pawl, where conditions permit, don't you find?

http://www.mikesreelrepair.com/schematics/albums/shimano/Shimano_cs400a.pdf

[Nessie Hunter]

Still be much easier to do along cast or let out a bunch of line and Reel it back in.
Re-lays the line to the Level wind = 'sync'...

Your right on the spool driven level winds, my head was out of sync!!   

[Ken_D]

For sure... In-river, if it happens, I just take the hook off, use a stick or a float, and pay out the line well past what a fish may take the line to. On the bench, I just pull the pawl.