Spinning reel bail closes during cast

[lifeofRiley]

Hello everyone,

I've received a Pflueger Supreme XT (size 35) for a repair. Customer told me that the bail is intermittently closing during a cast. After a light cleaning and inspection of the reel, I found a broken bail spring(and thus I thought the root of the problem). I installed the new bail arm spring and it clicked over with authority. Then after a few mock casts I noticed the bail would still slam shut during certain casts. I believe the problem is that the screws holding either end of the bail wire to the rotor are not holding the pieces close enough together. One of the screws appeared stripped. I'm going to order two new screws and see if that solves the problem, but it's weird that even when fully tightened the "good" screw didn't seem to close the gap enough between bail arm and rotor arm. Has anyone else ever ran into issues with spinning reels closing during a cast? I had an old symmetry that used to do it too.

[philaroman]

if the bail spring is strong, I think that happens w/ internal bail trips when the handle moves from the momentum of the cast & happens intermittently, depending on the handle's position...  not sure why -- I would guess gear wear & loss of tolerance that could be taken care of w/ shims (or, lighter handle knob)

I had that happen w/ a couple well-used Shimano's, but:

• they were mine;
• I always close the bail manually, anyway, for better braid line-lay;
• I fear & loathe re-shimming  

so I just got rid of the bail trip levers to make 'em manual-close, only

[Reel 224]

I think Fred is the one that can answer you question. I've worker on a Pflueger recently with a bail problem with a week or lazy trip, the problem was solved by replacing the bail spring and guide and also tweaking the bail arm so the gap was tightened up the Gap as you are describing.

Those reels get a lot of ware from casting and consequently out of shape, so it could be a matter of adjusting the bail arm also.

Joe    

[Gfish]

This seems to be a modern spinner(price aprox. $150 new) with a sealed drag, etc. Should be a unit somewhere between the gearbox and rotor, that holds rotor steady with bail open, while casting, like other brands at the mid-upper price point. Got access to a schematic?
Gfish

[foakes]

Most modern spinner self closing bail problems have to do with the bail mechanisms that trip to close not working due to wear, breakage, tweaked, or bent.  Generally can be adjusted.

This could be the trip lever where it intersects the bail actuator, the nylon plunger, the stripped screw holes not allowing everything to set in place properly.

If parts are not needed -- generally a jewelers file, a pair of needlenose pliers, a good eye for proper function, and a little trial and error will correct the issue.

Pics if possible?

Best,

Fred

[Benni3]

I use a pflueger patriarch almost every day ,,, the bail does that and did that on the xt and on the president ,,,im in the habit of just keeping the bail on the bottom when casting 

[lifeofRiley]

I know this took a while but I had to wait until some parts showed up from spirit lake. Here are some pictures. I'm pretty sure I'll never own a flooger after seeing this poorly engineered product.

[Reel 224]

If the main bail screws are tight and not striped, then I would say the bail arm has to be tweaked in order to tighten the bail arm #27 and bail are assembly #32 so as to close the gap. The Pflueger reels are inexpensive but they are good reels. I personally think that gap comes from over running the bail arm stop and thus springing the bail arm and assembly arm.

Joe

[lifeofRiley]

Thanks reel  224, I removed the bail and reshaped it by hand so that it would "pinch" in more and close the gap. It seems to have fixed the problem. I love this site.