DAM Quick 330 bail qs

[scorman1]

Went kayak fishing in Delaware with 2 Quick 330s and noted that the bail on one flipped closed upon casting in mid air w/o turning the crank. When home, I grabbed the reel with bail latched tight and shook it and could replicate the problem. Unlike the 440s I have, there is no adjustment of the bail release tension. If I tear it apart, what should I be looking for as far as a worn part or adjustment ?

Slightly OT: I note that the plating on all my 330 Quick release tang is pitted and/or tarnished rusty ..not the same quality chrome as the rest of the reel construction (or it was never chromed?).

Stew

[foakes]

On the underside of the rotor is a trip lever that protrudes outside and interacts with the slot in the bail mechanism. 

This is attached with a roll pin, or sometimes a brass pin.

There is also a very tiny spring that holds this trip lever in tension.

After removing the rotor by first removing the spool shaft -- all of this will become apparent.

Trip lever could be cruddy, corroded, dirty, or stuck slightly with grease -- after cleaning and freeing for proper operation -- use a synthetic oil on this mechanism.

Spring could be missing, or bad, or out of place.

Slot in the bail mechanism could be rounded where the trip lever locks in place for a cast.

Possibly one of these things would be the likely culprits to look at first.

Post pics of your findings -- if you need parts, I should have what you need.

Best,

Fred

[scorman1]

Thanks Fred for your expertise once again.
May not tear apart the reel for a few days, since I am up to my eyeballs in electrical circuits right now.
That trip lever is suspect from the outside since as I remarked before, it has some minor corrosion in the finish.
I will probably polish it after disassembly just to be neat and take some pics as you recommend.
We have three of them, so if the take-apart is simply enough, I'll service all three completely for the next trip.

Regards,
Stew

[scorman1]

Hey Fred,
Your description was right on the money ....I finally tore the 330 apart and noted that the brown grease looked fresh inside (unlike the brown tar found in others), so I didn't bother to strip it clean, just made sure everything was nicely lubed. The problem with the bail was easily fixed by simply removing the spring and stretching it out a bit ....now works as it should. Too bad they didn't implement the 440's adjustable bail, since the bodies are identical, except the 330's have an extra screw at the bottom holding the plate on and the handle is 1/2" shorter on the 330.

Thanks again for your expertise and tight lines!
Stew

[foakes]

Excellent job, Stew --

Best,

Fred